Cambodia Work Permit: A Complete 2025 Application Guide for Employers & Freelancers
This guide ends the confusion. It provides two simple, step-by-step paths for getting your Cambodia work permit—one for employers and one for freelancers. This is your complete 2025 compliance plan.
What is a Cambodia Work Permit? (And Why It’s Not Your Visa)
This is the single most important rule to understand. The two documents you need for a legal life in Cambodia come from two different government ministries.
Your EB (Business) Visa: This is a sticker in your passport from the Ministry of Interior (Immigration Department). It gives you the legal right to stay in Cambodia long-term.
Your Work Permit: This is a plastic card (and employment book) from the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT). It gives you the legal right to work and earn an income in Cambodia.
You must have both.
The Visa Renewal Trap
Here is the trap many foreigners fall into: an agent can often get you your first 6-month or 12-month EB visa extension without a work permit. However, the government has linked these systems.
For all subsequent 6-month or 12-month EB visa extensions, the Immigration Department will require you to show your valid work permit. If you do not have one, you cannot renew your long-term visa and may be forced to leave the country.
Work Permit vs. EB (Business) Visa
A clear breakdown of the two separate documents you need to legally live and work in the Kingdom.
| Feature | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Comparing Work vs. Residency | |
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Work Permit (MLVT)
Gives you the legal right to WORK and earn an income.
EB Visa (Immigration)
Gives you the legal right to STAY in the country (Residency).
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| Issuing Ministry | Two Different Government Bodies | |
|
Work Permit
Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT)
EB Visa
Ministry of Interior (General Department of Immigration)
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| How to Apply | Online vs. In-Person | |
|
Work Permit
Online via the FWCMS Portal (fwcms.mlvt.gov.kh)
EB Visa
In-person at the Immigration Department (or via a trusted agent)
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Part 1: The Employer’s Guide (The Quota System)
This section is for business owners, company directors, and HR managers. For employers, getting work permits is a two-step process every year:
1. The Quota: You get permission from the MLVT to hire a set number of foreigners.
2. The Permit: You register the specific foreigners you hire against that approved quota.
You cannot get a permit for an employee until your company’s quota is approved.
Step 1: Apply for Your 2026 Foreign Manpower Quota (FMQ)
The FMQ is your company’s “permission slip” to employ foreign staff for the next calendar year. The 10% Rule states your foreign workforce cannot be more than 10% of your total Cambodian staff (3% office, 6% skilled, 1% unskilled).
Step 2: Use the FWCMS Portal (“Enterprise” Login)
All applications are online. You must first register your company on the LACMS Portal, then link it to the FWCMS Portal (fwcms.mlvt.gov.kh). This “two-portal” sync is a critical and often-missed technical step.
Step 3: Apply for the Individual Work Permit
Once your FMQ is approved, you log into FWCMS and apply for each employee’s 2025 permit. You will need to upload the company’s Patent Tax, the employee’s EB Visa, their signed employment contract (with Khmer translation), and a certified health certificate.
Part 2: The Freelancer’s Guide (How to Avoid the $12,600 Fine)
This section is for digital nomads, remote workers, consultants, and any self-employed foreigner in Cambodia. There is a dangerous myth: “I’m a freelancer and my clients are overseas, so I don’t need a work permit.”
This is 100% false.
CRITICAL: The $12,600 Fine for Freelancers
The MLVT has been very clear: “Self-employed individuals must get both [a work permit and an employment card]”. If you are living in Cambodia and earning an income—regardless of where it comes from—you are legally defined as “self-employed.”
The penalty for being caught without a permit is not small. It is KHR 50.4 million, or approximately $12,600.
The solution is simple, but it requires a few steps. You must create a legal Cambodian entity to “employ” yourself. The easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to do this is by registering as a Sole Proprietorship.
The Freelancer’s Legal Path in 3 Steps
You must first go to the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) to create your business, then go to the Ministry of Labour (MLVT) to get your permit. Here is the process.
Step 1: Register Your “Sole Proprietorship” Online
A Sole Proprietorship is a legal business owned by one person. You register this on the Ministry of Commerce’s CamDX (camdx.gov.kh) portal. You will need your passport, a photo, and a lease agreement. This gives you the “golden key”: your Patent Tax Certificate.
