Marrying a Cambodian woman. Is it difficult?

This is where our community discusses almost anything! While we're mainly a Cambodia expat discussion forum and talk about expat life here, we debate about almost everything. Even if you're a tourist passing through Southeast Asia and want to connect with expatriates living and working in Cambodia, this is the first section of our site that you should check out. Our members start their own discussions or post links to other blogs and/or news articles they find interesting and want to chat about. So join in the fun and start new topics, or feel free to comment on anything our community members have already started! We also have some Khmer members here as well, but English is the main language used on CEO. You're welcome to have a look around, and if you decide you want to participate, you can become a part our international expat community by signing up for a free account.
willyhilly
Expatriate
Posts: 1758
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2016 7:11 am
Reputation: 357
Location: Australia
Albania

Re: Marrying a Cambodian woman. Is it difficult?

Post by willyhilly »

The bride cries at the wedding, the groom cries later.
User avatar
PSD-Kiwi
Expatriate
Posts: 4905
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 8:25 am
Reputation: 3225
New Zealand

Re: Marrying a Cambodian woman. Is it difficult?

Post by PSD-Kiwi »

First of all, you will need to go to the MoFAIC in Phnom Penh and meet and speak to Mr Ung Vantha in the Legal & Consular Department, this man will give you the application forms and lists of required documents, he will not accept any money. Do not deal with anyone else, as they will all ask for ridiculous sums of money. Mr. Ung Vantha's (MoFA) phone number, 016608586.

You will need to present the following to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

1. "Application for foreigner to marry Khmer citizen" (provided by MoFAIC)
2. Certificate of non-impediment/single status/divorce certificate (if applicable)/ex-spouses death certificate (if applicable)
3. Criminal record check from your country of citizenship
4. Passport with valid E type (Ordinary MEEV) visa, minimum 6 months validity
5. Letter of employment/proof of salary minimum $2500USD p/m (Male only). Work permit/work book/business license if employed in Cambodia.
6. Letter from your Embassy - permission/consent to marry
7. Pre-nuptial Medical certificate from Calmette Hospital (no older than 3 months)
8. 2x passport photos

NOTE: Foreign males must be under 50 years old to legally marry a Cambodian citizen in Cambodia.

All above documents must be notarised/certified from your nearest Embassy except 1,6 and 7.

Khmer partner will need to present;

1. "Certificate of celibacy, widowhood, divorce" (single status) from Sangkat
2. National ID card
3. Birth Certificate
4. Family Book and/or Carnet de Residence
5. Pre-nuptial Medical certificate from Calmette Hospital (no older than 3 months)
6. 2x passport photos

Note: The blood tests are for HIV, Hepatitis, and a few other diseases, chest x-ray is for TB. Cost from Calmette for the blood tests, x-ray and medical certificate is $120 per couple ($60 each). You will need to take your passport/national ID card, as well as 1x passport photo per person.

Once the MoFA processes the documents which takes about 1-2 weeks, you will be issued a letter which you must submit with all of your documents to the Ministry of Interior. You will both be interviewed by someone in the MoI, and if they are satisfied it will take approximately another 2+ months for them to issue an authorisation to marry letter, which you will then need to submit to your partners Sangkat, who will then issue you with your marriage certificate.

MoFAIC:

I'm not great at explaining directions, but I hope this helps...
When you go to the MoFA, enter the compound via the side entrance, do not go to the large main entrance on the riverside. There is a guard hut where you and your partner will have to show ID, and they will give you a visitors pass. Walk straight ahead to the large building straight ahead and to the right, and enter via the first side entrance.

As you enter, immediately on your left you should see a sign for e-visa on your right hand side, continue walking straight down the corridor. The 3rd or 4th door on the right hand side is Vanthas office. As you look at his office door, there should be a small alcove with a Buddhist statue to the left of his door, this is how you will know which office is his. Remember that this is a Cambodian Ministry, and they keep strange working hours...I think they take lunch from about 1100 - 1400.

