What proof of onward travel means here
Evidence that you will leave Cambodia before your permitted stay ends, usually a flight out with a booking reference someone can look up. The full explanation, including what does and does not count, is in our proof of onward travel guide.
When you may be asked
- At check-in for a one-way flight to Techo International (KTI) or Siem Reap Angkor International (SAI), especially if you plan to get the visa on arrival.
- At the visa on arrival counter or passport control, where officers decide on entry. No official source we reviewed lists a ticket as a requirement there.
- At land crossings from Thailand or Vietnam, where e-Visa holders can only enter through the ports the portal lists.
Airline and check-in
- Phnom Penh's airport moved to Techo International (KTI) on 9 September 2025. The Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Berlin says to select KTI instead of PNH on visa applications and bookings, and warns some systems still show PNH.
- The embassy in Washington advises checking with your airline whether you can board and obtain a visa on arrival. That decision is made before you reach Cambodia.
- Arriving overland from Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City means no airline check, but plan the e-Visa port: Poipet and Cham Yeam are listed as temporarily closed for e-Visa entry.
Why airlines check at all: do airlines check onward tickets?
Cambodia: what to know
- Tourist e-Visa (type T): USD 30, single entry, valid for 3 months, a stay of 1 month, processed in 3 business days on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs e-Visa portal.
- e-Visa entry ports: Techo International (KTI), Siem Reap Angkor International (SAI) and Sihanoukville International (KOS) airports, and the Bavet and Tropaeng Kreal land crossings.
- Every traveller submits the free Cambodia e-Arrival within 7 days before arrival, even with a visa, and then receives a v-Pass by email instead of an ink stamp.
- A tourist visa is also available on arrival, according to the Royal Embassy in Washington: bring a valid passport and a recent photo, and forms are handed out on arrival. Separately, the embassy says its tourist visa can be extended for another 30 days at the Cambodia Immigration Office.
- ASEAN and some other passports are visa-exempt. The Washington embassy's list was last updated in October 2021, so confirm your passport before travel.
What may count as proof
- A flight out of Cambodia with a booking reference, for the airline counter.
- A passport valid at least six months from entry, with a blank page if you will get a visa sticker or a visa on arrival.
- Your e-Visa approval, or a passport photo for the visa on arrival.
- Your e-Arrival confirmation.
Reservation or paid ticket
| Reservation (hold) | Paid ticket | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A seat held in the airline's system, unpaid | A paid fare with an e-ticket number |
| Booking reference | Yes, verifiable on the airline's site | Yes |
| Can you board with it | No, unless you pay the airline before the deadline | Yes |
| How long it lasts | Until the airline's payment deadline, often hours to a few days | Until the flight |
| If you do not use it | The airline releases the seats automatically | Refund depends on the fare rules |
How to check one yourself: verify a flight reservation.
When to arrange it
Submit the e-Arrival within 7 days before arrival, and allow 3 business days for an e-Visa. Create the onward reservation for your check-in day, since the airline is the most likely place to be asked.
Common mistakes
- Booking or applying with PNH. Phnom Penh flights now use Techo International (KTI).
- Planning an e-Visa entry at Poipet from Bangkok while that port is closed for e-Visa entry.
- Skipping the e-Arrival because you already have a visa. The e-Visa portal says all travellers submit it.
- Paying an unofficial e-Arrival or e-Visa site. The official addresses are arrival.gov.kh and evisa.gov.kh.
Cambodia questions
01Does Cambodia require an onward ticket?
We found no official Cambodian source that lists one as an entry condition. Airlines can still ask before a one-way flight, which is why a verifiable reservation is useful. Run Trip Check for your passport.
02Which airport code should I use for Phnom Penh?
KTI. The Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Berlin says Techo International replaced Phnom Penh International (PNH) from 9 September 2025 and asks travellers to use KTI on visa applications and bookings.
03Can I get a visa on arrival in Cambodia?
The Royal Embassy in Washington says yes, with a valid passport and a recent photo, while recommending a visa before travel and checking with your airline that you can board without one.
04Can I leave Cambodia by bus?
Yes. Bavet toward Ho Chi Minh City is on the e-Visa port list. For the airline check before you fly in, a dated flight is easier to verify. See the Vietnam page or the Thailand page for the next border.
Typical onward routes from Phnom Penh
- KTI → BKK Bangkok
- KTI → SGN Ho Chi Minh City
- KTI → KUL Kuala Lumpur
- KTI → SIN Singapore
- KTI → HAN Hanoi
Sources
- 1Cambodia e-Visa · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia · checked 29 September 2026
- 2Cambodia e-Arrival · Government of Cambodia · checked 29 September 2026
- 3Tourist (Type-T) Visa · Royal Embassy of Cambodia, Washington D.C. · checked 29 September 2026
- 4Techo International Airport (KTI) Officially Opens · Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Berlin · checked 29 September 2026
Last reviewed 29 September 2026. Rules change: confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel. How we research · Report a correction