The government has modified Covid-19 quarantine requirements, shortening the duration for, among others, Cambodian officials, foreign diplomats and delegations, investors and inbound travellers in general.
According to an official notice signed by Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng late on October 16, quarantine length for Cambodian officials returning from overseas missions, foreign diplomats, technical experts, cooperation project managers and coordinators, as well as business people and investors with a guarantor or invitation letter has been reduced from two weeks to just three days. Their accompanying family members will also have to undergo a three-day quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated, or two weeks otherwise.
General inbound passengers, both Cambodians and foreign nationals will now undergo quarantine for just seven days, while unvaccinated travellers or those who have not been fully vaccinated must go through a 14-day quarantine. The new quarantine measures will take effect from October 18. The decision is aimed at protecting public health and easing burdensome restrictions for fully vaccinated people.
For high-level Cambodian and foreign delegations, the Cambodian government will determine a suitable quarantine time as warranted by the individual circumstances. “Inbound senior national and international delegations have to follow health measures and special quarantine requirements as determined by the government on a case-by-case basis.”
Cambodian officials returning from overseas missions must undergo a three-day quarantine and have the mission letters issued by their respective institutions in hand as well as medical certificates determining that they are negative for the novel coronavirus 72 hours before their arrival in Cambodia.
Similar measures apply to foreign diplomats and cooperation project managers holding A- or B-class visas. They can undergo a three-day quarantine at their embassy or detached residence, or hotels approved by the health ministry, including Himawari, Sokha Phnom Penh Residence, Courtyard by Marriott, Raffles Hotel Le Royal and Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, with the obligations on costs borne by the individual.
Foreign businesspeople and investors, as well as technical staff and their family members, have to possess an invitation letter issued by locally registered companies that have fulfilled their tax obligations. They also need to hold a Covid-19 insurance policy issued by Forte Insurance (Cambodia) Plc, which is currently the insurance consortium. Upon their arrival, they must produce their booking receipts and take PCR tests.
Cambodians who hold a Cambodian or foreign passport with a K-class visa must possess health certificates certifying that they are coronavirus negative for 72 hours before they arrive in Cambodia and produce full vaccination cards or certificates proving they have received the jabs. They will have to take Covid-19 antigen rapid tests upon arrival and PCR tests on day 6 of their quarantine before ending their quarantine on day 7, the notice said.
Foreigners who work in Cambodia – including travellers and technical staff and their family members who have no invitation letter – have to go through similar procedures set for foreign businesspeople and investors. But they need to have $1,000 in hand upon arrival to ensure their expenses on quarantine in Cambodia.
Travellers who have not been fully vaccinated have to take rapid tests upon arrival and PCR tests on day 13 of their isolation period before being permitted to leave their two-week quarantine on day 14. For foreign nationals, they need to have $2,000 in hand, or proof of funds, to be used while in quarantine. The ministry emphasised that all visas must be requested at Cambodian embassies abroad, as visas on arrival will not be offered.
Blogs
