The Cambodia e-Arrival Card costs $0. It’s completely free when you file it on the official government portal, arrival.gov.kh. If a website is asking you to pay for it, you’re not on the official site — and you’re about to overpay for something that costs nothing.
That’s the confusing part of this question, though. A lot of travelers land on this search because a third-party site charged them, or because they’re mixing up the free e-Arrival Card with Cambodia’s actual visa fees, which are real charges. Below, we untangle all three — what’s free, what isn’t, and how to make sure you never pay for something you shouldn’t.
The Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA) is a digital form that replaced the old paper immigration, health, and customs declarations. It launched in September 2024 and now covers all air arrivals into Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Filing it — start to finish, QR code and all — costs nothing on the official portal.
What arrival.gov.kh actually charges
Nothing. There’s no processing fee, no “express” upgrade, no optional add-on. The form asks for your passport details, flight number, first night’s accommodation address, a short health declaration, and a customs declaration. You submit it, you get a QR code by email, and that’s the entire transaction — no payment screen appears anywhere in the official flow.
Why this question keeps coming up
Two things drive the confusion. First, a number of third-party booking and “visa assistance” sites have built look-alike versions of the form and charge a service fee to submit it on your behalf — legal in a grey-area sense, but unnecessary. Second, travelers often file their e-Arrival Card in the same sitting as their visa application, and the visa fee (which is real) gets mentally lumped in with the arrival card (which isn’t).
Why People Think It Costs Money (3 Real Reasons)
1. Third-party sites mimicking the government portal
Search “Cambodia e-Arrival” and you’ll find agency-run sites ranking above or alongside the real one, styled to look official, charging anywhere from $10–$40 for a form that costs nothing on arrival.gov.kh.
2. Confusing it with the e-Visa fee
Cambodia’s e-Visa costs $36 and is a genuinely separate document — it’s your permission to enter the country. The e-Arrival Card is not a visa; it’s the digital paperwork you’d otherwise fill out on the plane or at the desk.
3. Confusing it with Visa on Arrival
If you’re getting a Visa on Arrival at the airport instead of an e-Visa in advance, that also carries a real fee — typically $30–$36 depending on how you’re charged. Again, separate from the free e-Arrival Card.
Cambodia e-Arrival vs. e-Visa vs. Visa on Arrival
| Form | Purpose | Cost | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| e-Arrival Card | Digital immigration, health & customs form | $0 | arrival.gov.kh or official app |
| e-Visa | Your entry permission, arranged in advance | $36 | evisa.gov.kh |
| Visa on Arrival | Entry permission obtained at the airport | $30–$36 | Airport immigration desk |
How to Spot a Scam e-Arrival Website
- Check the URL. The only official domain is arrival.gov.kh. Anything else — even a close lookalike — isn’t official.
- Any payment request is a red flag. The real form never asks for card details.
- Watch for “processing fee” or “service fee” language. Agencies use this wording specifically because “we charged you for a free government form” doesn’t sell.
- Be wary of ads and sponsored search results. Scam and reseller sites often outbid the government portal in paid search placements.
How to File It for Free
What you need before starting
- Passport (valid for your travel dates)
- Flight number and arrival date
- Address of your first night’s accommodation
The process
- Go directly to arrival.gov.kh (type it — don’t click a search ad) or open the official “Cambodia e-Arrival” app.
- Fill in travel information, health declaration, and customs declaration.
- Submit — takes about five minutes per traveler.
- Save your QR code: screenshot, download, or print. The app keeps it available offline, which matters if you land without a SIM.
Saving your QR code
Present the QR code alongside your passport at immigration. At Phnom Penh’s newer terminal, some eligible passports can clear through automated smart gates using the same code.
Best Time to Submit Your e-Arrival Card
The 7-day window
You can file any time from 7 days before arrival up to departure. There’s no cost difference for filing early or late within that window — but filing at least a day or two ahead avoids a last-minute scramble at the gate.
What happens if you file too early or too late
Submit more than 7 days out and the portal won’t yet accept your flight details. Miss the window entirely and you’ll need to complete it on arrival or via mobile data while still in the air/at the gate — still free, just more stressful.
Pros & Cons of the Cambodia e-Arrival System
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free, fast (~5 minutes), no queue for paperwork on landing | Not yet required uniformly at land/sea borders — coverage still evolving |
| Digital QR code works offline once saved | No group/family submission — each traveler, including children, files separately |
| Combines three old paper forms into one | Scam/reseller sites actively target confused first-time filers |
Common Mistakes Travelers Make
- Paying a “service fee” to a third-party site for a form that’s free directly from the government.
- Filing outside the 7-day window, then panicking when the portal won’t accept flight details yet.
- Assuming the e-Arrival Card replaces the visa — it doesn’t; you still need a valid visa or visa-exempt status separately.
- Not saving the QR code offline, then struggling to pull up email at immigration without airport Wi-Fi.
Pro Tips
- File from home on a laptop rather than rushing through it on airport Wi-Fi.
- Screenshot the QR code immediately after submission — don’t rely on being able to reload the confirmation email later.
- If you’re also arranging a visa, do the e-Visa first, then the e-Arrival Card, so you have your visa reference ready when the form asks.
Who Needs to Worry About Cost Here
Flying into Phnom Penh or Siem Reap? Budget $0 for your e-Arrival Card. Budget separately for your visa — $36 for an e-Visa, or $30–$36 for Visa on Arrival, depending on how you enter.
