Cambodia's ER extension: 55 or older, no income floor, roughly $300 a year
You fly in on an ordinary E visa, then convert it in Phnom Penh into a 12-month, multiple-entry retirement extension. The trade: no paid work, and healthcare you'll need to plan around.
This page covers who qualifies, what to bring, what it costs and where it falls short. Cambodia doesn't publish an ER fee schedule, so the prices here are what agents charge as of September 2026.
The numbers
The ER at a glance, 2026
55+
Minimum age
$35
Ordinary E visa to enter
30-day first stay
$275-$300
12-month ER, per person
via agent, 2026
$0
Legal income minimum
proof of funds may be asked
3-15
Business days to process
agent estimates
12 months
Longest extension
multiple entry
$10
Overstay fine, per day
7 years
Residence before naturalizing
counted from a residence card
Retirement Visa (ER)
For retirees aged 55+. Initial stay 1 month, extendable annually. Must demonstrate financial means to support stay.
- Government cost
- $35
- Processing time
- ~3 days
- Timeline
- 1 month from entry, extendable up to 1 year per extension
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Key requirements
- Passport valid for at least 6 months at entry
- Age 55 or older
- Proof of pension or sufficient savings
Step by step
From landing in Cambodia to a year-long ER
1. Enter on the ordinary (E) visa
It's $35 and gives you 30 days. You can get it online, on arrival at select airports, or from the embassy in Washington, which takes money orders or cashier's checks and needs 7 to 10 working days by mail. Skip the tourist visa: it tops out around 60 days and can't become an ER.
2. Get registered at your address
Your landlord registers you in FPCS, Cambodia's foreigner registration system. As of 2026, immigration may refuse extensions without it.
3. File for the ER in Phnom Penh
Apply at the General Department of Immigration, usually through an agent, before your 30 days run out. Bring a passport with six months of validity and a blank page, plus proof of retirement. Americans often use the Social Security benefit verification letter, a PDF you can download from your my Social Security account.
4. Renew once a year
The 12-month ER allows multiple entries. The $35 on the data card is the entry visa; the ER itself runs about $275 to $300 through an agent.
What the ER won't do
It won't let you work or run a business; that takes an EB extension plus a work permit. There's no government fee schedule, and visa rules can change by ministerial circular, so confirm the price with your agent before you pay.
Before you commit
Healthcare matters more here than the paperwork
The State Department says modern private hospitals are mostly in Phnom Penh, most hospitals want payment before treatment, and U.S. insurance typically isn't accepted. It strongly recommends evacuation coverage; one 2026 guide puts a flight to Bangkok or Singapore at $3,000 to $5,000 or more.
Who should skip it
Anyone under 55, anyone who needs to earn money in Cambodia, and anyone who needs regular specialist care. Buyers should know foreigners can't own land, only condos above the ground floor, with foreign ownership capped at 70 percent of a building.
Help with the parts that aren't paperwork
Hunter Schultz
Healthcare Coach
A healthcare coach who helps you work out what level of care you'll need abroad and how to line it up before you move.
ExpatInsure
Global Health Insurance
International health insurance that matches you with a plan. Ask them about evacuation coverage for Cambodia.
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
Prepares and files U.S. tax returns for Americans living abroad.
Beacon Global Advisors
Financial Planning
Financial planning for Americans abroad, including U.S. retirement accounts after you've left.
Moneycorp
Currency Exchange
Currency exchange and international payments, including scheduled transfers from a U.S. account.
Quick answers
Cambodia retirement visa questions
Can my spouse get a Cambodia retirement visa too?
Each person needs their own extension. A spouse who is also 55 or older can apply for their own ER. For a younger spouse, ask your agent which extension fits, since we couldn't confirm an official rule as of September 2026.
Can I work in Cambodia on a retirement visa?
No. The ER bans paid work and running a business in Cambodia. To work, you'd switch to the EB extension and also get a work permit.
Is there a minimum income for the Cambodia ER extension?
No. There's no legal minimum income or bank deposit for the ER. Immigration officers can still ask you to show you can support yourself, and figures of $1,000 to $1,500 a month you'll see online are rules of thumb, not law (as of September 2026).
Does the ER lead to Cambodian citizenship?
Not directly. Cambodia's nationality law requires seven years of continuous residence counted from when you receive a residence card, plus the ability to speak Khmer, read the script and know some Khmer history.
What proof of retirement do Americans use for the ER?
A pension statement or Social Security documentation. Most Americans on Social Security use the benefit verification letter, which you can download as a PDF from your my Social Security account at ssa.gov.
Can I leave Cambodia and come back on the ER?
Yes, if you hold the 12-month ER. It allows multiple entries for the year, so you can travel and return without starting over.
How much does the Cambodia retirement visa cost in 2026?
You pay $35 for the ordinary E visa to enter, then about $275 to $300 per person for a 12-month ER through an agent, as of 2026. Cambodia doesn't publish an official ER fee schedule, and one agency puts all-in annual costs at $400 to $600.
How old do you have to be for Cambodia's retirement visa?
You must be 55 or older to get Cambodia's ER (retirement) extension. It's added to the ordinary E visa after you arrive, and you show proof of retirement when you apply.
Other ways to stay in Cambodia
Cambodia's EG extension gives you one to three months to land a job, not a year
You fly in on a $35 E visa, job hunt on an EG, and move to an EB with a work permit once you're hired. Here's how the pieces fit and where the rules got stricter.
Cambodia's student visa: a $35 entry visa, then an extension you get in-country
The ES itself is affordable. The harder questions are how you'll pay for school, since no Cambodian school takes FAFSA, and the fact that you can't work while you hold it.
Plan your Cambodia retirement with someone who's done it
An Expatsi advisor can help you weigh Cambodia against other places to retire and map out the move.
Why not you?