Employment

Updated 25 Mar 2026

Foreigners currently can legally work in Siem Reap. In general, Cambodia actively employs expatriates, particularly where skills shortages exist. Common sectors employing foreigners include tourism and hospitality, English teaching, NGOs, finance, and increasingly technology and consulting roles.

However, the Cambodian government prioritises local employment, meaning foreigners are typically expected to fill skilled or specialist roles rather than general labour positions.

Sectors Open to Foreigners

Cambodia does not publish a strict “approved sector list,” but in practice foreign employment is concentrated in:

Tourism & hospitality (hotels, bars, travel companies – highly relevant in Siem Reap)
English teaching / education
NGOs and development agencies
Finance, consulting, and professional services
Technology and digital roles
Manufacturing (management or technical roles)

Lower-skilled roles are generally restricted to Cambodian nationals.

Additionally, companies must comply with foreign employee quota rules, limiting the percentage of foreign staff relative to local workers.

Scam Centres: Warning

Foreigners seeking work in Siem Reap and wider Cambodia currently face a significant and well-documented risk from scam recruitment networks, which have become one of the most serious threats to job seekers in Southeast Asia.

Criminal syndicates routinely advertise seemingly legitimate roles - often in customer service, IT support, or online marketing - via social media, messaging apps, and even recognised job platforms, offering unusually high salaries and benefits. These positions can be fronts for cyber-scam operations, and victims who accept them may be trafficked into heavily controlled compounds where passports and phones are confiscated and individuals are forced to carry out online fraud under threat of violence.

Reports indicate that tens of thousands of people, many of them foreigners, have been lured in this way, with some subjected to coercion, beatings, or even torture if they fail to meet targets or attempt escape. Despite government crackdowns, the problem persists with scammers increasingly targeting foreigners already in Cambodia.

Jobseekers in Cambodia must take sensible precautions. They should never accept job offers that require upfront fees, offer unusually high salaries, or vague job descriptions. They should independently verify the employer’s legal registration and physical office presence.

It is also prudent to avoid offers that involve relocation to remote areas, border regions, or “special economic zones” with unclear documentation, and to be very wary of last-minute changes to job location—an established scam tactic.

Job seekers should insist on a formal contract, confirm the visa sponsorship details, and always maintain control over their passports.

Generally, using reputable job platforms, established recruitment agencies, and direct applications to known businesses significantly reduces risk, as does checking with embassies or local expat networks.

While legitimate employment opportunities do exist in Siem Reap, the presence of organised scam networks means that due diligence and scepticism are critical approaches for any foreign job seeker.

Digital Nomads

Cambodia does not currently offer a dedicated digital nomad visa, meaning remote workers in Siem Reap must operate within the existing immigration and labour framework.

In practice, this means entering on an Ordinary (E-class) visa—typically extended as an EB (business) visa for longer stays—rather than a tourist visa, as tourist visas generally prohibit any form of work, including remote employment.

Legally, Cambodia takes a view that foreigners physically present in the country and generating income may be required to obtain a work permit, even if their clients or employer are overseas. As a result, some digital nomads register as self-employed and apply for a work permit, providing proof of contracts or income from abroad.

However, the regulatory framework remains somewhat ambiguous and evolving. In short, while remote work is widely practised in Siem Reap, strict legal compliance generally requires an appropriate long-term visa and, increasingly, a work permit aligned with one’s economic activity.

Legal Requirements

To work legally in Cambodia, three separate elements are required:

(1) Valid visa (E-class visa)

Foreign workers must enter Cambodia on an Ordinary (E-class) visa, not a tourist visa.

The key sub-types include:

EB visa – for employed workers and business owners (most common)
EP / EG visa – for job seekers (short-term)
ES / ET visas – for students or technical workers

The visa is initially valid for 30 days but can be extended up to 12 months. More details on the visa are available in the Legal & Visas section

(2) Work permit and employment card

A visa alone does not grant the right to work. Foreigners must also obtain:

A work permit
An employment card

These are issued by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT). Working without these documents is illegal and can lead to fines, deportation, or penalties for both employee and employer.

(3) A job offer or employment contract

You must have a job offer from a registered Cambodian employer before a work permit can be processed. The employer typically sponsors and submits the application.

(4) Cambodia My Second Home (CM2H) Golden Visa

The Cambodia My Second Home (CM2H) Golden Visa allows holders to work in Cambodia. It also provides full rights to live, work, and invest in the country for 10 years, in addition to providing a pathway to citizenship after five years. Intended primarily for retirees, and offering a range of benefits, more details on its terms and conditions can be found in Legal & Visas section.

Work Permit Application Process

The legal process for applying for a work visa broadly follows this sequence:

Step 1: Enter Cambodia on an E-class visa

This can be obtained:

At an embassy
On arrival
Via e-visa channels

Step 2: Secure employment

You must obtain:

A formal job offer
An employment contract
Sponsorship by the employer

Step 3: Apply for work permit & employment card

The employer submits the application through the government’s online system.

Required documents typically include:

Passport (6+ months validity)
Employment contract
Company registration documents
Photos and personal details

Processing usually takes 4- 6 weeks.

Step 4: EB Visa extension

Once employed, the EB visa is extended (commonly to 6–12 months).

Step 5: Annual renewal

Work permits are valid for one calendar year and must be renewed annually (the deadline is normally 31 March)

Working without a permit

Although some small businesses may have historically employed foreigners informally, enforcement has tightened significantly since 2023, and authorities now impose substantial fines and possible imprisonment for non-compliance. It should also be noted that work permits are employer-specific, meaning changing jobs requires a new permit.

Sources of Work in Siem Reap

Online sources

There are several widely used platforms for finding jobs in Cambodia

Local and regional job boards

CamHR (one of the largest Cambodian job portals)
HRINC jobs
BongThom
Khmer24 jobs section

International platforms

LinkedIn (increasingly used for professional roles)
Indeed
Glassdoor

Specialised sectors

TEFL / ESL job boards (for teaching roles)
NGO job sites (e.g. ReliefWeb)

Informal channels

Facebook groups (widely used locally)
Word-of-mouth networking
Direct walk-ins (especially in hospitality)
In Siem Reap, networking remains a major factor due to its relatively small and tourism-driven economy.