Planning a trip to Cambodia? Better read this first

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Planning a trip to Cambodia? Better read this first

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Cambodia bans entry of foreigners from five countries, including the US, for thirty days

By Adam Judd

March 14, 2020

PHNOM PENH — Cambodia has banned entry of foreigners from Italy, Germany, Spain, France and United States for 30 days effective March 17th, as Phnom Penh recorded two more cases of the novel coronavirus on Friday.

A Ministry of Health statement released Saturday morning banned the entry of foreigners from the five countries, the first time Cambodia has introduced entry restrictions since the viral outbreak.

However, officials have not enforced similar restrictions for other countries with high number of cases, such as Iran, South Korea, Japan or China.

“This measure was made after we rapidly found foreigners with COVID-19 [in Cambodia], those foreigners have different nationalities and were travelling from abroad, where there is a COVID-19 outbreak,” said Or Vandine, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health.

https://thepattayanews.com/2020/03/14/c ... irty-days/
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Re: Planning a trip to Cambodia? Better read this first

Post by Undaunted »

Why don’t they just say “White Foreigners “.....Of course not the Chinese as they practically own Cambodia.
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Re: Planning a trip to Cambodia? Better read this first

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Cambodia New Year celebrations face cancellations

16 Mar 2020

The Svay Rieng administration hall has officially announced the cancellation of the Angkor Sankranta Festival, a four-day celebration of the Khmer New Year held in April, as Covid-19 fears mount in the kingdom.

The province is the second to do so following Siem Reap province’s cancellation earlier this month.

“All public officials and citizens must be notified the Angkor Sankranta Festival, to be celebrated from April 13 to16, will no longer push through due to fears surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Khmer Times on Monday quoted the administration as saying in a public notice released on Saturday.

Svay Rieng resident Thun Chana said although the cancellation of the event is regretful, the action is a good preventive measure for the ongoing global health crisis.

“Last year, the Angkor Sankranta Festival in Svay Rieng was filled with joy as many people came to participate in the celebration. We usually celebrate Khmer New Year by visiting our hometown and our families but, given the rising concerns about the virus spreading, I think it is a good idea to suspend the festival this year as no one will dare go to public gatherings,” he said.

Kampong Speu provincial governor Vei Samnang said on Sunday preparations for the Angkor Sankranta Festival in their province are still ongoing.

“Our administration will still celebrate the festival as usual as it is an opportunity to provide happiness to the people. However, should there be a surge in Covid-19 cases, we will issue a notice to our people regarding the event,” he said.

Meanwhile, Preah Sihanouk provincial spokesman Kheang Phearon said on Sunday he is still awaiting a decision from the provincial leader and thus could not comment further on the matter.

On March 7, Prime Minister Hun Sen declared the cancellation of festival celebrations in Siem Reap province due to mounting Covid-19 concerns. The temporary closure of schools in the province was also announced following the coronavirus diagnosis of a man in Siem Reap.

At present, 12 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been found in the country.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/18801 ... cellations
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Re: Planning a trip to Cambodia? Better read this first

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Cambodia is now revamping its immigration laws

By Barry Kenyon

July 27, 2020

Phnom Penh authorities are preparing a parliamentary bill to introduce sweeping changes to the country’s immigration legislation in preparation for the post-pandemic world. Cambodian interior minister Sar Kheng last month ordered a working group to examine the issues because “the current law dating from 1994 is outdated given technological advancements in the digital era.”

Cambodian immigration rules for most visitors have traditionally been simple. There were basically two types of visas on arrival: a tourist visa for 30 days, which could be extended once, and a business (later called a general) visa which could be the basis of a one year extension of stay without any questions being asked. The country was one of the first countries in Asia to introduce a prior electronic visa for short-term travellers. In Cambodia, visa extensions were and still are mostly handled by agents.

In 2018, the government introduced a swathe of changes to extensions of between three and twelve months. There were now different options for retirees, those seeking employment, those actually working and a discrete student category. But, according to the well-run and informative blog Moving to Cambodia, there is still considerable confusion. The documentation required for different visas varies from agent to agent. So it is possible to obtain a retiree annual extension for under US$300 and no paperwork at all. Those in employment need a work permit as well as a visa, but the process is by no means uniform.

From July 1, 2020 it has been compulsory for foreign citizens to register their details and address on the Foreigners Present in Cambodia System (FPCS) application. The requirement applies to all foreigners including tourists, residents and diplomats. Those responsible for registration are owners of hotels and condominiums, homeowners and, if necessary, the visitor personally. If an individual is not registered, he or she cannot extend a visa and property owners can be fined for non-compliance. Sounds a bit like a hi-tech variant of the awesome TM30 form in Thailand.

According to Facebook’s lively forum Cambodia Visa and Work Permit Group, there is still debate about the details such as who is responsible for updating the application if someone moves address. So far about 11,000 foreigners have registered, although the number is low because Cambodia currently allows no tourists into the country and insists that returning business people in employment have substantial medical insurance (at least US$50,000) and undergo 14 days self-financed quarantine on arrival as well as the usual Covid-19 tests and approval from the Cambodian embassy in the country of departure.

The government’s working group, led by the justice minister Ang Vong Vathana, is said to be considering these and other allied matters, including an updated definition of what is Cambodian nationality. But an official confirmed that there will be new documentary requirements for all long-stay foreigners based on experience to date with the most recent regulations. Applicants for the one year extension of stay for retirees in particular will undergo more substantial documentary checks about their income or capital. There is likely to be an expansion of the electronic visa system and more substantial use of new technology by visa-issuing consulates and embassies abroad.

Any new law is not expected to be on the statute books before next year and will need to await the reopening of border posts and the resumption of normal air traffic in a post-pandemic scenario. But it does seem probable that all visitors to Cambodia, both short term and long, will be subject before too long to more bureaucratic and monitoring procedures. Well, expats in Thailand know a thing or two about that subject.

https://www.pattayamail.com/featured/ca ... aws-309038
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