Cambodia VISA on arrival via land crossing

We have had several complaints about the VISA service and price on the Poi Pet border for entering Cambodia. The legal price for a 30day Cambodia VISA is 20$ on the Internet, at the embassy and on border arrival. If you want to apply for the VISA at the embassy or on the internet you may be asked to wait several days for processing, so make sure you get that done at least a week before crossing the border.

If you have booked a transportation from Bangkok to Siem Reap, you will notice 'guides' on the border who will want to help you with your VISA application. It's a service you can decide to pay for and can be anything between 1.000Baht to 1.300Baht, so almost twice as much. People have been misinformed and forced to apply for the VISA with the guides. You do not have to do this, you can by all means go straight to the immigration officers and pay the 20$ and receive a VISA after having checked out of Thailand although it can take longer at times.

On the internet you will hear plenty of stories about this, some have paid 20$ some were charged 1.100Baht or more regardless of the Cambodian VISA set price. Remember, this is SE Asia so keep in mind there is corruption and not every officer is in a good mood lol

Kev

We crossed the border to Poi Pet in April 2012, here are some of our experience and tips for other travellers.

1. As you say the price for visa at the border is 20 dollars. The guides will stop you at a café a couple of miles from the border where you will have lunch. They will try to sell a visa to you and tell you it is much faster this way. This is not true, they go through the same process as everybody else and in the end you will end up waiting for them to give you your visa while everyone else is already done. Tip: Do it yourself at the border.

2. The visa process at the border is really straight forward. Don't worry about it. You will need ONE passport photo and the 20 dollars for the visa. The officials will ask you for an extra 100 Baht when you apply. Note that this is a skam, if you don't want to pay this just smile at the guard and ask for a reciept. Don't seem rushed or angry, just smile, be polite and insist.

3. Be prepared that no matter which way you chose to go (buy visa from the guides or do it yourself) it's going to take a while. There are two steps: 1. Get the visa. 2. Get the stamp in your passport. There will be lines to both of these. Be prepared, bring water, don't be frustrated and laugh at all the signs of corruption you will see (it's really a magnificent display )