Thailand to Cambodia by Land: Is the Border Open and Will Your e-Visa Work?
Short answer: If you plan to enter Cambodia overland from Thailand, check three separate things in order: whether your exact crossing is operating for ordinary international passengers, whether it accepts the Cambodia e-Visa, and whether visa on arrival is actually available there if you need it. An approved visa cannot open a suspended border. On 30 September 2026, UK travel advice still said Thailand–Cambodia land crossings were suspended. Do not plan to cross at Poipet or Cham Yeam without fresh confirmation from the relevant border authorities. The US State Department's Cambodia advisory also advises against travel within 50 km of the Cambodia–Thailand border.
Cambodia guides · Cambodia e-Visa guide
Check the border before you check the visa
Start with your intended pair of border posts, such as Ban Khlong Luek–Poipet or Hat Lek–Cham Yeam. A visa is useful only after you establish that ordinary travelers can pass through that checkpoint. Then match your visa type to the Cambodian entry point. If the e-Visa is not accepted, ask separately whether that same checkpoint is issuing tourist visas on arrival to travelers with your passport.
| Question to verify | What the answer changes |
|---|---|
| Is the exact crossing open to ordinary international passengers now? | If passage is suspended or cannot be confirmed, choose another route or postpone the crossing. Neither an e-Visa nor visa on arrival solves that problem. |
| Does the Cambodian side accept the e-Visa at that checkpoint now? | If yes, travel with the approved visa and recheck the route before departure. If no, do not assume the e-Visa will work there. |
| If you need visa on arrival, is it currently issued at that exact checkpoint for your nationality? | General visa-on-arrival guidance is not confirmation for a particular land gate. Get a checkpoint-specific answer before relying on it. |
For a US tourist, Cambodia requires a visa. The Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington recommends obtaining one before travel. For the electronic route, use the official Cambodia e-Visa portal or the Cambodia e-Visa application guide to prepare your application; check the entry point independently.
What current official guidance says about the Thailand–Cambodia border
As of 30 September 2026, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said land borders and crossings between Cambodia and Thailand continued to be suspended. That is a broad travel warning, not a minute-by-minute operating notice for every gate. For Ban Khlong Luek–Poipet and Hat Lek–Cham Yeam, seek fresh confirmation of ordinary passenger passage from the Thai and Cambodian border authorities before arranging a land crossing.
Reopening claims deserve particular care. In a June 2026 clarification, Thailand's Public Relations Department said a claim that Ban Khlong Luek had reopened for Cambodian students was inaccurate. The statement addressed that specific claim; it does not, by itself, establish the operating status of every checkpoint on your travel date.
The US State Department advisory issued 15 September 2026 rates Cambodia overall Level 2 but says Do Not Travel to areas within 50 km of the Cambodia–Thailand border because of ongoing military tensions. Check the advisory again as your departure approaches, alongside the border authorities' operating notices. A checkpoint reopening would not automatically remove the safety warning.
Will your Cambodia e-Visa work at this checkpoint?
The Cambodian e-Visa portal is the official place to check which ports accept an e-Visa. In the live portal status checked on 30 September 2026, Bavet and Tropaeng Kreal accepted e-Visa, while Cham Yeam and Poipet were temporarily closed for e-Visa entry until further notice. This status can change, so check the live portal again close to travel.
| Cambodian checkpoint | Live e-Visa status on 30 September 2026 | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| Poipet (Banteay Meanchey) | Temporarily closed for e-Visa entry until further notice | Independently confirm passenger passage at Ban Khlong Luek–Poipet, and recheck the live e-Visa status before relying on this route. |
| Cham Yeam (Koh Kong) | Temporarily closed for e-Visa entry until further notice | Independently confirm passenger passage at Hat Lek–Cham Yeam, and recheck the live e-Visa status before relying on this route. |
| Bavet (Svay Rieng) | Accepts e-Visa | This is a different land approach, from Vietnam. Recheck its e-Visa acceptance and passenger operations before changing routes. |
| Tropaeng Kreal (Stung Treng) | Accepts e-Visa | This is a different land approach, from Laos. Recheck its e-Visa acceptance and passenger operations before changing routes. |
The port list answers an e-Visa question, not a border-opening question. Match the exact entry-point name on the live portal to your itinerary; a listing for Bavet or Tropaeng Kreal does not make a Thailand–Cambodia crossing available.
