On 27 March 2020, the Royal Government of Cambodia, through Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s (“MoFAI”) announcement, imposed travel restrictions measure (“Travel Restrictions”) in order to reduce and contain the transmission of the Novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) and to be in line with the measures taken ASEAN countries—effective from 12am of 30 March 2020.[1] The Travel Restrictions is the additional measures to the recent 30-day suspension of entry into Cambodia on “foreigners traveling from” the United States, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain—a measure imposed by the Ministry of Health of Cambodia on 14 March 2020.[2] The Travel Restriction provides, in verbatim, as below:

• suspension of visa exemption policy and issuance of tourist visa, e-visa and visa on arrival to any foreigner for a period of one month.
• any foreigner wishing to travel to the Kingdom of Cambodia must obtain a prior visa from Cambodian missions abroad. He/She must provide a medical certificate, issued by competent health authorities of his/her country no more than 72 hours prior to the date of travel, certifying that he/she is not tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, he/she must provide proof of his/her insurance policy that shows minimum medical coverage during his/her intended stay in Cambodia in the amount of not less than USD50,000.
• the requirements for medical certificate and insurance do not apply to any foreigner holding diplomatic visa (Visa A) or official visa (Visa B) of Cambodia.
• upon entry into the Kingdom of Cambodia, any foreigner will be subject to a health risk assessment and screened by competent government officers before he/she is allowed to enter into the country. He/She will be subject to a mandatory isolation, quarantine or any other measures for the prevention and containment of this virus as prescribed by the Ministry of Health of Cambodia.
• all the above-mentioned travel restrictions are temporary and will be reviewed regularly by the Royal Government of Cambodia based on the evolution of the global situation as related to this virus.

We hope this serves as a useful information for those who intend to travel to the Kingdom of Cambodia.

If you have any questions or require any additional information, please contact Matthew Rendall, Ol Phirum or Liew Shan Berg of SokSiphanna&associates (a member of ZICO Law).

This alert is for general information only and is not a substitute for legal advice.

[1] Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia’s Facebook Page’s post on 28 March 2020.

[2] Ministry of Health of Cambodia’s Facebook Page’s post on 14 March 2020.