MOI:

Do not go to the Main MoI compound. You need to go to an office called “National Committee to Lead the Suppression of Human Trafficking, Smuggling, Labour Exploitation and Sexual Exploitation in Woman and Children” (S.T.S.L.S), which is at the General dept of Identification building at this location…

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Gen ... ation+(GDI )/@11.5344525,104.9511904,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x4d2d71f75dee8eb6!8m2!3d11.5343962!4d104.9550942

Take all of your completed documentation and letter from the MoFAIC with you and try to arrive early (by 0900hrs at the latest). There all of your documentation will be checked, and if anything is not in order they will inform you of what you need to fix.

Once everything is in order, you will pay the official $200 fee, which you will receive a receipt for, and then be interviewed by several people, mostly regarding things like how you met your partner, how long you’ve been together, have you travelled together on holiday, how long have you lived/been travelling to Cambodia, what is your job, family members names and contact details, what are your plans, do you plan to take her overseas and exploit her, etc…Its not as daunting as you may think. Your partner will be near you the entire time, so if there any language barriers, ask her to translate for you.

Once everything is in order, it can take anywhere up to 4 months before you receive the letter of permission to marry from the MoI, which you then take to your partner's Sangkat in order to be issued your official marriage certificate. There is no requirement for a wedding ceremony in order to be issued a marriage certificate.

For foreigners marrying a Cambodian citizen, the only official fees payable are;

- $200 fee paid to the 'National Committe to Lead the Suppression of Human Trafficking, Smuggling, Labour Exploitation and Sexual Exploitation in Woman and Children (S.T.S.L.S)' , which is a department of the MoI. The fee covers admin, interviews and background check costs. An official receipt is issued.
- 20,000 Riel fee paid to the Sangkat which issues the official Marriage Certificate. An official receipt is issued.

(Note: The interviewers at the MoI expect a small "donation" each, about $5 each covers it...probably a good idea to just pay this to ensure your application is approved)

Many people no doubt end up dealing with the wrong people and/or fixers and end up getting fleeced purely because the information on the whole process is not readily available and can be confusing.
thePeck
Expatriate
Posts: 527
Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 10:06 pm
Reputation: 10
Location: Russey Keo
United States of America

Re: Marrying a Cambodian woman. Is it difficult?

Post by thePeck »

That's actually a pretty good guide @PSD-Kiwi much more information and pretty much describes my recent experience with the process.

Although I wouldn't put down to much the benefit of a fixer. As with anything you're paying a fee for a convenience to have someone do a lot of the leg work and doing documents. Also getting from start to finish is faster. Took 1 month or a little less to go from nothing to paying the caterer after the wedding ceremony. Of course every ones experience will differ. Plus another thing is unless your partner can read and write Khmer. You'll need someone that can to help you do everything.
rogerrabbit
Expatriate
Posts: 925
Joined: Sat May 14, 2016 1:17 am
Reputation: 341

Re: Marrying a Cambodian woman. Is it difficult?

Post by rogerrabbit »

Ronny wrote: Tue Apr 04, 2017 9:17 pm Hey, guys. I've been reading posts here for the last month or so and about the subject of marrying a Khmer woman, I've heard that you have to show proof of income in order to marry. And that income that you must prove comes out to about $2,000 plus a month? Is that true? What the hell, finding a Thai woman to marry is much easier. Can anyone here share their experiences with me? And also, how hard is it to find a good Khmer woman to be a girlfriend if you are only middle class and aren't "rich", so to speak?
Follow PSD-Kiwi's guide or better yet, just get married in your home country and then just legalize it here and have the party if the family wants. No need to prove your income, no need for medical or anything. Saves you money and trouble.
User avatar
PSD-Kiwi
Expatriate
Posts: 4905
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 8:25 am
Reputation: 3225
New Zealand

Re: Marrying a Cambodian woman. Is it difficult?

Post by PSD-Kiwi »

Saves $$$ by flying to your home country to do it...if it costs about $500 for the couple to fly to the foreigners country return, with accommodation, meals and any other associated costs, as well as the issue of getting the Cambodian partner a visa...then by all means do it that way.