Step 2: Use the FWCMS “Self-Employed” Login
Now that you are a legal business owner, go to the MLVT’s portal (fwcms.mlvt.gov.kh). Do not use the “Enterprise” login. You must find and click the login button for “Self-Employed” and register an account.
Step 3: Gather Your Documents & Apply
The document list is now simple. Upload your valid Passport, your new Patent Tax Certificate, a Health Certificate, and a photo. Pay the fees, and you will be issued a valid 2025 Work Permit. You are now 100% legal and safe from the fine.
Cambodia Work Permit Cost 2025
It’s easy to get confused by prices. Agency packages can cost $1,800, but the actual government and portal fees are much lower. Here is the DIY cost breakdown.
| Service / Item | Cost Comparison (Official vs. Agency) | |
|---|---|---|
| Quota (FMQ) Application | For Employers | |
|
Official DIY Fee
~$30 (Portal Fee)
Average Agency Fee
$200 – $400
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| Work Permit (New/Renewal) | For All Applicants | |
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Official DIY Fee
~$130 – $175 (Total)
Average Agency Fee
$300 – $500
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| Sole Proprietorship Reg. | For Freelancers | |
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Official DIY Fee
~$100 – $150
Average Agency Fee
$400 – $800
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| TOTAL (Freelancer DIY) | All-in Legal Status | |
|
Total Official DIY Fee
~ $450 (Permit + Reg. + Visa)
Total Agency Fee
$1,000 – $1,800+
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Key Portals & Documents
These are the key websites and documents you will encounter during your application.
Key Government Offices in Phnom Penh
While most steps are online, these are the main government departments involved in the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the penalty for not having a work permit in 2025?
The penalties are very high. For an employer, the fine is approximately $3,150 per employee found without a permit. For a freelancer or self-employed person, the fine is a flat KHR 50.4 million, which is about $12,600.
Can I get my 12-month EB visa extension without a work permit?
No. You might get your very first 6- or 12-month EB visa extension without one, but all subsequent renewals require you to show a valid work permit and employment card. Without it, you cannot renew your long-term visa.
Do I need a work permit if I am a digital nomad in Cambodia?
Yes. Cambodia does not have a “digital nomad visa.” If you are working remotely while living in Cambodia, you are legally defined as “self-employed.” MLVT rules clearly state that all self-employed foreigners must have a work permit, or they face the $12,600 fine. You must register a sole proprietorship to comply.
What is the FWCMS portal?
The FWCMS (fwcms.mlvt.gov.kh) is the official government website from the Ministry of Labour (MLVT). It is used to manage all foreign worker quota and work permit applications.
What is the Foreign Manpower Quota (FMQ)?
The FMQ is the annual permission a company must get from the MLVT before it can hire foreign workers. This quota is capped at 10% of the company’s total Cambodian workforce and must be applied for every year by November 30 for the following year.
Need Help with Your Visa or Work Permit?
The process is complex, but you don’t have to do it alone. Connect with our vetted legal and visa service partners to ensure your application is fast, correct, and stress-free.
Get Professional AssistanceCambodia Work Permit 2025:
The Compliance Engine
Forget the confusion. This is the definitive, asymmetric guide for Employers and Freelancers to navigate the Ministry of Labour (MLVT) compliance protocols without the $12,600 fine.
Work Permit vs. Visa: The Vital Distinction
Most expats fail here. They confuse Residency (Immigration) with Employment (Labour). The government has linked these databases. You cannot renew your long-term Visa without the Work Permit.
Agency Markup Warning: Agencies often charge $400+ for a service that costs ~$130 in government fees. The DIY route via FWCMS is now English-friendly and viable.
The Freelancer Protocol
The “I work for overseas clients” excuse is invalid. You are self-employed. Follow this exact sequence to legitimize your status.
Register Sole Proprietorship
Log into CamDX. Create a one-person business. This generates your Patent Tax Certificate—the key to the next door.
Register on FWCMS
Go to fwcms.mlvt.gov.kh. Select “Self-Employed.” Do not select Enterprise. Upload your Patent Tax.
Bio-Data & Medical
Upload your medical check (can be done at authorized clinics) and passport bio-page. Pay the fee (~$130). Print your digital permit.
Strategic Locations
System Overload?
The DIY route saves money, but time is your most valuable asset. We have vetted partners who handle the bureaucracy for you.
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