What to Do Before Arriving in Cambodia: Documents, Insurance, Medicine, Money and Connectivity

Prepared by the NovAsia Editorial Team

The first hours in Cambodia are much easier when the address of your accommodation is already saved offline, your banking applications do not depend on a SIM card you cannot access, and a copy of your prescription exists somewhere other than the phone in your hand.

Preparation is not about predicting every possible problem. Its purpose is to prevent one small failure from taking away your documents, money, connectivity and access to medical care at the same time.

This guide ends when you board the plane. It does not repeat a first-week plan for Phnom Penh or try to solve long-term housing, local banking and visa questions in advance. The goal is narrower: build a reliable starting system that continues to work if a flight is delayed, a phone battery dies, a bank blocks a transaction or you need to see a doctor.

Start with the exact route

Two passengers on the same flight may face different entry requirements.

Relevant factors include:

• nationality;
• passport validity;
• visa type;
• purpose and length of stay;
• country of departure;
• transit countries;
• length and nature of each connection;
• point of entry into Cambodia.

The correct question is therefore not simply, “What do I need for Cambodia?”

It is:

What do I need for my passport, my route, my transit airports, my point of entry and my intended stay?

Cambodia's official e-Arrival system combines digital immigration, health and customs declarations. As of July 2026, the form could be submitted free of charge within seven days before arrival. Completing it at home is easier because you have your passport, first accommodation address and stable internet available.

After submission, save the confirmation in more than one form:

• inside the official application or account;
• as a screenshot;
• as a PDF that opens without internet;
• in a secure cloud folder;
• optionally as a printed copy.

The e-Arrival form does not replace a visa and does not guarantee entry.

Visa requirements depend on nationality and can change. Confirm them using official Cambodian immigration resources, the relevant Cambodian embassy or consulate and the airline that will actually check your documents at departure. A commercial visa website may help with orientation, but it should not be the only source.

Transit also matters. Even if you do not plan to leave the airport, a terminal change, checked-baggage collection or long connection may create additional requirements. A health certificate or vaccination document may depend not only on Cambodia, but also on where you have recently travelled or spent time in transit.

Do not assume that an overland route is interchangeable with flying. Border-crossing status can change, sometimes with little notice. A friend's bus journey from several months ago is not proof that the same crossing is open today.

Before departure, recheck every land border and transit country in your itinerary.

A useful outcome is a one-page route summary containing:

• flight number;
• terminal;
• point of entry;
• visa type;
• e-Arrival confirmation;
• first accommodation address;
• contact for the person meeting you;
• transit conditions;
• onward or return travel details where relevant.

It should be understandable to someone who did not help plan the trip.

Your documents must survive the loss of your phone

A common mistake is to keep everything on one device.

The passport is photographed on the phone. The insurance policy is in email. Email requires two-factor authentication on the same phone. The password manager also requests a code delivered to that device.

This system feels convenient until the phone is lost, stolen, damaged or out of power.

A more resilient archive has three levels.

Originals

Keep essential original documents with you in secure hand luggage.

Protected cloud copies

Use a secure folder protected by strong authentication.

Offline emergency set

Keep a small set available without internet and, where useful, on paper.

You do not need to print your entire personal archive. Focus on the documents without which the first day becomes much harder.

The emergency set commonly includes:

• passport identity page;
• visa or application confirmation, where applicable;
• e-Arrival confirmation;
• insurance certificate and 24-hour assistance number;
• address of the first accommodation in English;
• onward or return ticket where required;
• list of medications, serious allergies and important medical conditions;
• emergency contact;
• contact details for your embassy or consular service;
• limited reference information for a backup card, without recording the full security code.

Additional documents depend on the traveller.

Families may need:

• children's passports;
• birth certificates;
• consent for a child travelling with one parent or another adult;
• custody documents;
• school records;
• vaccination records.

Requirements can differ between airlines, departure countries, transit countries and border authorities. A parent travelling alone with a child should not assume that every official will ask for the same evidence.

