Vlog - E107 - How Hard Is It To Get A 1 Year Visa In Cambodia?? 🇰🇭 Siem Reap
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- So I finally was able to get my 1 Year Visa Extension. I discuss the options I had and the process itself.
Here is a link to Cam Smile, the Visa Company I have been using since arriving here. maps.app.goo.g...
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Awesome info as always!
Thanks. I try to make it as informative and as brief as possible. The process is daunting enough for most people without having to hear me waffle on. Haha
Fun Fact: As soon as you can show two years of visas in Cambodia you'll be able to get a park pass that makes all the temples and parks free to enter.
This is my favorite fun fact and I can't wait to get that pass. I can honestly state, that I will be using it all the time when I get it. Haha
#1 perk of living in Siem Reap for sure!
Fun Fact (of the Fun Fact) I learned the original Fun Fact from ForRiel.
10x easier than the hoops you jump through in Thailand! Happy to hear you've got it sorted and I'm sure Cambodia is happy to know you'll be wandering the streets for a little while longer!
So much easier than Thailand. I was always so confused there. Haha. I'm very happy to be here wandering the streets. Cambodia makes me very happy. So very happy.
I have not been asked for a photo for a few years, maybe it is just the first time. ABA is the most practical bank, their phone app system is accepted nearly everywhere, less cash. Ie I just payed for a 6 month visa using my phone. Keep well
I was asked for one when I did the 1 month extension, so I made sure I had one with me. I had extras from when I was in Thailand and I needed to use them up anyway.
ABA is the bank I'll be using and I can't wait to just use an app to pay for things instead of constantly dealing with cash.
It was awesome meeting you yesterday. I love how random life is and who you will bump into along your travels. Haha
Short as it was it's valuable info and much appreciated. I'm planning a SE Asia semi retirement and this is exactly the kind of thing I need to understand. Visas are becoming a more complex restriction for those that are looking at simiilar things, It seems Cambodia and Laos offer the best options to have a base on which to travel wider. Thanks again. I find your vlogs not sensational, ,just genuine, and as a result very helpful
When it comes to things like this that is just information people are looking for, I make the videos as short as possible. If I missed something, and people have questions, then the comment section works.
The last thing I want to do is make one of those click bait videos that promises information and you made through 20 minutes of nothing. Ugh. Haha
Jeez Louise Sean your weight loss has been phenomenal and inspiring. You are really looking like a movie star!
Sean has hidden diet he doesn't want share ha ha 😆
Thank you. I am constantly amazed by the changes in my body the past few months. Especially considering this is just happening. I am not on a diet or anything. i just changed my lifestyle. I look in the mirror sometimes and am shocked by the changes. It feels great.
Yeh it's so hidden, I don't even know how it happened. Haha
My Gosh Sean, you are looking younger and healthier along with your face being thinner. I need to start walking more and explore my surroundings along with eating healthier. My wife will motivate me to at least eat better. Have a great day. Respectfully
I feel so much better for all the walking and the food is definitely helping to make me appear younger. It's amazing how much happiness can make you look and feel younger. Haha
@@FrugalWanderer You got that right! Respectfully
Wow, VISA is super easy peasy… thanks for the update… ?? no $20,000 deposit into Khmer bank account… no check into the government every 90days? No health insurance requirement?
Yep. Another reason I chose Cambodia was the fact that it's way less intrusive to your daily life and the requirements are easy enough for almost anyone. I looked into Thailand but quickly gave up because it was so confusing to me. Haha
when you are looking for a bank ABA Bank is owned by the National Bank of Canada might be easier for transfers etc
That is the bank I'm going to use. I'm going this week to open my account with them. I'll find out how easy it is to transfer money at that point.
Thanks ….retiring in July ! Thanks for posting.
Congratulations. I hope you enjoy it.
Wow, getting close to that 1000 sub mark. Good work !!
Closer and closer every day. It feels great working towards a goal. It's definitely motivating.
Very easy no requirement except pay the fee to the agent who makes the process simple however using an agent although convenient also is much more expensive. Do it yourself and go to immigration with all relevant paperwork in order and it's around $180 , a significant saving .
My understanding that this is only available in Phnom Penh and the cost is $280 and not $180. As you stated. I'm not saying you are wrong at all, just that the information I've seen and what I've been able to find from the Cambodian website the retirement visa was only $10 more expensive at an agent.
