🇰🇠Cambodia Border Crossings: Overview
Cambodia has multiple official entry points:
- Airports: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville
- Land borders: ~7–10 main checkpoints
- Seaports: limited use for travelers
Most popular land crossings
- Thailand ↔ Cambodia
- Poipet (Aranyaprathet ↔ Poipet) — busiest route to Siem Reap
- Koh Kong (Hat Lek ↔ Koh Kong) — quieter, scenic coastal route
- Vietnam ↔ Cambodia
- Bavet (Moc Bai ↔ Bavet) — main route to Phnom Penh
- Kaam Samnor (Mekong river crossing)
- Laos ↔ Cambodia
- Trapeang Kriel — remote, used for 4000 Islands travel
These major crossings generally support visa on arrival (VOA) and/or eVisa entry.
đź’ł Visa Fees & Entry Costs
Tourist visa (most common)
- Visa on Arrival: ~$30 USD (cash)
- eVisa: ~$30–36 USD online
- Validity: 30 days (extendable once)
What you need at land borders
- Passport (6+ months validity)
- 1 passport photo
- Cash in USD (small bills recommended)
đź’ˇ Cambodia widely uses US dollars, especially at borders.
🚧 Border Crossing Tips (Very Important)
1. Expect “extra fees”
- Unofficial “processing” or “stamp” fees can appear
- Often $1–$5 extra at land borders (“tea money”)
👉 You can politely question it—but many travelers just pay to avoid delays.
2. eVisa vs Visa on Arrival
- eVisa
- Faster, avoids scams/overcharging
- Accepted at major land borders (not all small ones)
- Visa on Arrival
- Easier if spontaneous
- Slightly more hassle at busy crossings
3. Choose the right border
- Smoothest crossings:
- Bavet (Vietnam)
- Poipet (Thailand, but busy)
- More relaxed:
- Koh Kong (Thailand)
- Trapeang Kriel (Laos, but remote)
4. Transport scams (Thailand border esp. Poipet)
- Fake “visa offices” before the border
- Overpriced transport packages
👉 Ignore anyone before official immigration buildings.
5. Timing matters
- Avoid:
- Late afternoon crossings
- Weekends/holidays
Queues can get long—especially at Poipet.
6. Bring everything printed
Even if not always checked:
- Hotel booking
- Exit ticket (bus/flight)
- eVisa printout
🧠Sample Routes
- Bangkok → Siem Reap: via Poipet (most common)
- Ho Chi Minh City → Phnom Penh: via Bavet
- Laos (Don Det) → Cambodia: via Trapeang Kriel
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Arriving without USD cash
- Trusting border “helpers”
- Using unofficial visa agents
- Not checking if your crossing accepts eVisa
✔️ Quick Summary
- Visa on arrival: ~$30 USD
- Main land borders: Poipet, Bavet, Koh Kong, Trapeang Kriel
- Bring: passport, photo, USD cash
- Expect minor unofficial fees
- eVisa = smoother, VOA = flexible
For a complete overview, see this overlanding Cambodia guide.