A 30-day visa on arrival, the extension that decides how long you can stay, why a bank account depends on your visa, and SIM registration, with the conflicts between sources spelled out.
In brief
As of 6 November 2026, the first month in Cambodia is decided by your visa: an ordinary (E) visa costs USD 35 on arrival and covers 30 days, and the extension you choose in that first month sets how long you can stay. Extension fees quoted by agencies run from USD 150 for six months to USD 285 for twelve (another source gives USD 160 to 300), and sources even disagree on whether the ordinary visa can be extended once or repeatedly. Banks usually want a valid long-stay visa, and a SIM must be registered with a passport. We found no official page, so confirm every fee with the General Department of Immigration.
Before the clock starts: which status are you in?
A visitor on a 30-day stamp and a person who holds an extended or long-stay visa are in different worlds in Cambodia: a bank account and a phone number are far easier with the second. Most sources say Russian citizens can get a visa on arrival (USD 30 tourist, USD 35 other categories), but one says an e-visa is required, and one mentions a 2026 e-Arrival card submitted online within 7 days before the flight. We found nothing for Kazakhstan, Belarus or Ukraine. Confirm entry rules with the Cambodian embassy before you travel.
If you are still deciding where to buy, see what you can buy in Cambodia for 50,000 to 300,000 dollars, the best areas and the unusual properties; this page starts after arrival.
- The general version for any country: first 30 days after moving abroad
Days 1 to 3: the entry stamp and the visa choice
Keep the entry stamp and note the date. The ordinary (E) visa costs USD 35 on arrival in most sources (one adds a USD 7 handling fee) and covers 30 days. The decision you cannot postpone is what happens on day 30: leave, or extend.
Week 1: choose the extension and ask the bank early
Extension. Agencies sell the business-type (EB) extension for 6 or 12 months. The 2026 prices we found are USD 150 for six months and USD 285 for twelve (one agency page), USD 160 to 300 (another source) and USD 160 to 185 for six months (a third). The extension has to be done inside Cambodia at the Immigration Department, usually needs a passport valid for six months, a photo, a form and the fee, and may need a sponsor, such as an employer or a school. An extension is not a work permit, which is a separate process. Fees and rules change, and all of these are agency figures, so confirm them with the General Department of Immigration.
Bank account. Most guides say banks want the passport with a valid visa, often a long-stay one, plus a lease or an employment letter. Reports conflict: one forum user was accepted with a one-year visa and nothing else, another was refused with the same documents, and several banks want six months of passport validity. Nothing specific to Russian, Belarusian, Kazakh or Ukrainian passports was found. Ask the bank before you pay for the extension, so you know which visa it wants. More on the questions banks ask: resident accounts abroad.
Weeks 2 to 4: SIM, health cover and an address
SIM. A relocation firm says SIM registration is enforced and needs a passport or a Cambodian ID. Forum users add that a number is hard to get without a long-stay visa and that a local contact can sometimes register one for you; treat that second claim carefully, because the number would then be in someone else's name.
Health and driving were not researched for this guide; see health insurance after moving abroad and the driving-licence article for the principles. We also did not research address or residence registration with local authorities, so ask your landlord what the local office requires.
Deadlines and mistakes that cost a month
- Letting the 30-day visa run out before choosing the extension.
- Paying an agency before asking the bank which visa it accepts.
- Confusing an extension with a work permit.
- Registering a SIM in someone else's name.
- Quoting a fee from a forum: all figures here are agency prices, not official fees.
One-page checklist
- Day 1 to 3: entry stamp, visa date, passport photos.
- Week 1: decide the extension, ask the bank about the visa it accepts.
- Weeks 2 to 4: extension done, bank account, SIM registered, lease copy.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check every fee and date with the General Department of Immigration.
FAQ
How long does the ordinary visa last? It covers 30 days; sources then disagree on whether it can be extended once up to six months or repeatedly.
How much does the extension cost? Agencies quote USD 150 for six months and USD 285 for twelve, or USD 160 to 300; these are agency prices and the official fee was not confirmed.
Can I open a bank account on a tourist stamp? Guides say banks usually want a valid, often long-stay, visa plus a lease or employment letter; reports conflict, so ask the specific bank.
Do I need an e-visa as a Russian citizen? Most sources say visa on arrival is available, one says an e-visa is required, and one mentions an e-Arrival card within 7 days before the flight; check the Cambodian embassy.
Is the extension a work permit? No. Sources are clear that a work permit is a separate process.