Cambodia woos seniors

PHNOM PENH Cambodia will apply new visas shortly that will allow senior travellers to retire in the country on one-year visas without needing to apply for a work permit.

The new visa rule was supposed to be applied,  1 August, but faces logistical delays due to snags communicating details to overseas embassies.

The Ministry of Tourism responded to the news on the new visa saying it was preparing a tourism policy to manage the increase in senior tourists visiting Cambodia.

Phnom Penh Post quoted the tourism ministry deputy general director, Chhay Khunlong, saying ageing populations in developed nations such as Europe, Japan, and China continue to grow. The senior travel market is strong source of business for Thailand and Malaysia and in the long-run Cambodia stands to benefit from this relatively new market.

At present it is not a major factor as ministry data, shows that of the 4.8 million foreign visitors last year, just 4% of them were tourists over 65 years old. But as the trend continues, more senior travellers will head to Cambodia.

“The number of senior tourists will increase in the future, so we need to give the subject our attention now to create tourism products and services that reflect the trend,” he said.

Senior visitors need to be provided with better access to health care services and easier access to extend visas, as they usually stay longer, he said, noting that the ministry would work with tour operators to eliminate barriers to encourage more senior travel.

Immigration officials have confirmed a new visa category that allows foreign retirees to live in Cambodia for a year with an option to renew. The provision is very similar to rules that apply in neighbouring ASEAN countries.

Cambodia Daily quoted Ministry of Interior’s general department of immigration director, Sok Veasna, saying the new visa requires proof of financial stability and documentation proving retiree status from the applicants’ home countries.

But, unlike business visas, officially called “Category E”, the new retirement visa (Category ER) will be valid for a year and will not require a work permit, he said.

Recipients of the new visa will still be barred from owning houses or land in the country. A similar rule applies in Thailand for senior travellers, but they can buy condominiums outright (based on a building’s unit allocation for foreigners not exceeding 49%). They can also lease a property for up 30 years. Malaysia is the most liberal on house and land purchases, but the cost of living is much higher.

Cambodia’s immigration department hoped to apply the new visas on Monday, but that was premature as the overseas embassies have not been informed and officials said the actual fee for the visa has still to be confirmed.

Expatriates already retired in Cambodia, using business visas, will not need to switch to the new visas, but they can take up the new option when the current visa expires.