Cambodia operates three international airports. Phnom Penh International Airport handles approximately 6 million passengers annually and serves as the primary entry point for visitors arriving from regional hubs including Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Ho Chi Minh City. Siem Reap Angkor International Airport opened in October 2023, replacing the older Siem Reap International Airport located 51 kilometers closer to the city center. The new facility sits 40 kilometers east of Siem Reap and was built to accommodate 7 million passengers per year with eventual capacity for 30 million. Sihanoukville International Airport receives fewer international flights, primarily serving beach-bound travelers and the Chinese casino industry that expanded rapidly after 2016. Flight availability fluctuates seasonally, with December through February seeing the highest service levels on routes from East Asian cities.
Visa on arrival is available at all three international airports for most nationalities. The cost is 30 United States dollars for a single-entry tourist visa valid 30 days, payable in cash at the immigration counter. Officers also accept Thai baht and euros but calculate exchange at unfavorable rates. Applicants need one passport photograph; a photo booth operates near the visa counters at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports charging approximately 5 dollars. The application form is distributed on incoming flights or available at tables before the immigration queue. Processing typically takes 10 to 20 minutes depending on arrival volume. Business visas cost 35 dollars and allow extensions inside Cambodia, whereas tourist visas require conversion to a different category for extensions beyond 30 days. E-visas can be obtained through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at www.evisa.gov.kh for 36 dollars including a 6-dollar processing fee, valid for entry at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports plus six land border checkpoints. E-visa applicants must print the approval letter; immigration officers do not accept digital copies displayed on phones.
Currency exchange counters operate in all three airports but offer rates approximately 3 to 5 percent below market rates available at commercial banks in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The United States dollar circulates freely throughout Cambodia and constitutes the dominant currency for transactions above 1 dollar. Cambodian riel is used for change and small purchases, with an exchange rate fluctuating between 4,050 and 4,100 riel per dollar as of 2024. ATMs in the arrival halls of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports dispense dollars, charging withdrawal fees between 4 and 6 dollars per transaction depending on the bank operating the machine. Daily withdrawal limits range from 500 to 1,000 dollars. ABA Bank, Wing Bank, and ACLEDA Bank operate the most reliable ATM networks nationwide. Many merchants refuse bills larger than 20 dollars, and counterfeit 100-dollar bills circulate with sufficient frequency that vendors scrutinize large notes carefully. The most widely accepted bills are dated 2013 or later; older series sometimes face rejection.
Phnom Penh International Airport sits 10 kilometers west of the city center in the Sen Sok district. Official airport taxis operate from a counter in the arrival hall where passengers prepay. The fixed rate to central Phnom Penh costs 15 dollars as of 2024. The journey takes 20 to 40 minutes depending on traffic density, which peaks between 7 and 9 in the morning and 5 and 7 in the evening on weekdays. PassApp and Grab operate ride-hailing services from the airport pickup zone located outside the terminal, with fares ranging from 7 to 12 dollars for sedans to the city center. Tuk-tuks wait outside the arrival area and negotiate fares starting around 9 dollars, though drivers often quote 12 to 15 dollars initially. The airport has no rail connection. Public buses do not serve the airport reliably. Most hotels in Phnom Penh offer airport pickup services ranging from complimentary for luxury properties to 10 to 15 dollars for mid-range establishments.
The new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport sits 40 kilometers from Pub Street and the central hotel district via National Road 6. Official taxis charge 25 to 30 dollars for the journey, which takes 45 to 60 minutes without traffic delays. Ride-hailing services operate but availability depends on driver willingness to travel the distance; fares through PassApp range from 18 to 25 dollars. The airport shuttle bus runs twice daily to selected hotels for 7 dollars per passenger, but the schedule does not align with most international flight arrival times. Many hotels coordinate shared minivan transfers for 8 to 12 dollars per person when multiple guests arrive on the same flight. The old Siem Reap International Airport, located 7 kilometers from the city center, ceased commercial operations when the new facility opened, though some charter flights continued using it through early 2024. Travelers booking flights to Siem Reap must verify which airport their airline serves, as confusion persists in booking systems and some travel agencies.
SIM cards are sold at counters in all three airport arrival halls. Cellcard, Smart Axiata, and Metfone are the three dominant carriers. Tourist packages typically offer 10 to 30 gigabytes of data valid for 15 or 30 days, priced between 5 and 15 dollars. Coverage is reliable in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang, Sihanoukville, and along National Highway 6 connecting the capital to Siem Reap. Signal quality degrades in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri provinces and in the Cardamom Mountains. Registration requires a passport; vendors complete the process in 5 to 10 minutes. Mobile internet speeds average 15 to 25 megabits per second in urban areas on 4G networks. 5G service launched in Phnom Penh in late 2023 but remains limited to specific districts. SIM card vendors also sell phone charging cables, adapters, and basic mobile phones. Cambodia uses Type A, C, and G electrical outlets; voltage is 230 volts at 50 hertz.
Arrival procedures at Phnom Penh International Airport begin with health screening, a process intensified after 2020 but reduced to temperature checks by 2024 for most passengers. No vaccinations are mandatory for entry unless arriving from yellow fever endemic countries, which requires proof of yellow fever vaccination. The immigration queue separates into ASEAN nationals, diplomatic passport holders, and all other visitors. During peak arrival times between 9 PM and midnight when flights from multiple regional hubs arrive simultaneously, the queue for visa on arrival extends to 45 to 60 minutes. Baggage claim operates on two carousels; delivery time averages 20 to 30 minutes after aircraft arrival. Customs declarations are required only for passengers carrying more than 10,000 dollars in currency, commercial goods, or restricted items. The customs area uses a green channel for nothing-to-declare and a red channel for declaration, though random inspections occur. Officers occasionally inspect luggage for ivory products, wildlife parts, and antiquities, enforcement of which intensified after 2018 following international pressure on illegal wildlife trade. Cambodia ratified CITES in 1997.
Currency regulations permit entry and exit with any amount of foreign currency if declared, but amounts exceeding 10,000 dollars require a declaration form filed with customs. Riel currency cannot be exported in amounts exceeding 500,000 riel, though enforcement of this rule is inconsistent. Undeclared currency discovered during exit screening has been confiscated, though travelers report inconsistent application of this regulation. Gold imports face no restrictions for personal jewelry but commercial quantities require declaration. Laptop computers, cameras, and typical tourist electronics face no restrictions.