Thailand Expatriates Flocking to Cambodia in 2025 for Easy Visas and a Premium Quality of Life

Thailand, traditionally a global hub for expatriates who prefer living in Asia, has begun to change considerably in recent years regarding its key appeals for foreigners looking for long-term residency and live-in property investments.

Some of the factors which are pushing Thai-expats out of the “land of smiles” include inconvenient and expensive visa policies for long-term expatriates, rising costs of living, limited work opportunities and recent tax reforms imposed by the Government targeting expat incomes.

On the other hand, Cambodia has made huge strides in recent years to provide ease and convenience to incoming expatriates, with simple, cheap and easy long term visa options (including long-term retirement visas), the lowest cost of living in the ASEAN region, and huge boosts to lifestyle amenities, healthcare and other key infrastructure supporting the daily quality of life offered to expatriate residents. Meanwhile, Cambodia allows freehold ownership by foreigners, USD based investments, and no significant fees or restrictions on incoming and outgoing capital.

In this article, we’ll explore the top reasons why Thailand-based expats are crossing the border to Cambodia in 2025.

Why are Expats leaving Thailand in 2025?

Various factors are causing Thai-based long-term expatriates to look for new options for permanent residence in 2025, including neighboring Cambodia.  

Thai Tax reforms Targeting Expat Pockets:

A recent survey by the Thai Examiner revealed that 55% of expats living in Thailand are considered leaving Thailand due to concerns over new tax regulations which took effect as of January 1, 2025.  The new tax regulations demand that all foreign residents in Thailand for over 180 days must account for income remitted into the country. 

According to the survey, most expats indicated they may not file such tax returns by the March 31 deadline, raising concerns for the Government’s revenue targets and Thai-based expats long-term residency plans. 

Limited Work opportunities for Expatriates in Thailand:

Meanwhile, many expats in Thailand are increasingly frustrated by how few work opportunities the country offers.  

Many expats in Thailand are employed as teachers, noted a recent blog post by DanAboutThailand, however outside of this there are very few roles available for expatriate workers.  

“Unless you are highly qualified in another field and lucky, the only thing you are ever going to be able to do is teach. For around the same salary you started out at, with maybe a couple of thousand baht per month increase every year.” 

“Other expats are business owners, but running a business anywhere in Thailand is difficult. Not only are there laws you have to abide by that may not make much sense to someone from another culture, there is so much competition for the services or goods you sell,” Dan noted. 

This lack of economic opportunities has led to a mass exodus by working-age expatriates from Thailand in recent years.  

According to a recent poll, only 1 in 5 Thai-based expats are currently under the age of 50, and just 2% are under 30 years old. In comparison, in 2016 10% of the expat population were under the age of 30, and 33% were under 50 years old. 

The latest poll also asked Thai expats whether they were happier now than when they first arrived in the country, which only 39% confirmed. Interestingly, 44% of those who said they were unhappy in the poll were of working-class ages, under 60-years old, noting that ‘financial pressure’ was the main reason for their unhappiness. 

Cambodia, on the other hand, is an economy which places a high value on expatriate workers, and day-to-day business functions are conducted almost entirely in English language.  

There is a wealth of high-paying jobs available to foreigners in Cambodia, across all industries of the private-sector economy. Meanwhile, there are also a significant number of opportunities available to foreigners in the sphere of international development and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), allowing foreigners to not only gain employment opportunities in Cambodia, but assist in improving the quality of life within the country. 

Higher Costs of Living in Thailand

According to Internationalliving.com, as of 2024 the average cost of living for an expatriate in Thailand in around USD$2000 per month. 

However, those looking to live in rental properties in major hubs such as Bangkok may encounter higher overall living costs due to downtown condo rental costs of between USD$1500-3000 per month.  

Meanwhile, to purchase a condo in Bangkok, the average cost is close to USD$250,000 per unit. 

