My rough plan is to form a Cambodian company and sponsor my own visa and work permit. I'm going to take some professional advice on this of course and use relevant agents where necessary.

There are probably people reading this right now having a good chuckle at my naiveté and that's why I'm starting this thread, to get that feedback/poo-pooing. Any useful hints are appreciated too.

I'd ask what your planning on doing with this company?

And then I'd ask if you understand your home country's tax approach to foreign ownership of assets.

If you are definitely opening a company here in Cambodia then your taking the right approach. If this is some type of work-around for acquiring a visa (for whatever reason), then your likely opening an unneeded can of worms

I'm planning on producing something in Cambodia.

Yes my home country's tax I understand and it's not a problem.

No it is not a workaround for a business visa, I actually intend to do business.

Terry Fishsauce wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2019 8:04 pm I'm planning on producing something in Cambodia.

What, job invitation letters as grounds for long term visa applications?

fax wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:13 pm

Terry Fishsauce wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2019 8:04 pm I'm planning on producing something in Cambodia.

What, job invitation letters as grounds for long term visa applications?

Initially yes, but I'm hoping to diversify if phase 1 goes ok.

Is it your actual business idea? There's a foreign employment quota to be met. The reason why people don't really bother doing this is because of the admin fees and inconvenience of hiring large numbers of Cambodians just for show.

Cover your own back with it but don't expect to make money employing your friends. It's too much of a hassle.

The monthly tax declaration itself is a major PITA of running a local business. I can't imagine having to deal with it with no result other than being able to stay here. Run a profitable business and don't waste your time just to save yourself from visa runs.

I thought you were joking when you asked me "is your business producing invitation letters for visas?" hence my reply "yes but I'm hoping to diversify".

I am hoping to start a manufacturing business (not only visa letter lolz). The monthly tax thing sounds like a nightmare though, is it really that hard to do business in Cambodia or just for foreigners?

I'm already seeing plenty of challenges. To for a Cambodian company I need a visa, work permit and local bank account. Kind of seems like a catch 22.

Terry Fishsauce wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 2:03 pm The monthly tax thing sounds like a nightmare though, is it really that hard to do business in Cambodia or just for foreigners?

Just for people who wish to follow the law. As a foreigner I recommend that you do. The statute of limitations for tax declaration is 10 years but there are many foreigners who simply don't plan on staying so long and are ready to leave everything if needed.

You will need to submit TRS 01 once a month on the 20th by latest, or pay the "no hab" bribe as many bars for example. It depends much on what type of company you set up and what you want it to do.

Speaking of nightmares, every interaction with the government will be an attempt to extract bribes from you. You can hire somebody to do it for you to take some of the headache away but as usual the more you earn the more expensive it becomes to remove such a headache. I guess you don't want to stand in line at your nearest GDT branch waiting once a month. It will cost you not to and it will be made very inconvenient if you choose to.

The system is designed to enrich Cambodians not you.

Terry Fishsauce wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 2:20 pm I'm already seeing plenty of challenges. To for a Cambodian company I need a visa, work permit and local bank account. Kind of seems like a catch 22.

I don't understand why you are referring too a catch 22. I would say that it is normal, also in any country world wide.