How to a Get Cambodian Citizenship?

Cambodia has so much to offer that some of these might not have crossed your mind yet. While some Southeast Asian countries are so popular, you might think, why even get Cambodian citizenship? 

Getting Cambodian citizenship can be helpful, especially when you’re planning to buy a property in Cambodia. To be a citizen in Cambodia for venturing into the property market, here are the basic factors that you need to learn.

Ways to Get Cambodian Citizenship

Well, if you’re considering moving to Cambodia and enjoying all the perks of living here, that’s great. Moving and staying are two different things, so you need to be careful. If you move to Cambodia, you need to have citizenship. 

There are three different ways through which you can acquire Cambodian citizenship:

• By birth (pr descent)
• By investment (or donation, often referred to as expedited naturalization).
• By naturalization (including the marriage and residency routes).

By Birth

If you are born to at least one Cambodian parent, you will automatically be entitled to receiving Cambodian citizenship. This does not have anything to do with where you are born. 

If your parents have been living legally in Cambodia and you were born here, you can still claim your Cambodian citizenship. However, in this case, the only criterion is that you will need to submit all your documents appropriately to ensure everything is clear. 

Cambodia is one of the few nations allowing its citizen’s dual citizenship.

By Investment

This pathway remains one of the fastest and most direct methods for qualified foreigners to obtain Cambodian citizenship, officially categorized as Expedited Naturalization based on a significant contribution to the Kingdom. It is designed to attract high-net-worth individuals and bypasses the lengthy seven-year residency requirement.

To qualify for this route, an applicant must make one of the following contributions to the Royal Government of Cambodia:

• Investment Route: Invest a minimum of 1.25 billion Cambodian Riels (approximately $305,000 USD) into an approved project that is deemed beneficial by the Cambodian Development Council (CDC).

• Donation Route: Make a verifiable donation of 1 billion Cambodian Riels (approximately $245,000 USD) to the national budget or an official government charity.

While the base Riel figures above are accurate, it is crucial to understand that they do not represent the full financial cost. Applicants must budget for substantial mandatory government fees, processing fees, and official administrative charges which are often legally required on top of the base investment or donation. The total cost to complete the entire process is generally reported to range from $330,000 to $390,000 USD, depending on current fees and government review.

In addition to the financial contribution, applicants must satisfy several standard legal criteria:

• The applicant must be 18 years of age or older.

• The applicant must possess a valid passport and have a valid visa to enter and stay in Cambodia during the application period.

• The applicant must certify that they are in sound mental and physical health.

• The applicant must have good conduct and no criminal record.

By Marriage and Naturalization

The question is, ‘can you get citizenship in Cambodia by marriage?’ It may seem like a weird concept or even surprising to many, but this is true. You can acquire or, let’s say, secure Cambodian citizenship just by marriage. Although marriage and naturalisation are slightly longer routes, they are still very effective. If you want to go this route, your marriage must last at least three years.

That’s not all. You must legally register your marriage to get citizenship without any problem. Many may think that conducting a religious ceremony to celebrate the marriage is enough; it’s not. Compared to marriage, naturalisation is a much longer route. 

But what is naturalisation? This is the 7-year residency rule. If you have followed all the legal processes of living in Cambodia for seven years, you will be eligible for citizenship. However, you must also be very fluent in your Khmer- whether it’s writing or speaking. Apart from that, you must also pass a test to be fluent in Cambodian history.

Read also Property Investment in Cambodia for Citizenship

New Alternative: The CM2H Residency Path

For those who want a lower initial investment with a guaranteed path to citizenship, the government-backed Cambodia My Second Home (CM2H) program, launched in 2022, offers a strong alternative.

• Investment Required: Minimum $100,000 USD investment into an approved real estate project.

• Visa: Grants a 10-year, renewable Golden Visa with unlimited entry/exit privileges.

• Citizenship Timeline: CM2H members become eligible to apply for Cambodian citizenship after only five years of continuous residency under the program.

• Benefits: This route has no language or cultural knowledge requirements for the initial application, making it a highly accessible option for investors.

Why Should I Get Cambodian Citizenship?

Getting Cambodian citizenship can benefit you, especially in terms of getting investments. You can easily start your business. Since IPS is rapidly growing, many locals and foreigners are investing in various properties in Cambodia.

You can easily invest in the commercial properties and make the most out of it. As a citizen of Cambodia, you will be receiving various economic merits too. 

Let’s admit that having work permits and great visas looks too good on your portfolio. Don’t they?

The real estate sector is quite limited to Cambodian nationals. Even if you’re a foreigner investing huge amounts, you’d have to take the help of a nation for the approvals. So, why go through all that pain when you can get the investment and start with everything? 

Trust us; you will fall in love with this beautiful country, considering it has so much to offer.

Conclusion

Having additional citizenship, especially from Cambodia, is quite efficient. If you plan to settle in this country with pristine beaches and sky-touching towers, you need citizenship that will get you through. Once you settle here and want to invest in Cambodian real estate, you have IPS Cambodia (អាភីអេសខេមបូឌា) to guide you. 

With expertise and experience in the industry, we have all that you need to know to start investing in Cambodia real estate. For expert consultation, ទាក់ទងមកកាន់ IPS today!