So, you came to the Kingdom of Wonder and you fell in love with this beautiful country. The friendly people, the tropical weather, the awe inspiring Angkor Wat temples and of course the low price of beer. Now you want to move here, but aren’t quite sure how to go about it! Well, as always, we’re here to help. This article will loosely focus on Siem Reap, but all of the practical information here will apply to everywhere in Cambodia. If you’re planning on moving to Cambodia, read on!
Packing up your belongings and moving your life abroad is always a big decision and comes with many advantages and disadvantages, so make sure you read our article “Should I move to Cambodia?” before you make your decision and start selling your vinyl collection. The unwritten first step in the guide is “Make sure it’s right for you”. In this article we’re going to skip through the steps you’ll need to take in your home country and focus on what you need to do to prepare for your time here, and how to begin your new life as an expat.
Step 1 – Get a visa
The first thing you’ll need to consider is what type of visa you need. Click HERE to read about the different types of visa available for Cambodia and how to obtain them. Whether you plan to work here, or live a retired lifestyle, there’s a visa available for you. Cambodia has benefitted greatly in the past few years from having much better options for long term visas than it’s neighbouring countries Thailand and Vietnam who have imposed strict requirements for long term stays.
Step 2 – Get Connected
Mobile data is affordable and fairly reliable in Cambodia, and once you get here you’ll be wanting internet so you can stay connected while you’re out and about so you can check the MoreThanTemples site or assure your family back home you’re having a great time and not crazy!
There are several phone networks, but personally we recommend SMART and their SMARTLaor 6 package if you’re a data heavy person or wanting to use your phone to hotspot your laptop whilst you’re out and about. Topping up $6 a month will get you unlimited on-network calls and texts, and 50GB of 4G data. To set this up, simply head into your local SMART store and make sure to bring your passport so they can register you.
Step 3 – Get Insurance
This is something that often slips people’s minds, especially younger people. It’s usually cheaper to purchase insurance from your home country before coming, though there are insurance brokers here that will work with you to find you a good deal. Make sure you have good health and accident coverage.
Though we all sometimes feel invincible, nobody knows what’s around the corner and the last thing you want is a large hospital bill that you can’t afford because you were in a road accident or became ill. It’s a very familiar tale, and not something that you want to happen to you. So no matter your age or how healthy you feel, trust us when we say… GET INSURANCE!
Step 4 – Find a place to live
Once you arrive in Cambodia, we’re sure the excitement will be palpable but the next thing you’ll need to sort it one of life’s basic necessities, somewhere to live! Cambodia, and Siem Reap in particular currently has an overabundance of accommodation, whether you’re looking for a nice studio apartment or a 4 bedroom villa with a private pool. Because of this, rental prices are still very affordable. The best and easiest way to approach this is to first book yourself into some short term accommodation (Hotel/Guesthouse) while you get your footing.
This will allow you some breathing room while you look around at the various options and find your perfect home. You ALWAYS want to view the property before signing anything so you can be familiar with the neighbourhood and any downsides. Things to consider include how loud/quiet the neighbourhood is, how good are the roads in the area, what amenities are included with your rental price, and how close you’ll be to your new favourite bar or cafe. Whilst we can never predict when a wedding is going to appear outside our home, we can definitely make sure we have good landlords and live in areas that have everything we need.
There are several Facebook pages where apartments/homes are listed for rent, or contact one of the reputable real estate agents such as DaBest Properties, or IPS Cambodia. Personally we recommend going for a 6 month lease, as that’ll give you time to be 100% certain you have the right property for you. If you’re a good tenant, you’ll have no issues extending that for a longer period if you choose to stay!
Step 5 – Get familiar with your surroundings
This is a step that is more important than you’d think. Become familiar with your surroundings and make sure you know what you’ll do to fill your time! Whether you’re working in Cambodia or retiring here, you’ll need to know what you’ll do in your down time to avoid becoming bored (which can happen no matter how incredible of a place you live!). Take a walk around, check out the great cafes in the area you want to live, and scout out new activities.
Head to our “DO” category if you need ideas. Whether you want to play golf, lounge by the pool, join a chess club or meet likeminded people, there’s something for everyone and finding these things will absolutely make your transition to your new home a thousand times more enjoyable.
Step 6 – Get a bank account
In recent years, Cambodia has become incredibly familiar with bank to bank transfers via QR code payments on the KHQR system. Most businesses, from restaurants to Tuktuk drivers will have a QR code that you can scan to pay them directly from your Cambodian bank account. This is incredibly useful, and means you don’t have to carry as much cash, if any at all. It can also be great for paying monthly expenses like rent or utilities as you’ll have a record of when payments were made and for how much. Until you get a bank account, you can use the Bakong Tourists App to make digital QR code payments.
Providing you have a valid visa with at least 6 months validity, getting a Cambodian bank account is simple. Most banks have similar processes but ABA, the most used bank, just requires that you bring your passport (with visa), and supporting documents to show you live here such as a letter from your landlord stating you have a long term rental, or a valid work permit. Opening an ABA account requires a minimum deposit of $100 US.
Step 7 – Make friends!
Moving to a new place can be lonely unless you’ve got people to share your experiences with. Cambodian people are very welcoming and friendly, so if you get yourself some local friends you’ll have a great time and have a much more immersive experience here. If you’re also looking for other expats to hang around with, make sure to join some of the Facebook expat groups, or hit up some of the bars that are frequented by expats such as Picasso Bar or Spin Bar in Siem Reap. If you’re headed to Phnom Penh, Bassac Lane is a great place with lots of bars to meet other expats and locals.
For us, these are the most important steps to naturalising yourself in Cambodia. Check out all of our other useful guides about life in Cambodia and you’ll see that life here can be incredible if you’ve got a bit of helpful knowledge! Moving to a new country can be overwhelming but most importantly, it can be incredibly rewarding. Meeting new people, immersing yourself in new cultures and experiencing a new lifestyle can really give you a new outlook on life. If you have any questions not covered in our articles, feel free to drop us a message via our ABOUT page, or one of our social media pages as we’re always happy to help.
Any information in the article above was correct at the time of posting to the best of our knowledge. If you notice any issues or would like to chat to us about the article please get in touch with us via our “ABOUT” page. If you’re the owner of a business we’ve written about and would like to discuss any out of date or incorrect information, please get in touch and we’ll be more than happy to help! Any opinions expressed in our articles are our own and may not be representative of everyone’s experience. If you found this article helpful, please consider heading to our ABOUT page by clicking here, and leaving us a tip via BuyMeACoffee!
