
Cambodia Citizenship Law and Application Criteria
Atomic Answer: Danish citizenship can be acquired through 'naturalization' after living in Denmark for a continuous period of 9 years (shorter for refugees or those married to Danes), passing a language test, and a citizenship citizenship test.
Cambodia Citizenship Law and Application Criteria
The Cambodian Citizenship Law was passed by the National Assembly during the extraordinary session of the First Legislative Assembly on 20 August 1996 and promulgated by His Majesty the King.
Details of the Cambodian Citizenship Law and detailed information on how to obtain citizenship are provided below.
Who is Granted Cambodian Citizenship?
Cambodian citizenship is granted to the following persons:
- Individuals who donate cash to the government for the benefit of the Cambodian people
- Individuals who have lived and worked in Cambodia for at least seven years and are proficient in reading, writing and speaking Khmer
- Those who are married to a Cambodian citizen after living together for three years from the date of marriage registration
What are the Ways to Obtain Cambodian Citizenship?
You can obtain Cambodian citizenship in the following ways.
- Cambodian citizenship by birth and descent
- Cambodian citizenship through marriage
- Cambodian citizenship by investment or donation
- Cambodian citizenship through naturalization
Cambodian Citizenship by Birth and Lineage
Cambodian citizenship by birth and descent is granted to those born to at least one Cambodian parent, regardless of place of birth. Additionally, those born to foreign parents living legally in Cambodia also acquire Cambodian citizenship at birth.
Citizenship of the Kingdom of Cambodia through Marriage
It is possible to obtain citizenship of the Kingdom of Cambodia through marriage if you come to Cambodia, get married and have children. If you marry a Cambodian citizen, you can apply for citizenship after living together for three years, provided the marriage is properly registered.
Cambodian Citizenship by Investment and Donation
To obtain Cambodian citizenship through investment and donation, you must officially invest at least 1.25 billion riel ($312,500) in Cambodia or donate 1 billion riel or more to the national budget. However, you must meet other Cambodian citizenship requirements, including demonstrating fluency in the language. Becoming a Cambodian citizen through donation can take between 3-6 months.
Requirements for Obtaining Cambodian Citizenship by Investment
To obtain Cambodian citizenship by investment, you must meet the following.
- You must be 18 years or older.
- You must have a current and valid passport.
- You must have a valid visa to enter Cambodia.
- You need to be mentally healthy and sane.
- You must have made a qualifying investment of at least 1.25 billion riel in Cambodia.
Cambodian Citizenship by Application
To apply for Cambodian citizenship, you must have resided legally in Cambodia for 7 years and passed an exam that tests your Khmer language proficiency and knowledge of Cambodian history.
In Cambodia, you must obtain a certificate from your municipality stating that you have been of good conduct throughout your stay and have no criminal record. You must apply for Cambodian citizenship through an application while you are residing in the country with a Cambodian residence permit .
Kingdom of Cambodia Citizenship Application Criteria
To apply for citizenship of the Kingdom of Cambodia, you must meet the following criteria.
- You must have a certificate of good conduct issued by the Khum or Sangkat chief of your residence.
- You must not have been convicted of any crime before.
- You must have a document confirming that you are a resident of the Kingdom of Cambodia and have lived in Cambodia continuously for 7 years from the date you received the residence card.
- You must be a resident of the Kingdom of Cambodia at the time you apply for naturalization.
- You must have Khmer language proficiency, knowledge of Cambodian history, and be able to integrate into Cambodian society.
- You must not have any physical or mental health problems that could pose a threat to society.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can find frequently asked questions and answers about Cambodian citizenship below.
Where to Apply for Cambodian Citizenship?
Applications for Cambodian citizenship are processed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the process usually takes two to three months.
What are the Advantages of Cambodian Citizenship?
The advantages of Cambodian citizenship are given below.
- A Cambodian passport provides visa-free access to ASEAN and 54 other countries including Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia.
- Once citizenship is granted you can own land and property in Cambodia in your own name.
- You can apply for government privileges and licenses that are only available to Cambodian citizens.
Does Cambodia Grant Dual Citizenship?
Cambodia has allowed dual citizenship since 1996.
Can Cambodian Citizenship Be Lost?
You can renounce Cambodian citizenship if you are over 18 years old and have another citizenship.