cambodian visa - arriving from laos

[northin09]

Hi, planning on heading south through laos and cambodia, does anyone know if you can get a cambodian visa on arrival at the crossing from laos? I've read mixed reports. Anyone been that way lately?
Much appreciated.

[maximondo]

It takes half a day to get it in Vientine. Its sometimes easier to sort it out before hand.
I am not sure if you can get it on the boarder.

[vsboxerboy1]

I just passed through this border about a week ago.

Visa is available upon arrival $20 USD however, there are some extraneous charges that you probably won't be able to get out of bringining the total to $26 USD.

$1 to stamp out of Laos
$1 for health check
$3 for visa
$1 to stamp visa into Cambodia

Additionally if you show up on a weekend or after 4:30 add an additional $1 on both sides and if you don't have a picture it's another $2 so make sure you have some extra small bills. If paying in any other currency, expect to get a very unfavorable exchange rate (even kip) as they were asking 1200 THB and I watched one guy get just 60 USD for a 50 euro bill.

I managed to get through for $25 and was generally hassle free.

Hope this helps!

[mekongfrank]

I did the trip in 2006. There was no visa available at the border then. (Thanks for the info, vsboxerboy1) I got it in Vientiane. Cambodian landborder guards are known to extort some petty cash so I still advice you to get your visa at a Cambodian embassy in one of the neighboring countries.
Make sure you have US$ cash. The 'extra fees' climb steeply if you try to pay in any other currency (1200 Baht = $35 approx.) Regular tourist visa should be $20, anything they demand on top of that is 'tea money'. Try to avoid paying or settle for $1 - $2 at most.
Currency in Cambodia is the Riel (4000R = $1 approx.) Everyone, including the locals, is using US$ for any amount above $5. ATMs spit out US$ only, but I'm not sure if there is one now in Stung Treng. Have enough US$ to make it to Phnom Penh.
I'll be in Cambodia for 2 months after Nov 14, mostly in PP apart from maybe a 10-day dirt bike trip to Rattanakiri. Drop me a line if you like to know anything else.
You find pdf files of my 2006 trips in s.Laos, 2 bike trips in northern Cambodia and one in s.Vietnam on my website Kostenlose Homepage bei http://homepage.freenet.de under 'English Version' --> Traveltales.

[Jabez Clegg]

Boxerboy is right on the button, we came through 4wks ago and it cost a total of 26 dollars and was real easy and relaxed crossing. Pete

[beddhist]

Good to hear this is possible again. Met people who had been turned back, because they didn't have a customs permit from PP to cross this border. We were asked for a 20$ bribe each because of this, declined and turned back.

Cheers,
Peter.