The Cambodia Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Program is the only economic citizenship program in Southeast Asia. Investors are granted Cambodian citizenship and an alternative passport in return for a financial investment in the country’s development. The primary investment is a $245,000 donation to the Royal Government of Cambodia.
Successful applicants receive a Cambodian passport within six to nine months, without the requirement to reside in Cambodia. A Cambodia passport supports geopolitical diversification by reducing dependence on one country, expanding long-term mobility, and reinforcing Plan B options.
This guide gives investors clear insight into the eligibility criteria, how Cambodia’s citizenship program operates, and the investment routes available to secure citizenship.
Key Takeaways about Cambodia Citizenship by Investment
- The Cambodia Citizenship by Investment Program allows investors to obtain citizenship for $245,000.
- Investment options to qualify for Cambodian citizenship include a non-refundable contribution and investing in a government-approved project.
- Applicants can receive citizenship approval within approximately six to nine months.
- The Cambodia passport ranks 151st on the 2025 Global Passport Index and offers wide visa free travel, including to nearby Asian countries like Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia.
- Eligible family members include the main applicant’s spouse and dependent children.
Cambodia Citizenship by Investment Overview
Cambodia’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Program enables foreign investors to obtain Cambodian citizenship and a second passport through an economic contribution approved by the Royal Government of Cambodia.
Cambodia CBI requirements include a $245,000 contribution to the Royal Government. Authorities may accept a business investment in a large-scale development or industrial project. Although the business investment starts at a minimum of $305,000, the overall cost pushes the total closer to $1 million.
While commonly categorized as investment citizenship, citizenship is formally issued through naturalization and finalized with a royal decree once Cambodian authorities approve the application.
Successful applicants and qualifying family members receive full Cambodian nationality rights, including a Cambodian passport as a strategic alternative, without requiring physical residency.
Benefits of Cambodia Citizenship by Investment
- Direct citizenship: Investors have a direct route to citizenship, bypassing the seven-year residency requirement for naturalization as a Cambodian citizen.
- Fast processing: The citizenship timeline is quick, taking just six to nine months for approval.
- No Language requirement: There is no requirement that applicants know Khmer to qualify for citizenship.
- No residency requirement: The path to citizenship does not include a minimum residency period.
- Retrievable investment: There is no obligation to keep qualifying projects running indefinitely, and investors may recover their funds once citizenship has been granted.
- Ownership rights: Cambodian citizenship allows foreign investors to legally hold land and property in Cambodia under the same ownership rules as natural-born citizens.
- Business opportunities: Cambodia is a member of the ASEAN Economic Community, which facilitates the free movement of goods, services, investment, and skilled labour across the ten member states.
- Plan B passport: The Cambodian passport is a strategic second passport, as it provides personal security through citizenship diversification.
Cambodia Citizenship Eligibility Criteria
Investors must fulfil the following criteria to obtain citizenship by investment in Cambodia:
- Be over 18
- Have a valid passport
- Be in good health
- Have a clean criminal record
- Hold a valid multi-entry Cambodian business visa
- Have the means to meet the financial requirements
- Investment authorization (for business investment)
Cambodia does not have a published list of restricted nationalities. Foreigners from any country may apply, though some applications pass through an enhanced due diligence process by the Cambodian government.
Family inclusion
Qualifying family members of the main applicant include a spouse and dependent children under 18 or with a cognitive disability. Other family members, such as parents or siblings, do not qualify for the Cambodia CBI program.
Cost of Cambodian Citizenship
The cost of Cambodia investment citizenship includes one of the following qualifying investment options:
| Option | Minimum Investment | Refundable | Minimum Holding Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donation | $245,000 | No | N/A |
| Business Investment | $305,000 (but closer to $1 million) | Uncertain | None |
Caribbean Citizenship by Investment requires holding property and enterprise investments for at least five to seven years. There is no Cambodia CBI holding period for investing in an approved project.
Government fees
The total Cambodia Citizenship by Investment cost depends on the investment. The government-approved project option includes a $20,000 company formation fee. Applicants should be aware that the total outlay for this pathway is generally around $1 million.
Other fees under the Cambodia Citizenship by Investment Program may include processing fees, such as an application fee and a passport fee.
Cambodia Citizenship Required Documents
- Completed citizenship application form
- Valid Passport
- Passport-size photographs (40x60mm) with a white background
- Criminal record certificate
- Bank statements or other financial documents proving the applicant’s ability to fulfill the donation and fee requirements.
- Valid Cambodian multi-entry business visa
- Health certificate from a Cambodian healthcare facility
- Personal details forms
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Birth certificates for children (if applicable)
- Company registration forms (required for project investment)
- Proof of authorization from the Cambodian Development Council (CDC) or the Royal Government of Cambodia (if applicable)
All non-Cambodian documents must be notarized, apostilled or legalized, and translated into the Khmer language. Translation and local certification are typically handled by the Authorized Agent.
Cambodia Citizenship by Investment Application Process
Step 01/ Get a business visa
Investors must obtain a Cambodia Business Visa to start the application process. This is also the stage at which the Company Formation document would be obtained (if applicable).
Step 02/ Travel to Cambodia
Applicants must travel to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to complete the following requirements.
- Background check
- Finalize Business Visa
- Open an account in a Cambodian bank
Step 03/ Pay legal fees and make the donation
Once the application is ready, the applicant must pay the required legal fees and make the donation to the Royal Government of Cambodia. If the business investment is chosen and accepted, it is completed during this step.
Step 04/ Receive an official invitation (around 1 month later)
After your payment is processed, you will usually receive an invitation from the Cambodian Identity Department.
Step 05/ Visit Cambodia to attend the Identity Department meeting
Applicants must attend an identity verification meeting in person. This second trip can be combined with the first visit, but will require a longer stay in the country, usually three to four weeks.
Step 06/ Citizenship approval
Once applicants have fulfilled the investment requirements, submitted all documents, and satisfied the character criteria, Cambodia (Khmer) citizenship is approved.
Step 07/ Collect the passport
After receiving a citizenship certificate, successful applicants can collect their Cambodian passport one to three months of approval.
Processing Time
The process for Cambodia economic citizenship takes six to nine months after completing the application and making the qualifying donation to the Royal Government of Cambodia, or investing in a project approved by the Cambodian Development Council or the Royal Government.
– Company formation (if applicable)
– Passport collection
Risks and Limitations of Cambodia CBI
Cambodia’s Citizenship by Investment option might seem like a decent way to get your hands on a second passport, but there are some pitfalls to watch out for:
- Don’t assume approval is guaranteed, as applications are approved at the government’s discretion.
- The Cambodia passport ranks quite low at 151st on the 2025 Global Passport Index, and visa free travel options are limited compared to passports available through other programs.
- Banking and international transfers can be challenging due to the country’s limited financial structure and stricter compliance requirements from global institutions.
- There is a policy change risk, meaning character criteria, thresholds, or conditions may change in the future.
How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?
Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments.
We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.