The costs of living in Thailand have jumped considerably in recent years, fueled by an influx of Chinese immigrants and other factors, such as the strengthening of the Thai currency and increased local demand for property in fast growing urban centers.  

Traffic congestion and pollution are also increasingly major concerns for expats choosing to live in Thailand’s capital city.  

In comparison, monthly rentals in Cambodia’s capital city Phnom Penh start from as low as USD$300 per month; and quality condominiums units in the downtown offering freehold ownership are available for as little as USD$58,000. 

Inconvenient and Expensive Visa Requirements for Long Term Expats in Thailand:

While Thailand offers a 10-year long term resident visa option, the eligibility requirements can be extremely difficult to meet, and the application process is long and complex. 

This has meant that many long-term expats are forced to accept short-term visa options which demand regular renewals of the visa, regular reporting to Government visa offices, and, in many cases, leaving and re-entering the country for visa renewals.  

Working and retirement type visas are also particularly difficult for Thai-based expats, meaning that many long-term expats are forced to settle for tourist visas, and complete a “visa-run” to neighboring country’s’ borders every 90 days when the visa expires.  

These hurdles to long-term stays come with a considerable cost and inconvenience to expatriates attempting to permanently reside in the country.  

Cambodia, on the other hand, offer several attractive visa options for long-term residency to expatriates, at very low prices.  

Here are the different types of visas currently available in Cambodia:

• E-TYPE VISA: The electronic visa (Ordinary/E-Visa) can be applied for online and allows a stay of up to 30 days in Cambodia. In fact, Cambodia was one of the first countries in Asia to offer such a pre-arranged electronic visa for short-term travelers. All new foreign arrivals to Cambodia must purchase a one-month E-type visa to be eligible for an ‘extension of stay’ visa. An E-type visa costs US$35 for one month as of 2025, with a one-year extension costing around US$350. It can be applied for through the websites of Cambodia Immigration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and eVisa Cambodia.
• TOURIST VISA: This is the most common visa for tourists, allowing a stay of up to 30 days. Tourist visas can also be applied for online, at a Cambodian embassy or consulate, or upon arrival at a Cambodian airport. The cost of a tourist visa is US$30 for one month as of 2025.
• RETIREMENT VISA: This visa is for people aged 55 or older who are retired. It allows a stay of up to one year in Cambodia. Retirement visas can be applied for at a Cambodian embassy or consulate. Find out more about Retirement Visas in Cambodia.
• LONG TERM VISA: Cambodia offers long-term visas, such as the business visa and the investment visa, which provide foreign investors with an opportunity to stay in the country for an extended period. These visas have longer durations compared to standard tourist visas, allowing investors to focus on their business ventures without frequent interruptions. These can be obtained online or at a Cambodian embassy or consulate.
• MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA: Cambodia also offers multiple-entry visas, which allow foreign investors to enter and exit the country multiple times within the validity period of the visa. This flexibility is particularly advantageous for investors who need to travel frequently for business purposes or oversee multiple projects in Cambodia. These can be obtained online or at a Cambodian embassy or consulate.
• WORK PERMIT & EMPLOYMENT VISA: Foreign investors who wish to actively engage in their business operations in Cambodia can obtain work permits and employment visas. These permits and visas allow investors to legally work, manage their businesses and employ both local and foreign staff, and can be obtained at a Cambodian embassy or consulate with the co-operation of Cambodian employers/business owners.
• STUDENT VISA: This visa is for people enrolled in a full-time study program in Cambodia. It allows a stay of up to one year. Student visas can be applied for at a Cambodian embassy or consulate.
• CITIZENSHIP: There are also several ways that foreigners can attain Cambodian citizenship which allows full and complete rights of a citizen for life, including the ability of own land.

Start to your journey in the Kingdom of Cambodia today! 

Learn more about costs of living in Cambodia. 

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Or check our tailored selection of trustworthy, freehold condominiums available for foreign ownership in Cambodia! 

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