Is it the retirement visa that you are referring to or is there a different one that I don't know about?
@@FrugalWanderer the retirement visa without going through an agent is definitely $180 . The advantage going through an agent is if you haven't got a registered lease agreement to satisfy the Foreigner Presence in Cambodia System ( FPCS ).
It took some digging to find this information myself and it seems that while you save the money, the hassle and the cost for me to travel to Phnom Penh in person makes it worthwhile for me to just go through an agency. I greatly appreciate the correct information though. It's nice to know that there are other options.
Keep sending good info thank you 👍
I will try to keep it up. I ramble enough in my other videos. Haha
Hi Sean Well done you can now rest easy and really start your amazing adventure
Yep. That's the plan. I have a few more things planned for the beginning of June around here, by the end of the month, I can start to wander around again. I'm excited.
Great info. Don't think I will retire anytime soon. Got many more years to go. By that time it's pretty much some pocket change on my retirement funds , lol😅
I wish I had done this years ago. Especially when I was working remotely. I would have preferred to do that from here than from back home. Haha
Great job... Very fast...and easy... Looking forward to hear experience opening a bank account...
Easy.
Thanks. I thought I may as well make a video that was as quick and easy as the visa process was. Haha. I'll be getting the bank account this week, so that video will be going up as soon as I have completed the process.
It's such a relief to have that visa sorted. Great news. 🎉
I never realized how much of a burden the visa situation would be until I came over to SE Asia in December. Thankfully it's not a difficult process here and it's a welcoming feeling knowing that once it's done, I can still travel but still have a home here. It's so important. Also the information you both provide in your channel is so helpful. It definitely made the transition for me much easier. Thank you for all you do.
🙏Sir Frugal - great information 💪👌
Thank you. I try to make these videos quick and full of information.
Wow, Cambodian’s VISA is the best…, better than Thai and even Vietnamese, Malaysian, Philippines, South Korean VISA…
From all of the ones I looked into, it is the one that wors best for my needs. Especially the ability of multiple entries. I can travel freely without any worries. That in itself is gold fo rme
Less than $300/year… let us know when you get your passport back. Most of us are nervous about giving our passport to stranger ( one of the warnings from the American embassy). Super easy, no report to the Cambodian government every few months or other crazy rules.., multiple entry which enables you to travel anywhere…
My passport was back within a week. They say that it can take up to 10 days. If you don't want to hand your passport over, you can go to the immigration office in Phnom Penh and do it there yourself. I do it for ease and the company I have used has treated me very well since I got here. They have handled the visas for a few of my friends here and no one has had any issues.
I do understand the concerns and I felt them the first time myself n
G'Day , got mine back in 8 days , no problemo ...😁😁😎
@@heymaddo mine took 8 days too. No issues here either. Haha
@@FrugalWandereris it Doable to come for month get Retirement visa then hopefully back to Land of smiles 😁 Hopefully okay I hope.cheers.Enjoying your vlogs and Blogs already and learning all so much.muchas Gracia's Senore 🎉
Good morning Sean congratulation for retirement Visa if you don't mind can you tell us what's the name of that agent you gave us very important information enjoy your day thanks 👍👍👍
The name of the company I used is called Cam Smile. I have a link to their Google map in the description.
@@FrugalWanderer nice name it sounds dentist's clinic thanks brother ha ha ha
@@Driver2724 I didn't even think of that until you pointed it out. Haha
Less hectic than the Thai VISA… you are required to have bunches $$$ in Thai bank account, You are required to check in with the Thai government every 90 days, You are required to have health insurance… Thai will tax you on your income even if you already paid in your own country…
All reasons that I stopped looking into staying there. It is a wonderful country and I fully plan on visiting more often, but I personally prefer the visa options here in Cambodia
thanks for sharing very good into as usual. will look forward to your video on opening a bank account. glad to know it will be ABA which I have heard other expats use.
I'm glad that you enjoyed the information I shared. I'll have the bank video come out next week. I haven't done it yet but I should have it completed in a few days.
G'Day As i said b4 , easy peasy , get a apartment lease agreement min 6 month then get 1year retirement visa 7-10 days then go to bank to apply for bank account ! done on the spot with all paper work simples !!!
