Cambodia's visa policy has suddenly adjusted, causing widespread panic among the expatriate community in Cambodia. Multiple agents and industry insiders have confirmed that the Cambodian Immigration Department has completely suspended the processing of EB category work visas and other business visas, even recently submitted passports have been collectively rejected, and applicants have been notified to collect their withdrawal materials as soon as possible.
Currently, the only visa that can still be renewed normally is the tourist visa, which has a validity of only 30 days. This move has put many foreigners who rely on business visas for legal residence into an identity crisis.
This change has led to speculation from all walks of life, with the Cambodian side possibly intending to emulate Thailand's policy by restricting visa paths and tightening residency thresholds to systematically clean up the gray market population. A visa agent in Phnom Penh said frankly: "This is not a delay, it is a complete stop." Social media platforms are also filled with a lot of mocking and anxious comments, with someone jokingly saying: "Want to stay long-term? Prepare $100,000 for an elite visa."
There is currently no timetable for the restoration of the EB visa. Some practitioners believe that this may be paving the way for the introduction of high-threshold plans such as "elite visas" and "retirement visas". Against the backdrop of hundreds of thousands of gray market populations in the industrial parks, this round of visa turmoil may lead many foreigners to face the cliff-like risk of identity reset.
