Cambodia
Korea Visa Guide
Korean Visa Guide for Cambodian Citizens
Cambodia is one of South Korea's EPS partner countries and also has a significant marriage migration community — many Cambodian women married to Korean nationals have made Korea their home. Cambodia also participates in Korea's seasonal worker (E-8) programme. This guide covers all visa options for Cambodian citizens.
Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed July 2026
Review & source basis
Reviewed against
James Chae, 행정사 (Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney). License No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회 (Korean Administrative Agents Association). Reviewed against the HiKorea 사증·체류업무 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 and cross-checked with Ministry of Justice issuances.
Last reviewed
July 14, 2026
Source references
Nationality-specific issuance-manual sections covering Cambodia-linked consular handling, visa-required entry, and family-document review expectations.
Visa-type issuance sections supporting the main Cambodia-facing pathways, especially E-9, F-6, D-2, and E-7 routes.
Filing caution
Requirements can change by nationality, local immigration office, and filing channel. Confirm exact requirements with HiKorea, the responsible Korean consulate, or a licensed immigration specialist before filing.
Visa required — C-3 needed for short-term visits
Cambodian passport holders are not eligible for visa-free entry to Korea. A C-3 tourist visa must be applied for at the Korean Embassy in Phnom Penh.
Key Facts for Cambodia Citizens
Visa-free entry?
No — C-3 visa required for tourism
K-ETA eligible?
No
EPS partner country?
Yes
Marriage guidance program required?
Yes — Korean spouse must complete before sponsoring
Cambodians in Korea
~50,000 residents
Korean Embassy in Cambodia
Phnom Penh
Important manual-based filing notes
These points are drawn from Korea immigration manuals and recurring filing rules that often affect higher-risk nationality pages.
Korea Immigration Service (출입국·외국인정책본부): Nationality-specific issuance tables on visa-required entry handling, consular routing, and country-level document rules.
Ministry of Justice Immigration Policy Bureau: Stay-manual sections supporting document-validity, passport-validity, and pending-travel cautions.
- Cambodian passport holders should expect full consular visa review rather than visa-free or K-ETA treatment for ordinary travel.
- For F-6 cases, the pre-marriage and sponsor-side requirements are often where delays happen. Income, housing, interview preparation, and relationship evidence need to line up cleanly before filing.
- Civil records used in marriage and long-stay filings are strongest when recently issued, apostilled or authenticated correctly, and translated consistently.
- Where Korea requests medical certificates, keep to the exact filing instructions. Sealed or designated-format documents are sometimes required and cannot be casually replaced on the spot.
Best next steps
Based on common visa paths for citizens of Cambodia, here are the most useful next steps.
E-9 Visa — Document Checklist
Complete printable document checklist for the South Korea E-9 visa. Check off items as you prepare your application.
Korean Visa Fee Guide 2026
Official fees charged by the Korea Immigration Service for visa issuance, extension, and status change. All amounts are in Korean Won (KRW).
Korea Visa Processing Times 2025 — How Long Does Each Visa Type Take?
Real-world Korean visa processing times by visa type — D-4, E-7, F-5, E-9 and more. Compare official estimates vs. practical wait times, understand document bottlenecks, and learn how to avoid delays.
Korean Visa Options for Cambodia Citizens
Non-Professional Employment (EPS)
PopularApply through Cambodia's Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) in cooperation with HRD Korea. Must pass EPS-TOPIK. Eligible sectors: manufacturing, agriculture, fisheries, construction.
Marriage Migrant
PopularCambodian spouses of Korean nationals can live and work in Korea on F-6. Cambodia is one of the countries where the Korean spouse must complete the International Marriage Guidance Program before sponsoring a Cambodian spouse. F-6 leads to F-5 permanent residency after 2 years cohabitation.
Points-Based Skilled Worker (E-7-4)
Long-term Cambodian E-9 workers with 4+ years and 80+ K-Points can upgrade to E-7-4. The 2025 quota expanded to 35,000.
Student
Study at Korean universities. GKS government scholarships are available for Cambodian students.
Short-Term Visit
Cambodian citizens require a C-3 visa for short-term visits to Korea. Apply at the Korean Embassy in Phnom Penh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Korean spouse need the International Marriage Guidance Program for Cambodian spouses?
Korea requires the International Marriage Guidance Program (국제결혼 안내프로그램) when a Korean man marries a national from certain countries with historically high rates of marriage fraud or visa misuse, including Cambodia. The program is a 1-day education session in Korea covering cross-cultural communication, legal rights, and marriage health. The Korean spouse attends; the Cambodian applicant does not need to. Completion is required before the F-6 visa application can be submitted.
How do Cambodian EPS workers apply?
Through Cambodia's Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) in cooperation with HRD Korea. Steps: (1) Register with MLVT; (2) Pass EPS-TOPIK Korean language test held in Phnom Penh; (3) Employer matching; (4) Standard Labour Contract; (5) E-9 visa at Korean Embassy.
Can Cambodian students get Korean government scholarships?
Yes. The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS/KGSP) is available to Cambodian students. Cambodia is included in the list of eligible countries. Applications go through the Korean Embassy in Phnom Penh or directly through targeted Korean universities. The scholarship covers tuition, dormitory, living expenses, and a Korean language training period.
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