Cambodia’s General Department of Immigration has issued an official notice directing all African nationals, including Ghanaians in Cambodia, to leave the country on or before May 31, 2026. The directive, numbered 1662/GDI and signed by Lt. Gen. Som Sopheak as Director General and approved by Gen. Sar Sokha, Secretary of State at Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior, states that a temporary immigration waiver extended to African nationals will expire at the end of this month.
In plain terms: a grace period that allowed certain African nationals to remain in Cambodia while resolving immigration fines or status issues is ending. Anyone still in the country from June 1 without proper legal standing faces arrest, a mandatory two-year prison term, and an $8,000 fine before being allowed to depart.
The notice names Ghanaians alongside Kenyans, Cameroonians, Ugandans, and other African nationals. Today is May 28, leaving three days for those affected to act. The Ghana Foreign Ministry had not issued a public advisory as of the date of this article.
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What the Notice Says
The official notice is addressed specifically to “all African nationals in the Kingdom of Cambodia (Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Uganda and others).” It was issued through the General Department of Immigration under Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior.
Three directives appear in the document:
First, all foreign nationals whose outstanding immigration fines have been cleared must leave Cambodia on or before May 31, 2026. Second, any foreign national who enters, remains in, or is found in Cambodia from June 1 onward will be arrested, whether at the airport or any other location in the country. Third, Cambodian police will conduct active operations from June 1 to locate and apprehend overstayers at residences and other locations, handing them to immigration authorities for legal action.
The document closes with a direct statement from the Cambodian government: “The Royal Government of Cambodia will not tolerate any violation of our immigration laws.”
The notice bears two official seals and two signatures. It can be contacted through the General Department of Immigration at No. 322, Russian Federation Blvd., Sangkat Teuk Thla, Khan Sen Sok, Phnom Penh, by phone at (855) 23 890 666, or by email at info@gdi.gov.kh.
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Who Is Affected
The notice is directed at African nationals who had been granted a temporary immigration waiver in Cambodia. This appears to cover individuals who overstayed their permitted entry period or had accumulated immigration fines but were allowed to remain while those matters were resolved.
The notice does not appear to target all African nationals in Cambodia broadly. African nationals who entered legally, hold valid visas, and have no outstanding immigration issues are not named as the intended recipients of this directive. The language refers specifically to those whose “fines have been cleared” and to the expiry of a “waiver granted to you.”
Still, the tone of the enforcement warning is sweeping. Paragraph three states that police will arrest “any foreigner” found overstaying from June 1. Ghanaians currently in Cambodia on any irregular or uncertain immigration basis should treat this notice as applying to them and should move to regularize their status or depart before the deadline.
The Ghana Foreign Ministry had not issued a travel advisory or evacuation assistance announcement as of publication. Affected individuals should contact the Ghana High Commission in their nearest jurisdiction or reach out to the Cambodian immigration department directly using the contact details in the notice.
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Penalties for Staying Past June 1
The notice is unusually direct about consequences. According to the official text, any foreign national who remains in Cambodia from June 1 will:
- Be arrested at the airport or at any location in the country
- Serve a jail term of two years
- Pay a penalty of $8,000 (approximately GH₵93,200, GBP 6,000, or RMB 54,200, based on May 2026 exchange rates) before being permitted to leave Cambodia
The $8,000 figure is a departure penalty, not a bail amount. The notice does not describe any right to appeal or negotiate once arrested after the deadline. In practice, that means a Ghanaian national found in Cambodia on June 1 without legal status could face detention followed by a significant financial burden before being deported.
These are the stated terms of the Cambodian government’s own notice. Whether enforcement will be uniform or selective is not known, but the document leaves no room for ambiguity about what authorities intend.
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What the Waiver Was
The notice refers to a “waiver” previously granted to African nationals, but does not spell out when it was issued, under what legal authority, or what specific circumstances it covered.
Cambodia has in recent years faced scrutiny over the presence of foreign nationals operating in scam call centers and other irregular employment schemes, particularly in border regions. There have been documented cases of African nationals, including Ghanaians, being recruited to Southeast Asia under false job promises and then held or exploited. It is not publicly confirmed whether the waiver referenced in this notice relates to that context, to ordinary immigration overstays, or to another situation entirely.
What is clear from the document is that a formal concession was extended, those covered by it were given a deadline to resolve their status and leave, and that deadline is now expiring. The official notice treats the matter as an immigration enforcement action rather than a humanitarian one.
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Broader Context for Ghanaians Abroad
The Cambodia notice arrives at a moment when Ghanaians abroad are navigating pressure on multiple fronts. In South Africa, a separate crisis involving attacks on foreign nationals prompted the Ghanaian government to organize evacuation flights for citizens earlier in 2026. The Cambodia situation adds another country to the list of places where Ghanaian nationals are facing urgent immigration or safety concerns.
This pattern is not unique to Ghana. African nationals more broadly have faced tightening immigration conditions in parts of Southeast Asia and the Middle East, often in connection with irregular migration routes and labor trafficking schemes. The Cambodian government’s notice, addressed to multiple African nationalities simultaneously, points to a regional enforcement sweep rather than a matter directed at Ghanaians alone.
For Ghanaians considering travel to Southeast Asia, the situation in Cambodia is a reminder that destination country immigration rules can change rapidly and without prior warning. Checking visa validity and overstay risks before and during travel remains the best protection against being caught in a sudden enforcement action. Ghana’s own visa-related resources are worth reviewing for context on reciprocal arrangements.
The Ghana Immigration Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have not, as of May 28, issued public statements addressing the Cambodia notice. Readers are encouraged to monitor official channels for updates.
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Practical Steps for Those in Cambodia
If you are a Ghanaian national currently in Cambodia, the following steps are time-sensitive:
Book your departure immediately. The deadline is May 31. That is three days from today. Do not wait to see whether enforcement will be strict. Book a flight out before the deadline passes.
Clear any outstanding fines before departure. The notice states that nationals whose fines have been cleared must still leave by May 31. If you have outstanding immigration fines, contact the General Department of Immigration at info@gdi.gov.kh or (855) 23 890 666 to understand what you owe and how to settle it.
Contact the nearest Ghana diplomatic mission. Ghana does not have a resident embassy in Cambodia. The nearest accredited Ghanaian diplomatic mission is the Ghana High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which holds concurrent accreditation for Cambodia. Ghanaians in Cambodia should contact the High Commission in Kuala Lumpur for emergency consular assistance. If you cannot afford a flight home, consular staff may be able to advise on options.
Do not assume the deadline will be extended. The notice is explicit that enforcement will begin June 1. There is no stated appeals process or extension mechanism. Treat the deadline as firm.
Keep documentation of your departure. Retain your boarding pass, exit stamp, and any receipts from the immigration department. These may be useful if questions arise later.
Sources
- General Department of Immigration, Kingdom of Cambodia: Official Notice No. 1662/GDI (May 2026)
- News Ghana: “Cambodia Orders Ghanaians Out by May 31 Deadline” (May 28, 2026)
- Sahara Reporters: “Cambodia Orders African Nationals to Leave by May 31 or Face Jail Term, $8,000 Fine” (May 28, 2026)
- The Standard (AFP): “Cambodia Orders African Nationals to Leave Before May 31 or Face Arrest” (May 28, 2026)
- Pulse Ghana: “Cambodia Orders Ghanaians and Other African Nationals to Leave Country by May 31 or Face Jail” (May 28, 2026)
