06 Apr 2021 | 05:46 PM UTC
Cambodia: Officials ban nonessential interprovincial travel through April 20; other controls remain in force /update 24
Cambodia bans nonessential interprovincial travel through April 20. Additional nationwide and local controls still in effect.
Event
Cambodian officials have announced a ban on all nonessential interprovincial travel through April 20 in response to COVID-19 activity. Under the restrictions, only essential workers, goods transporters, individuals seeking urgent medical care, emergency response personnel, and certain government staff are allowed to travel between provinces. Authorities are effectively treating Phnom Penh as a part of Kandal Province for purposes of the restrictions. The government has also ordered the closure of tourist sites nationwide through April 20. Additional movement and business controls are possible.
Several additional nationwide restrictions remain in effect. Schools and some nonessential businesses remain closed as of April 7. Affected facilities include vocational training centers, cinemas, museums, and theaters. Nonessential gatherings are banned nationwide. Several state agencies, such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance, continue to require most of their employees to telecommute. Authorities also encourage people to remain at home unless engaging in essential activities.
Stricter protocols are in place in areas with high COVID-19 activity. Officials are empowered to impose nightly 20:00-05:00 curfews. Authorities in Phnom Penh are enforcing such a curfew through at least April 14. Exemptions to the curfew are in place for medical institutions, emergency responders, and persons working in other essential fields and industries. Several provincial and local governments have imposed localized business and gathering restrictions. Additional curfews, along with other localized restrictions, may be introduced at short notice in the coming days.
International Travel Restrictions
Authorities allow online applications for short-term travel visas; however, issuance is restricted to persons traveling for essential reasons. The short-term visas are valid for three months and allow the holder to stay in country for up to 30 days. Applicants for short-term travel visas must provide proof of medical insurance coverage in the amount of at least USD 50,000, a medical certificate from local health authorities issued within 72 hours before travel stating the individual is free from COVID-19; the traveler must also produce documentation demonstrating that the travel is for essential reasons. Travelers must take COVID-19 tests upon arrival and quarantine for 14 days at a government-designated facility. With limited exceptions, inbound foreign nationals must pay a USD-2,000 deposit to cover costs, including USD 100 for COVID-19 testing and USD 30 for a certificate stating they are free from the virus.
The issuance of tourist visas, visa-on-arrival services, and visa-free travel remain suspended. Flights from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines remain banned.
Advice
Follow all official immigration and health screening instructions, particularly if traveling from affected locations. Abide by national health and safety measures. Allow additional time for immigration and health screenings at all ports of entry. Consider delaying travel if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays.
