Cambodia to offer visa-free entry for Chinese amid growing regional tourism competition

By Hoang Vu December 3, 2025 | 10:39 pm PT

Tourists line up to tour the ruins at Angkor Wat in Cambodia on March 9, 2023. Photo by Yusuke Harada via Reuters

Cambodia is set to waive visas for Chinese nationals next year under a trial program to stay competitive with other Southeast Asian destinations.

Between June 15 and Oct. 15, 2026, Chinese can enter without a visa for a maximum stay of 14 days, the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism announced Dec. 3.

They would only need to complete an e-arrival card when entering, China Daily reported.

In the first 10 months of this year Cambodia received 4.8 million foreign visitors, including around one million from China, according to news agency Xinhua.

Before the Covid pandemic, in 2019, it had received 2.3 million Chinese tourists or a third of total international arrivals.

Chinese nationals can now enter Cambodia with a visa-on-arrival, e-visa or regular visa.

Neighboring countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore have waived visa requirements for Chinese nationals.

The Philippines recently resumed its e-visa program for Chinese nationals after a two-year suspension.