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"Go and look behind the
Ranges-something lost behind the Ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go! "
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Rudyard Kipling
Visas- The visa process is rather straight forward if you wish to come to live and work. It seems the best way to facilitate this process is to enter on a business visa which you can later convert into a one-year, multiple entry business visa. Unlike Thailand, you do not have to leave the country every 90 days with trips to immigration even unnecessary as a travel agent can handle the paperwork for you. There are individuals who have been in country 5 years who have never left and never been to immigration (or so they say). This by far is better than any other country’s requirements in the region for expats who wish to live and work.
A normal tourist entering Cambodia at Poipet overland must run the greed gauntlet of the border sharks. While the REAL price of the Visa is US$20, they insist on 1000 baht and 100 more for a 'health' certificate of no validity. Very patient persons who can resolutely, firmly and calmly insist on the correct price may be successful, but it is it worth the stress?
Also be aware that a business visa is issued either at the airport or from the embassy in Thailand for 30 days. It appears however to look like a 90 visa like in Thailand but in very fine print at the bottom it tells you it is only valid for 1 month and the 90 day dates is the period for which you can use it. If you make this mistake (as many do!), it will cost you $5 a day.
Tourist visas can be extended once only for 30 days while business visas can be extended indefinitely. In Phnom Penh Luckys Motorcycle on Monivong seems to be the place of choice to get the renewal of Business Visas for 3 months,(single entry only) 6 or 12 months (both multiple entry) ($72, $140 or $270 respectively). A visit to immigration is not required (as in Thailand) nor is an exit from the country every 90 days required either (as in Thailand as well). Last time I was at Luckys, there were hundreds of passports in their desk (I kid you not..) and they were able to take my passport on a Friday and have it back on a Saturday.