A person moving for several months may also need documents that are difficult to replace from abroad, such as:

• education certificates;
• driving licence;
• medical summaries;
• notarised records;
• proof of income;
• tax-residency documents;
• marriage or birth certificates;
• professional qualifications.

You do not necessarily need to carry every original. Decide what you will actually do in Cambodia and prepare ordinary, certified or notarised copies as appropriate.

Check names and transliteration

Your name should appear consistently across:

• passport;
• airline booking;
• visa;
• insurance;
• bank accounts;
• medical records.

Pay particular attention to:

• double surnames;
• order of family and given names;
• recent passport renewal;
• a legal name change;
• documents issued under an earlier spelling.

A small transliteration mismatch can create a problem in an unexpected place.

A good passport copy should show the complete document clearly and remain readable when enlarged. Avoid casual photographs taken at an angle with personal items visible in the background.

Use descriptive file names, for example:

• current_passport.pdf;
• travel_insurance.pdf;
• medication_list.pdf;
• cambodia_e_arrival.pdf.

Do not distribute passport copies across many chats.

Use a secure cloud folder with restricted access. When a landlord, agent or service provider needs a copy, consider creating a separate version marked with the recipient and purpose.

Insurance must work before the first medical bill

The phrase “I have insurance” says very little by itself.

One policy may be designed for a short holiday. Another may cover long-term residence. A third may stop after a fixed number of days abroad. A fourth may exclude motorcycle use or pre-existing conditions.

Match the policy to the trip you are actually taking.

A person staying in a Phnom Penh apartment, working remotely and travelling mainly by car has a different risk profile from someone visiting rural areas, riding a scooter or spending long periods outside the capital.

At a minimum, check:

• exact start and end dates;
• whether extensions are possible;
• outpatient care;
• inpatient care;
• emergency treatment;
• medical evacuation;
• repatriation;
• whether the insurer pays the provider directly or reimburses you later;
• whether pre-authorisation is required;
• treatment of chronic conditions;
• pregnancy cover;
• exclusions for symptoms that began before purchase;
• exclusions for motorcycles, sports, work or long-term residence;
• geographical restrictions;
• the effect of official travel warnings.

Travel against an official government warning can affect coverage under some policies. This does not mean that one country's warning automatically determines every insurer's decision. The broader lesson is that insurers assess the exact location, activity and official risk environment, not just the country name.

Medical evacuation deserves its own review

Do not treat evacuation as a decorative line in the policy summary.

Specialist trauma care and certain complex treatments may be limited outside major cities. Review:

• the maximum limit;
• who decides whether evacuation is necessary;
• eligible destinations;
• transport arrangements;
• whether a family member can accompany you;
• whether repatriation is included;
• exclusions for particular activities or regions.

Save the policy number, emergency phone number and approval procedure on one offline page.

A long policy document buried in email is not useful during an emergency.

A trusted person at home should also know where the policy is stored.

Coverage for baggage, trip cancellation and personal liability may be valuable, but it should not distract from the central issue: whether serious medical costs and evacuation are realistically covered.

Resolve medication before leaving

A move is not the time to change treatment without medical advice or assemble a random “tropical medicine kit” from online comments.

Before departure, speak with a doctor who understands:

• your medical history;
• the length of stay;
• the route;
• planned activities;
• rural or forest travel;
• current medication.

For regular prescriptions, prepare a reasonable supply with a buffer for delays or the time needed to find a local doctor.

Keep medicines in original packaging.

For prescription items, carry:

• the prescription;
• a doctor's letter where appropriate;
• the generic or international non-proprietary name;
• dose;
• schedule;
• relevant diagnosis where disclosure is necessary.

A familiar brand may not exist in Cambodia, or it may have a different formulation.

Check the legality of importing each controlled, psychotropic, strong pain-relief or injectable medication through official channels before travel. A doctor's letter alone does not guarantee that import is permitted.

Temperature-sensitive medication

Medication that requires refrigeration needs a separate plan:

• approved travel container;
• temperature range;
• airline rules;
• security-screening requirements;
• backup cooling;
• storage after arrival;
• extra time for delays.

Do not place your entire supply of essential medication in checked baggage.

