Situated in Southeast Asia, Cambodia is bordered by Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. The country has a population of nearly 15 million people. Strong industries in the country include agriculture, and textiles, construction. Two of the shipping ports in Cambodia include Port Sihanoukville and the Port of Phnom Pehn. The Port of Phnom Pehn is also located in the country’s largest city and capital.
If you are interested in shipping household goods and other items to Cambodia, there are some Cambodian rules and regulations you should understand.
If you are not a resident of Cambodia, you may still qualify to ship household goods and personal items to Cambodia duty-free if you are a diplomat or if you work for a non-governmental organization (NGO).
If you do not qualify for duty free shipping, you can import household goods and other items into Cambodia but you will be expected to pay duty fees. Duty fees when shipping to Cambodia vary and may be subject in part to negotiating fees with customs inspectors. There is also a facility to pay “import permit fees” in lieu of duty, which is also subject to negotiation.
If you are a Khmer national returning to Cambodia, you may import your personal items and household goods into Cambodia but you will be expected to pay duty fees.
When shipping to Cambodia, you are not required to be in Cambodia when your cargo shipment goes through customs clearance. Your company should be registered in Cambodia and they should also issue an official letter on company letterhead stating that you will be coming to work for the company in Cambodia.
Required Documents When Shipping to Cambodia
There are a variety of required documents you will need when you ship ocean freight cargo to Cambodia. This includes a copy of your passport for sea freight entering the country. Please note that you are also required to provide an original passport if you want to clear air freight shipments.
You should also be prepared to provide the following:
- Official letter from your employer asking permission for you to import your shipment to Cambodia
- A letter from your employer in Cambodia addressed to the Cambodian Chief of Customs asking for permission to import. Keep in mind that there I a standard format for this letter and an experienced cargo shipping company can provide assistance and additional details
Once all the required documentation for shipping to Cambodia is obtained, it takes a few working days to get the necessary import permit and clear a shipment through the Cambodian customs process. An experienced international cargo shipping company will assist you by making sure you understand all the information that is required.
Shipping to Cambodia – Restricted and Prohibited Items
If you are shipping to Cambodia you are not allowed to bring the following items in your shipping container:
- Firearms of any type
- Ammunition for firearms
- Narcotics
- Pornography or pornographic materials
You should also avoid shipping alcohol or medicine in your personal items since it can cause long delays in customs clearance and result in additional charges.
If you are interested in shipping alcohol to Cambodia, please keep in mind that alcoholic beverages are subject to duty fees and taxes. Shipping alcohol to Cambodia may also delay the clearance of your cargo shipment. If alcohol must be included in the cargo shipment it is advisable to limit the amount to just a few bottles.
Shipping a Vehicle to Cambodia
If you are moving to Cambodia or returning to the country after having been away for a while, you may be interested in shipping a vehicle to Cambodia. It tends to be quite difficult to ship vehicles to Cambodia.
It can take a considerable amount of time to obtain an import permit for a vehicle. This sometimes results in sizable storage fees and demurrage charges. You should inquire by phone, email, or fax before shipping a vehicle to Cambodia.
Also, all vehicles shipped to Cambodia must be left-hand drive cars.
Bringing a Pet to Cambodia
If you are relocated to Cambodia for a period of time, you may want to bring your pet with you. Typically animals like dogs, cats, and birds, can be brought to Cambodia without a quarantine period. You should have the required documentation at the time of import if you are bringing an animal to Cambodia and this includes an updated health certificate for your animal.
There are a number of rules and regulations to learn about if you are moving overseas and shipping ocean freight. With some careful planning and preparation, international shipping to Cambodia and to other destinations worldwide is much easier.