🇰🇭 Cambodia Guide

Your First 30 Days Back in Cambodia

You just landed. You may feel shocked, overwhelmed, or lost. This checklist will carry you through the first month — one day at a time.

Days 1–3: Land Safe

  • Get through customs — carry any official deportation paperwork
  • Exchange USD at the airport or a money changer (1 USD ≈ 4,100 KHR)
  • Buy a Smart or Metfone SIM card at the airport — 5,000–10,000 KHR
  • Call or message family to let them know you arrived
  • Check into a guesthouse (budget: $10–20/night in Phnom Penh)
  • Eat something and rest — your mind and body need it
  • Save Police 117, Ambulance 119, Fire 118 in your phone

Days 4–7: Get Connected

  • Locate your nearest passport or ID office
  • Open a basic ABA Bank or ACLEDA Bank account — bring your passport/ID
  • Set up Wing Money or Pi Pay for digital transfers
  • Have family send money via Western Union, Remitly, or Wing Money
  • Find a longer-term room — ask your guesthouse or search Facebook groups
  • Join 'Expats/Deportees in Cambodia' or similar Facebook groups
  • Learn basic Khmer greetings — people appreciate the effort

Week 2: Documents & Stability

  • Visit the Cambodian passport office if your documents are missing
  • Contact the US Embassy Phnom Penh if you still hold a US passport (+855 23 728 000)
  • Secure a monthly room rental — budget $100–200/month for shared or single
  • Research work permit or visa requirements if you're not a citizen
  • Visit a local NGO: Don Bosco, Caritas Cambodia, or LICADHO for support
  • Get a health check if you feel unwell — AIC Hospital has English staff

Week 3–4: Start Rebuilding

  • Apply for English teaching jobs — no degree required at some language schools
  • Register on Khmer24.com for freelance or local work listings
  • Look into tuk-tuk driving, delivery jobs, or gig work for quick income
  • Explore the NGO sector — many hire Khmer-English bilingual staff
  • Build a daily routine: sleep, exercise, connect with others
  • Read the Cambodia cost of living guide to set a realistic budget
  • Remind yourself: deportation is not the end — it is a new beginning
"Cambodia is not easy at first — but the people are resilient, the cost of living is low, and opportunity exists if you stay consistent. You can build a life here."

Next Steps

Find Housing in Phnom Penh →Get a SIM Card →Receive Money from the USA →Find Work in Cambodia →Emergency Numbers →Cost of Living →

Get the Laos Restart Checklist

A free, practical guide to your first 30 days. Housing, phone, money, work — step by step. No spam. Ever.