Keep an appropriate amount in hand luggage, subject to aviation-security rules.

Vaccination and infection prevention

Health recommendations depend on the real itinerary.

Living in central Phnom Penh is different from spending time in rural or forested areas. Some malaria-prevention recommendations apply to particular regions and may require medication that starts before travel.

The decision belongs with a qualified clinician, not an article.

Long-term residence can also change the vaccination discussion. Some schedules require more than one dose, so consultation should begin early.

Factors include:

• age;
• pregnancy;
• chronic conditions;
• trip length;
• rural travel;
• animal contact;
• season;
• access to medical care.

Possible topics for discussion may include routine vaccines and destination-specific protection, including Japanese encephalitis or rabies where the itinerary and risk profile justify it.

Prepare a short medical card

A concise English-language medical card can include:

• blood group, if reliably known;
• serious allergies;
• major chronic conditions;
• international names of regular medication;
• dosage;
• emergency contact.

This does not replace a full medical summary, but it can help when you are stressed or unable to explain everything clearly.

Do not fill your luggage with random antibiotics. Unsupervised treatment can mask dangerous symptoms, cause side effects and complicate diagnosis.

A better basic kit contains familiar items approved by your doctor, simple wound-care supplies and a clear plan for seeking professional help.

Money: use three independent methods

The first days should not depend on one card.

A bank may block an unusual foreign transaction. An ATM may reject the card. An application may request confirmation through a phone number you can no longer access. A transfer may be delayed for compliance checks.

A resilient starting system usually has three components:

1. A primary card for normal spending.
2. A backup card from another bank or payment network.
3. A modest amount of cash for transport, food and the first day.

Do not keep both cards in the same wallet.

A backup card can have a lower limit, but it must work. Before travelling:

• make a small test transaction;
• confirm the PIN;
• enable overseas payments and withdrawals;
• check daily limits;
• confirm the expiry date;
• make sure the mobile application opens abroad;
• save the bank's card-blocking number offline.

Test verification codes

Understand where bank verification codes go.

If your home phone number stops working immediately after departure, money in the account may still be inaccessible.

Possible solutions depend on the bank:

• roaming;
• eSIM;
• in-app confirmation;
• a trusted-number process;
• another approved authentication method.

Test the process at home.

Do not assume that remembering the password is enough.

Local digital payments are useful, but not your only first-day plan

Cambodia's payment environment has developed rapidly. The National Bank of Cambodia supports Bakong and KHQR payments, and options exist for visitors and cross-border use.

Actual access depends on:

• home country;
• participating bank;
• phone number;
• registration requirements;
• identity checks;
• device compatibility.

Do not make QR payment your only plan before confirming that your specific application works.

Carry a small amount of cash and at least one functioning card.

Avoid travelling with unnecessarily large sums of cash. Customs declaration requirements may apply, and theft risk rises.

If the move is connected with a property purchase or another large transfer, arrange the banking route and source-of-funds documents in advance. Do not carry transaction money in a travel envelope.

Plan the first payment after landing

Know in advance:

• who is meeting you;
• where the meeting point is;
• the agreed transport price or payment method;
• the backup option;
• the address in English;
• how to contact the accommodation.

A clear address and saved map are more useful than hoping mobile data will work immediately outside the terminal.

Connectivity starts before buying a local SIM

A local SIM card is normally arranged after arrival, but you may need connectivity before then to:

• receive a bank code;
• open a booking;
• contact the driver;
• show the address;
• reach insurance assistance.

Before departure, save offline:

• accommodation address;
• area map;
• booking confirmation;
• owner or manager contact;
• flight and baggage-service details;
• insurance contacts;
• e-Arrival confirmation;
• an English address and, where the host supplies it, a Khmer version.

A map screenshot should show more than a pin. Include:

• the nearest major road;
• the building entrance;
• the project name;
• landmarks useful to a driver.

In Phnom Penh, a building may be known by a marketing name, street number and local description that are not identical.

Roaming or a travel eSIM

A roaming package or travel eSIM for the first day does not need to be cheap. Its purpose is to provide a bridge until local service is established.