That's the plan and my understanding as well. I'm going to find out if there are any odd bits, but most everything here has been easy to deal with, Soni don't expect anything different.
Quick, easy and cheap… just wait to the passport back ( some stress from waiting)…I think Thailand VISA thousands??? with many restrictions…Philippines is monthly??? for 3 years then you must leave the country??? Not sure if Malaysia and Vietnam have yearly VISA??? Too complicated…
Not complicated is my mantra these days. Haha. The passport stress is minimal. The first time I sent it out it felt weird, but they took care of me and they processed a bunch there. I felt like I was in good hands the entire time.
Thanks for the crisp and precise information. ✅
I try to make videos like this short and to the point. I hope it was helpful.
So you had no reservation oh handing over your passport and being without it for a period of time ?
When I got my 1 month extension I was nervous about it, but I am fine with it now. It's a process they are used to doing and they are really good about getting your passport back to you promptly. I had pictures of my passport and my visa on my phone so if anyone stopped me, then I had proof and I also carried the receipt with me. So that honestly eased any worries I had
Do they accept Riel rather than US dollars?
My understanding is that you can, or if you already have a bank account here you can pay with your app.
Most of the payments that are larger sums of money are listed in dollars and not riel here. Things like rent and visas are typically paid for in US dollars
hey, Sean been watching for a bit now and found you from Autumn in Asia. It is my dream to live in Siem Reap. just wondering what do you do for medical coverage.
Hey there welcome to the channel. I hope you are able to make it over here yourself one day. It is amazing here. At least for me it is. I have medical insurance from back home that covers me here. I know that there are options for coverage, but I have not looked into them because I do not have a need for them. I wish I was of more help.
Their - "retirement visa" - apparently - can be done on your own @ the bureau of immigration in PP only - but the actual fee for it is only $180 for the year. --- My thinking was a trip to PP on the giant i bus costs $14 - so a 'mini vacation' trip with hotels and other transport travel expenses - might cost little more than that $300 spent at an agency. > Just something to do. 🤔
I will consider doing it next year. I'm thinking of heading down to the south next April to get away from the April heat, so I will look into doing it down in Phnom Penh when I get my 2nd year done. Not sure yet.
The problem with too many bloggers is they love focusing the camera on themselves instead of actually showing the people and places in front of them. For what it's worth, In my opinion, a little less face time could go a long way to attracting more subscribers.
I do a few differnt types of videos. On the ones where the location is the main point of interest, then I point the camera away from myself. In instances like this where it is just a quick discussion, I maintain myself as the focus because it is more of a discussion and eye contact is important to get the point across. I do appreciate the feedback, but I do my best to balance it when I feel the need. Thanks for the comment
Welcome, buddy
Thanks. So happy to be here
great info again Sean
I had to learn as I went along. I figured it was a good idea to share what the process is.
Could we get together for coffee or lunch? You still in Siam Reap ? You are an interesting person. Could I contact you?
Yes. I am still in Siem Reap. My email address is in my about section on my profile. Feel free to reach out and we can schedule a time to meet up. I love meeting up with you all. I've been very fortunate to meet such amazing people so far.
So Cambodia permits UA-cam income as ok without the work permit . I thought ( don't know ) the Retirement Visa prohibits work . So there's a loophole for YT .
My channel is not monetized on UA-cam yet and because of the payout schedule, I do not see that happening anytime soon once I do get monetized. I will be getting the business visa as soon as that changes.
@@FrugalWanderer Excellent . Good to know . While here I was thinking perhaps with your cooking background you May want to consider a collaboration video with "Thyda" who does her " Cooking " vlogs . Really get into some Cambodian food . Could be fun for you . Thanks
@@user-er1on9yi9e once I get settled in ii am planning on talking with her and doing a collaboration with her.
@@FrugalWanderer This would be a good watch.
Thanks for the info. I live in Thailand but am thinking of splitting time elsewhere because of the new uncertainty over Thai taxes.
Btw, never give up your passport. Just go to the next shop if they insist.
I left Thailand myself for those reasons. I found the visa process to be much more accommodating for my needs in Cambodia.
As for having to surrender my passport, that's just the process in Cambodia. The agency sends the passports by courier to Phnom Penh to get the visa. It needs to be in your passport and stamped. Since there isn't a passport agency in Siem Reap, it's the process.
