Cambodia’s General Department of Immigration has issued a formal notice requiring all African nationals currently in the country to depart on or before May 31, 2026, as a previously granted immigration waiver comes to an end.
The notice, signed by Director General Lt. Gen. Som Sopheak and approved by Secretary of State Gen. Sar Sokha of the Ministry of Interior, specifically names citizens of Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Uganda, and other African nations as subject to the directive.
According to the notice, any foreign national who remains in or enters Cambodia from June 1, 2026 onward will face immediate arrest at the airport or any other location. Penalties include a two-year jail term and a fine of $8,000 before being permitted to leave the country.
Cambodian police have also been directed to conduct operations at known hideouts across the country to identify and apprehend overstaying foreigners, who will then be handed over to immigration authorities for legal action.
The General Department of Immigration has urged all affected nationals to comply strictly with the directive, stating that the Royal Government of Cambodia will not tolerate any violation of its immigration laws.
African nationals seeking information or assistance are encouraged to contact the General Department of Immigration directly at Tel. (855) 23 890 666, email info@gdi.gov.kh, or visit www.immigration.gov.kh.
