PHNOM PENH: New quarantine periods are now in effect after having been announced by Health Minister Mam Bunheng on Saturday. They benefit fully-vaccinated travellers and reduce quarantine periods to between 3 and 7 days, depending on which category of arrival you fall into.
If you’re not vaccinated, you still have to quarantine for 14 days and make a $2000 deposit, unless you’ve pre-booked your quarantine at one of 5 approved hotels in the capital, but if you are vaccinated, life is suddenly a lot easier on arriving at Phnom Penh International Airport.
Officials and foreign diplomats with residences in Cambodia can quarantine at home for three days, providing they’ve applied for permission beforehand. If not, it’s three days in quarantine at a hotel. It’s also three days in a hotel plus a $600 deposit for registered investors and businesspeople – but they must be in possession of an invitation letter, issued by a registered company that is up to date with its taxes.
All other fully-vaccinated travellers need only quarantine for seven days in a hotel. Foreigners will also need to make a $1000 deposit, unless they’ve pre-booked their quarantine at one of the five Alternative State Quarantine hotels – namely, Sokha Hotel, Himawari, Courtyward by Marriott Phnom Penh, Raffles Hotel Le Royal and Sofitel. The deposit does not apply to Cambodian nationals. All vaccines are being recognized by Cambodia, regardless of WHO approval, but regardless of your vaccination status, all arrivals must show a negative PCR test within 72 hours of their departure to be granted entry into the kingdom and enjoy the shortened quarantine.
The change in quarantine periods is seen as the first step towards an eventual full reopening of the country’s borders, in line with the Prime Minister’s statement last month that fully-vaccinated tourists will be able to enjoy 7-days of non-hotel quarantine at their port of approval. The Health Ministry says this is on the cards for the end of the year although a final decision has yet to be made.