Is visa on arrival a fallback at a land border?
The Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington says tourists can obtain a visa on arrival and recommends getting a visa before travel.
If your planned checkpoint does not accept the e-Visa, first establish that the crossing is operating. Then obtain current, checkpoint-specific confirmation from Cambodian authorities that visa on arrival is being issued there for your nationality and trip. If either answer is missing, treat visa on arrival as unconfirmed and change your plan. A closed or unconfirmed crossing cannot become usable simply because another visa type exists.
What to do when the crossing is closed or unclear
Before committing to transport and accommodation near a border gate:
- Identify the exact Thai exit point and Cambodian entry point. Ask the relevant border authorities whether ordinary international passengers can pass on your intended date.
- Review your government's latest border-area safety advice. US travelers should account for the State Department's 50 km Do Not Travel warning.
- If passage is confirmed, check the live Cambodia e-Visa entry-port list for the Cambodian checkpoint. If you need visa on arrival instead, seek explicit confirmation for that checkpoint and your nationality.
- If the route remains closed or uncertain, postpone the land crossing or examine an air itinerary into a Cambodian airport that the live e-Visa portal lists as accepting e-Visa. Check flights, entry requirements, and e-Visa acceptance for your travel date before booking.
FAQ
Is the Poipet border open to US travelers?
Do not assume so. On 30 September 2026, UK advice still described Thailand–Cambodia land crossings as suspended, and the US advised against travel within 50 km of the border. Confirm ordinary passenger passage at Ban Khlong Luek–Poipet with the border authorities before considering this route.
Can I use a Cambodia e-Visa at Poipet?
In the live official portal status checked on 30 September 2026, Poipet was temporarily closed for e-Visa entry until further notice. Check the live portal again close to travel. Even a changed visa listing would not establish that the border is open.
Can I use a Cambodia e-Visa at Cham Yeam?
In the same live portal status, Cham Yeam was temporarily closed for e-Visa entry until further notice. Recheck the live portal and independently confirm ordinary passenger passage at Hat Lek–Cham Yeam before relying on it.
If a checkpoint does not accept e-Visa, can I get visa on arrival?
Possibly at some entry points. After confirming the crossing is operating, ask Cambodian authorities whether that gate issues tourist visas on arrival for your nationality on your travel date.
Does an approved e-Visa guarantee that I can cross the border?
No. Border authorities decide whether passengers may pass, Cambodian authorities decide visa acceptance and admission, and conditions can change. Carry your approved visa only on a route whose current operations and visa acceptance you have confirmed.
Getting help with the Cambodia e-Visa
You can apply through Cambodia's official e-Visa portal and check its entry-port list directly. If you prefer help preparing an electronic application, my-evisas.com offers optional Cambodia e-Visa assistance. Border authorities control passage, and Cambodian authorities decide visa issuance, acceptance, and admission. Visa-on-arrival arrangements must be confirmed with the authorities for the specific checkpoint.
Sources and review date
Reviewed 30 September 2026. Border operation: UK FCDO and the Thai government's June clarification. Safety: US Department of State Cambodia advisory, issued 15 September 2026. Electronic visa ports and the air-route entry-point check: official Cambodia e-Visa portal (live status checked 30 September 2026). General visa-on-arrival guidance: Royal Embassy of Cambodia.
Important Notice
my-evisas.com is a private company, not a government website or border authority. Its optional application assistance does not guarantee visa approval, permission to cross a border, or entry into Cambodia. Official rules, checkpoint operations, and travel advice may change after 30 September 2026; confirm them with the relevant authorities before travel.