05/31/2026
In an official notice released by the General Department of Immigration, authorities said a waiver previously granted to Africans will officially expire at the end of May.
According to the directive, those found in violation risk a two-year jail term and a penalty of $8,000 before being allowed to leave the country.
The announcement has raised concern among human rights activists and migration experts because many of the Africans stranded in Cambodia are believed to be victims of trafficking who travelled to Southeast Asia after being promised lucrative jobs.
The Cambodian notice further warns that police will begin arresting foreigners found hiding in the country from June 1, 2026, over overstay and immigration offences.“The Cambodia Police will start arresting any foreigner at any hideout in Cambodia from 1st of June 2026 for overstaying and will hand over to the immigration authorities for legal action. The Royal Government of Cambodia will not tolerate any violation of our immigration laws,” the notice reads.
Cambodia’s latest directive targeting African nationals comes against a backdrop of years of growing concern over illegal migration, cybercrime networks, and human trafficking rings operating across Southeast Asia.
In recent years, Cambodia has been identified by international watchdogs and human rights groups as a hotspot for transnational scam operations. These networks — often run by organised criminal groups — have reportedly lured thousands of foreigners from Africa, South Asia, and other regions with fake job offers in customer service, cryptocurrency trading, and technology firms.
Once in the region, many victims allege they were trapped in heavily guarded compounds, forced to work in online fraud schemes targeting victims globally. Numerous reports have described cases of passport confiscation, restricted movement, physical abuse, and debt bo***ge, with workers unable to leave unless they pay large “release fees.” Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.