Then you're still going to have to have a party here to appease your partner and their family.

And there is no guarantee that your foreign marriage certificate will be recognized here and a local one issued... I have only heard of one recent case of this happening recently as reported on K440, and even then I'm not sure it's even legally binding as it doesn't appear that it was approved by the MoI.

If you've got your head screwed on, got all your paperwork in order, have patience, and can follow my guide then it's only going to cost you appx $500 to do it in Cambodia. It really isn't that difficult, as proved by the nearly 20 couples I am aware of who have followed the guide I posted and have successfully married legally and officially in Cambodia.

Even if you don't make $2500 p/mth, an official looking letter from an "employer" will work, the MOI do not check.

However, if you're 50+ years of age, then you're shit out of luck...not sure why anyone that old would bother getting married (again possibly) anyway. :wink:
User avatar
Duncan
Sir Duncan
Posts: 8149
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2014 8:22 pm
Reputation: 2357
Location: Wonder Why Central

Re: Marrying a Cambodian woman. Is it difficult?

Post by Duncan »

PSD-Kiwi wrote: Wed Apr 05, 2017 7:51 pm Saves $$$ by flying to your home country to do it...if it costs about $500 for the couple to fly to the foreigners country return, with accommodation, meals and any other associated costs, as well as the issue of getting the Cambodian partner a visa...then by all means do it that way.

Then you're still going to have to have a party here to appease your partner and their family.

And there is no guarantee that your foreign marriage certificate will be recognized here and a local one issued... I have only heard of one recent case of this happening recently as reported on K440, and even then I'm not sure it's even legally binding as it doesn't appear that it was approved by the MoI.

If you've got your head screwed on, got all your paperwork in order, have patience, and can follow my guide then it's only going to cost you appx $500 to do it in Cambodia. It really isn't that difficult, as proved by the nearly 20 couples I am aware of who have followed the guide I posted and have successfully married legally and officially in Cambodia.

Even if you don't make $2500 p/mth, an official looking letter from an "employer" will work, the MOI do not check.

However, if you're 50+ years of age, then you're shit out of luck...not sure why anyone that old would bother getting married (again possibly) anyway. :wink:


Probably cause, just like in Thailand, it's one of the only places where a 70 yo like me could [ but cannot ] marry a 18 year old girl and not look out of place.
Cambodia,,,, Don't fall in love with her.
Like the spoilt child she is, she will not be happy till she destroys herself from within and breaks your heart.
User avatar
John Bingham
Expatriate
Posts: 13674
Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:26 pm
Reputation: 8892
Cambodia

Re: Marrying a woman. Is it difficult?

Post by John Bingham »

Marrying a woman. Is it difficult?

What makes the OP think it'll be any easier than any other marriage/ relationship in the world?
I hope he isn't suffering from delusion that Cambodian women are in some way less difficult than women anywhere else?

Of course the same could be said about men, but I wanted to keep on topic.
Silence, exile, and cunning.
User avatar
PSD-Kiwi
Expatriate
Posts: 4905
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 8:25 am
Reputation: 3225
New Zealand

Re: Marrying a Cambodian woman. Is it difficult?

Post by PSD-Kiwi »

:ROFL: @Duncans reply....touché!
User avatar
Bitte_Kein_Lexus
Expatriate
Posts: 4421
Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 7:32 pm
Reputation: 1325

Re: Marrying a Cambodian woman. Is it difficult?

Post by Bitte_Kein_Lexus »

From what I've heard the difficult part starts the day after the wedding and never ends...
Ex Bitteeinbit/LexusSchmexus
Ronny
BANNED
Posts: 418
Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2017 3:00 pm
Reputation: 28

Re: Marrying a Cambodian woman. Is it difficult?

Post by Ronny »

Well. I guess I will not be marrying a Cambodian woman in Cambodia then because I will not be able to make $2,500 a month. I have money saved up but I guess that's not important. Oh well, what else can I say?
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Ahrefs [Bot], Bing [Bot], Bobby66, Khmu Nation, Moe and 1322 guests