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Hey guys, I have a few questions regarding how to go about getting Cambodian citizenship. I am a British guy and I have been married to my Cambodian wife for 6 years now, and we lived in Cambodia until a year and a half ago. We are currently in China, and will be here for another 3 years, after which we will head back to Cambodia. We also have two kids, who both have Khmer passports as well as British. Unfortunately, I don't have a Khmer wedding certificate, we got married in the UK and so that's all we have. I have been in contact with the Cambodian embassy in England to try and get our marriage certificate legalized, but they can't do it. When we did our kids' passports, we had some trouble as we didn't have a Khmer marriage certificate, so had to get our British one copied/translated/approved for use.

What do you think would be the best way for me to apply for citizenship - give it a try with our British marriage certificate? Get a Khmer marriage certificate first? Just do it via naturalization? Will there be any issues with not having been in Cambodia for a while? If I get a marriage cert. now, will I be able to get it from the date we got married? We still have the permission document to get married in the UK. Does anybody have a reliable list of required documents, or somewhere to get the relevant application forms that aren't going to try and screw us out of our money?

Sorry for the long winded post and questions, just trying to get as much info so that we can do this as quickly and cost-efficiently as possible!

Thanks

You got $150,000 handy?

js6426 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 15, 2018 6:15 pm <cut>
Sorry for the long winded post and questions, just trying to get as much info so that we can do this as quickly and cost-efficiently as possible!

Thanks

If you like cost efficient drop the idea. Unless you're really well connected.

Won't happen. Marriage doesn't mean shit, especially if it's a foreign marriage.

Harsh answers to OP, but spot on.

Foreign Marriage does not count towards Citizenship. It was possible to have your foreign marriage recognized by the MoFAIC in order to be issued a Cambodian Marriage Cert, however they have now put a stop to that, and in order to apply for the Cambodian Marriage Certificate you are required to go through the entire application process.


3 years from the date your Cambodian marriage certificate is issued, is when you become eligible to apply for Cambodian Citizenship...but you must have also been living in Cambodia with your wife for those 3 years. Technically there is no fee for this method...reality, well, this is Cambodia.


To apply via the Naturalisation route, you must have been living continuously in Cambodia for a minimum of 7 years, you must pass Khmer history and language assessments, and you must pay.

Is Citizenship really important to you, what are the benefits to you in obtaining citizenship, is the money you spend to obtain citizenship going to be worth it? It all sounds very easy and simple in the Prakas...but once again, reality is a different matter.

Application forms and lists of required documents can be collected from the Department of Identification.

John Bingham wrote: ↑Wed Aug 15, 2018 7:03 pm You got $150,000 handy?

150K really???? I though is 50K?? Wow inflation is here already.

makes more sense to take that $150,000 an buy some land in ur wife or kids name
why would you want Cambodian citizenship?
Only advantage is u would not need a visa to stay

When we did our kids' passports, we had some trouble as we didn't have a Khmer marriage certificate, so had to get our British one copied/translated/approved for use.

as ur kids mom is Khmer, does that not entitle them to Cambodian citizenship/passport?
Being married has nothing to do with the kids citizenship.

kocdim wrote: ↑Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:09 pm

John Bingham wrote: ↑Wed Aug 15, 2018 7:03 pm You got $150,000 handy?

150K really???? I though is 50K?? Wow inflation is here already.

The gratis route (if it ever existed) was always extremely difficult for any foreigner to comply with, you had to reside here for 7 years and read and write Khmer fluently and pass exams in history that would tax any RUPP graduate, among other stuff.

It's hard to say anything definite about it, but I remember hearing it was around $15,000 in feees about a decade or so back. That basically meant you had to invest that much into the government, I don't know whether they issue bonds or how this is done but I don't think they mean private investment. Anyway the fees have risen sharply, and I haven't ever heard of anyone getting citizenship through the published routes. Unless you are deemed to have contributed in an outstanding manner to society/ culture/ well-being here there is zero chance of getting citizenship without investing/ depositing a very large sum.

It would be very interesting to know how many foreigners have been granted citizenship over the past few years, and where they are from.

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:33 pm

When we did our kids' passports, we had some trouble as we didn't have a Khmer marriage certificate, so had to get our British one copied/translated/approved for use.

as ur kids mom is Khmer, does that not entitle them to Cambodian citizenship/passport?
Being married has nothing to do with the kids citizenship.

This, the Children are entitled to Cambodian Citizenship and a Cambodian Passport, doesn't even matter whether they were born in Cambodia or not. PR is correct...marriage has nothing to do with the kids citizenship and ability to receive a Cambodian passport.

It would be very interesting to know how many foreigners have been granted citizenship over the past few years, and where they are from.

I recently met, and have been communicating with a foreign male who was granted Cambodian Citizenship through marriage last year. I have seen all of the associated documents, the certificate of citizenship, the Royal sub-decree announcing his grant of citizenship, his National ID card, Cambodian passport, and Family Book. Once I learn more I will create a new thread. The person however wishes to remain anonymous, so please don't ask.