Before purchase, check:

• whether your phone supports eSIM;
• whether the device is carrier-locked;
• whether dual-SIM operation is supported;
• whether the home number can remain active for bank messages;
• whether data roaming settings are understood.

Do not move every critical account to a new number before the local connection is stable.

Losing the old number while the new one is not fully activated can lock you out of email, banking and cloud storage at once.

For critical services, save backup codes separately.

Family communication plan

A family group chat is useful, but it is not a complete plan.

A trusted person at home should know:

• flight number;
• first accommodation address;
• expected arrival time;
• when you will next send a message;
• who to call if you do not make contact;
• where emergency documents are stored.

Agree on a simple escalation sequence before departure.

The final 48 hours

Two days before flying, do not restart the entire planning process. Test whether the system you built actually works.

Open essential files in airplane mode.

Confirm:

• passport validity meets the current requirement;
• the name on the ticket matches the passport;
• the e-Arrival confirmation is saved;
• accommodation address is readable;
• insurance starts before departure;
• bank applications open without home Wi-Fi;
• verification codes remain accessible;
• phone and power bank are charged;
• the power bank is packed according to airline rules;
• route and border conditions have been rechecked.

A compact final checklist may look like this:

• entry and transit requirements confirmed from official sources;
• e-Arrival submitted and saved offline;
• originals and copies separated;
• insurance active from the start of the journey;
• medicines, prescriptions and medical card ready;
• two cards and a modest cash reserve available;
• banking authentication works abroad;
• accommodation address and contacts open without internet;
• trusted person has the route and emergency information;
• flight, transit and land-border status checked again.

This does not make the journey fully predictable. It simply prevents one problem from triggering several others.

What can wait until arrival

You do not need to:

• buy months of mobile service in advance;
• open a questionable remote bank account;
• sign a long-term lease without inspection;
• arrange every domestic service from abroad.

Those decisions are better made after seeing the area, testing conditions and understanding your routine.

Before departure, it is enough to have:

• temporary accommodation;
• working documents;
• medical protection;
• a financial reserve;
• a basic connectivity bridge;
• room to change the plan.

Trying to solve the whole move from another country can create more risk than leaving some decisions open.

Apartment photographs do not reveal evening noise, access after rain or mobile reception in the bedroom.

Good preparation preserves flexibility. A ticket can be changed, a local SIM can be compared and temporary accommodation can be replaced.

It is much harder to recover an inaccessible prescription, unlock the only card or prove insurance cover that began after symptoms appeared.

This material is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice from a doctor, insurer, immigration professional, airline or bank. Entry, medication, insurance and payment requirements must be checked for your nationality, route, health and date of travel.

Sources

1. Cambodia General Department of Immigration — Cambodia e-Arrival system, including digital immigration, health and customs forms and free submission within seven days before arrival. Checked 19 July 2026.
2. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Cambodia traveller guidance on vaccination, malaria by itinerary, medication, medical insurance and preparation for care; page reviewed 19 February 2026. Checked 19 July 2026.
3. UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — Cambodia travel advice on insurance, transit risk and current border-area conditions. Checked 19 July 2026.
4. World Health Organization — travel-health and vaccination guidance. Checked 19 July 2026.
5. National Bank of Cambodia — Bakong, KHQR and official information on payment infrastructure for local users and international visitors. Checked 19 July 2026.

Frequently asked

When should I submit the Cambodia e-Arrival form?

The official system allows free submission within seven days before arrival. Check the current rules for your exact point of entry before departure.

Should I bring a supply of my regular medication?

For ongoing treatment, it is sensible to prepare an appropriate supply with a delay allowance, original packaging, a prescription and a list of international non-proprietary names after consulting your doctor.

Is one bank card enough?

No. For the first few days, it is safer to carry two independent cards, a modest amount of cash and tested access to banking applications and verification codes.

Can I arrange insurance after arriving?

Some policies can be purchased later, but travel before the coverage start date and symptoms that have already appeared may be excluded. Review the terms and arrange appropriate cover before departure.