Thailand–Cambodia border crossings

Direct land crossings remain closed

The Cambodian embassy's checkpoint table, dated 3 October 2026, says all land crossings with Thailand remain physically closed until further notice. This includes Poipet opposite Aranyaprathet, Cham Yeam opposite Hat Lek, Prom opposite Ban Pakard and O Smach opposite Chong Chom.

Do not travel to a gate on the assumption that an old bus listing or eVisa approval proves it has reopened. Checkpoint status, accepted visa types and transport availability are separate questions.

The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel within 20 kilometres of the Thai–Cambodian land border. That is a travel advisory, rather than a legal exclusion zone. Check the advice applicable to your nationality and your insurance conditions before travelling near the frontier.

Flying: use the correct airport codes

For Phnom Penh, search for Techo International Airport (KTI). For Siem Reap, use Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI). Both appear as eVisa arrival points in the Cambodian embassy's current table.

Check whether your Bangkok flight uses Suvarnabhumi (BKK) or Don Mueang (DMK). Treat them as separate airports when arranging a connection. Read the dated flight result and include the airport-to-hotel transfer when comparing the total journey.

Do not buy a flight to one Cambodian city assuming its airport is close to the other. Use the city and airport code together when checking the ticket.

Through southern Laos: a separate journey with two borders

The geographic corridor runs Ubon Ratchathani → Chong Mek/Vang Tao → Pakse → Nongnokkheane/Trapeang Kriel → Cambodia. It requires entry permission for Laos as well as Cambodia. It is not a replacement direct Thailand–Cambodia bus service.

The border details differ by direction:

Arrange each onward leg before leaving the previous town. A checkpoint's opening hours do not guarantee a bus waiting beyond immigration, and a ticket to the border may end before Pakse, Stung Treng, Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. Leave room for an overnight stop rather than building a same-day connection around the last possible border arrival.

For travel from Cambodia towards Thailand, check Lao entry permission at Nongnokkheane first, then Thai entry permission at Chong Mek. Read the Thailand–Laos guide for the Thai return rules.

Cambodian eVisa, visa on arrival and e-Arrival

The official Cambodian eVisa portal publishes a Type T tourist fee of 30 USD and a stated processing time of three business days. Apply with time to receive approval before travelling. The Type E ordinary visa is a different category, priced at 35 USD. Check the final official application terms rather than paying a third-party application service by mistake.

The temporary tourist exemption for eligible Chinese passports ended on 15 October 2026. Do not rely on an announcement covering that expired period for a later journey. Check your actual passport category, including separate rules for mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

The Cambodian embassy says visa on arrival remains available at international airports and open land checkpoints. Eligibility and the documents needed still depend on your passport and visa category. Do not assume the online eVisa fee establishes the fee or payment method at an arrival counter.

Visa applications made after 3 October 2026 are issued digitally, including embassy-assisted applications. The embassy distinguishes those visas from a direct-portal eVisa, which is restricted to its accepted port list. Follow the instructions for the visa you actually receive and carry a printed copy when required.

For air arrival, complete the separate free Cambodia e-Arrival declaration within seven days before arrival. Its airport choices include KTI, SAI and Sihanoukville. A visa approval does not replace the declaration. For a land arrival, follow the checkpoint's declaration instructions rather than selecting an unrelated airport.

Returning to Thailand

Use the Thai visa and arrival guide for your passport category, funds, onward travel and previous land entries. The general land-entry cap has nationality exceptions and does not apply identically to every bilateral arrangement.

Submit the free TDAC within three days before your Thai arrival date. Flying does not erase earlier land entries, and neither a visa nor a transport ticket guarantees admission.

Thailand Transport Hub

Written and maintained from Bangkok. The people behind this site have lived in Thailand for two decades and cross these borders themselves. Routes and visa rules get rechecked whenever something changes, not on a fixed schedule that lets stale information sit for months.