According to the Cambodian Tourism Ministry’s January 15, 2026 announcement, reported by AKP on January 16, the government had authorised a visa-exemption trial for Chinese tourists, scheduled for June 15 to October 15, 2026, with stays of up to 14 days per entry.
The announcement concerned Chinese nationals holding passports of the People’s Republic of China and said it applied whether travelling directly from China or via another country. Travellers still had to complete the E-Arrival Card; no visa application or visa fee was required under the trial, which allowed multiple entries. The implementation period had not begun when this article was published on May 15.
The measure was intended to promote tourism and attract more Chinese visitors. The original report cited unnamed industry observers who viewed the period as an opportunity to assess visitor demand and reception capacity.
The original report’s suggestion that the trial might be extended or even made permanent was a prediction attributed to unnamed tourism analysts, rather than an announced government decision.
Cambodia was also already using an electronic arrival system, which the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia had described in a 2024 notice. Electronic arrival procedures and the visa-free arrangement are separate matters.
English version of the Tourism Ministry’s January 15, 2026 announcement, reproduced at the time.