You can always pay less and get it processed in Phnom Penh, but I was curious about the process and how easy it would be in Siem Reap. I didn't have any issues at all.
@@FrugalWanderer Thanks for the detailed response. I am about to head back to Boston for a month (close out a storage unit and accountant consult) but Cambodia is def on the 2025 agenda. Been working SE Asia since 2001 but never made it to Cambodia.
@@stevemahoney6493 good luck getting everything sorted back in the states and I hope you are able to get to Cambodia.
New subscriber here, Your camera quality and color is amazing! What is it?
In this video I am using the DJI pocket 3. I add a simple lut to change the saturation, but it's just my preference. The quality out of the camera is great by itself but if you like to play with the colours, you can record in DLog m which is a flat profile that allows you to edit the colors to your liking. I don't go that far but it's nice knowing that there are options.
Hey Sean, Can you do a visa update for those of us relocating to SR soon? I'm probably going to fly out of BKK and arrive in the evening. I'm thinking that I will get a nice hotel (with an airport shuttle) for a couple of nights near Pub St. Then I will get a cheaper place while looking for an apartment. Any suggestions on everything, I'm sure your other subscribers will appreciate it as much as I will. Thanks, pal.
I can do a quick and easy guide. Things haven't changed since I did mine, but I can do one that covers all of what I went through. Thanks for the suggestion.
@@FrugalWanderer Thanks!
Great stuff Sean.
I ask myself how would I use my pension without a bank account for 6 months.
Or being a pensioner would they view me differently
If you get a 6 month or longer visa, then you can open a bank account here. I got mine with ABA. Depending on the bank you use back home, you may be able to transfer your pension over without fees. You will need to check with your bank and see if they can handle such a request.
@@FrugalWanderer Thank you Sean
u dont have to leave after tourist visa. u can go right to the next visa. been here yrs never had to leave
How would you go about getting the other visa? Go to an agency or is there an official place you can go for it?
you have to have a job already to get a work permit.
Good to know. So you can get a business visa without a work permit?
Do you know where exactly you get the over night bus in BKK to SIEM Reap??
There's all kinds of conflicting inf on line, if your viewer's have had 1st hand experience from using the overnight bus service from BKK to SIEM Reap, please give details like, location of terminal, schedule and prices
Thanks
E
Not interested in hearing from any and bul shifters
Sure thing. I used Giant Ibis as the company that took me from Bangkok to Siem Reap. They do not have a terminal, but they do have an office where the bus leaves from. Here is the link to the office where they picked me up at. maps.app.goo.gl/qAcB84rjBuNVotc56
Also I never used an overnight bus, they pick you up in the morning and you arrive in Siem Reap in the later afternoon/ early evening. Anything beyond this, I do not have information on because I have only travelled this way to Siem Reap. Good luck on your journey.
Are you familiar with BKK city?
I'm coming from Pattaya, wonder is the SIEM Reap bus close to a bus or train station, as I'm not familiar with BKK city
I wish I could help. I took a taxi from where I was staying in Bangkok to get to the Giant Ibis location. I don't know about any other buses coming to Siem Reap. I took Giant Ibis because of their reputation and the size of the seats. It's a very spacious ride and that was important to me. I haven't taken any overnight busses as of yet. I wish I could be of more help.
Ok, did you have the Cambodia visa before getting on the bus, or will this company demand that you have a visa before they sell you a ticket, or can you just get it when crossing the border, as the bus waits for folks to get their visa processed?
Giant Ibis offers a service on the bus if you do not have a visa in advance. They will process your visa for you while you are travelling. They stop on the way to get the visas so all you need to do at the border is get stamped and you are on your way. There isn't an easier way I've seen to do it. They do charge an additional $5 for this and you can pay cash for it on the bus. When I travelled they took either Thai baht of US dollars. No one on the bus that I was on tried to process the visas themselves. This was just an easier way to do it and we were across the border in less than an hour or so. I didn't mind paying extra to make sure that I didn't have any hassles at the border. One thing I will say though. If you're planning on staying in Cambodia long term, make sure you choose the general or the E visa instead of the tourist visa. I checked the wrong box on the form and I got the tourist visa. You can only renew that for one month extra, so I had to do a visa run again later to get the general or E type visa.