Is Cambodia safe for LGBTQ+ travellers?
Significant restrictions
Cambodia carries significant legal restrictions for LGBTQ+ travellers — the clearest concern is legal gender recognition (not possible).
What to know as an LGBTQ+ traveller
the sourced facts that weigh most for you · concerns first
Cambodia has no legal procedure allowing transgender people to change their legal gender marker or name to reflect their gender identity.
Same-sex sexual activity has never been criminalised in Cambodia, but the Civil Code and the Law on Marriage and Family recognise marriage only between a man and a woman, with no civil unions or partnerships.
LGBTQ+ legal protections are limited — Equaldex scores 41/100 (2026), with major gaps in recognition and anti-discrimination.
The 1997 Labour Law bars workplace discrimination on grounds such as race, sex, religion and political opinion, but no comprehensive anti-discrimination law exists and sexual orientation and gender identity are not protected.
Cambodia has no dedicated blasphemy statute, but Article 516 of the Criminal Code, which punishes insulting Buddhist monks or the state religion, has been invoked to prosecute religious insult.
Identity & recognition
Same-sex relationships
Legal, no recognitionSame-sex sexual activity has never been criminalised in Cambodia, but the Civil Code and the Law on Marriage and Family recognise marriage only between a man and a woman, with no civil unions or partnerships.
Legal gender recognition
Not possibleCambodia has no legal procedure allowing transgender people to change their legal gender marker or name to reflect their gender identity.
Anti-discrimination protection
Partial protectionThe 1997 Labour Law bars workplace discrimination on grounds such as race, sex, religion and political opinion, but no comprehensive anti-discrimination law exists and sexual orientation and gender identity are not protected.
Disability rights
CRPD 2012 + lawCambodia ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 20 December 2012 and has a domestic Law on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2009), though enforcement remains weak.
Women's legal rights
Mostly equal, some gapsWomen’s legal rights are mostly equal, with some gaps — the WBL index scores 81/100 (2023) across mobility, workplace, pay, marriage, parenthood and property.
LGBTQ+ legal equality
RestrictiveLGBTQ+ legal protections are limited — Equaldex scores 41/100 (2026), with major gaps in recognition and anti-discrimination.
Body & health
Abortion access
On request to 12wksUnder the 1997 Law on Abortion, abortion is available on request during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and later only to protect life or health, in cases of rape, or serious fetal impairment.
Cannabis & personal drug law
Illegal, severeCannabis is a Group I narcotic under Cambodia’s Law on Drug Control, and possession for personal use carries roughly two to five years’ imprisonment, with heavier penalties for supply and trafficking.
Faith & conscience
Government restriction of religion
Moderate restrictionsCambodia falls in the Moderate band of Pew Research Center’s Government Restrictions Index, reflecting state favouring of Buddhism and some limits on proselytising alongside broadly tolerated worship.
Blasphemy & apostasy law
On the booksCambodia has no dedicated blasphemy statute, but Article 516 of the Criminal Code, which punishes insulting Buddhist monks or the state religion, has been invoked to prosecute religious insult.
Speech & press
Freedom of expression
Not free · 22/100Rated Not Free, 22/100, by Freedom House (2025).
Your obligations on arrival
Address / residence registration
Under Article 18 of the Law on Immigration, all foreigners including students must be registered at their real address in the Foreigners Presence Control System (FPCS) within 24 hours of arrival, usually done by the accommodation host but doable by the foreigner.
Student work rights
Cambodian law does not set a specific work-hour allowance for holders of the student (ES-class) visa; foreign nationals who take up employment generally need a work permit and employment card from the Ministry of Labour.
Health insurance
Cambodia does not require proof of health insurance for entry or for a student (ES) visa; the pandemic-era insurance mandate has been lifted, though comprehensive travel and medical insurance is strongly recommended.
Bringing medication
Travellers may bring prescription medicines for personal use (about a three-month supply) in original packaging with a doctor’s letter or prescription, but amphetamine-based drugs such as Adderall and narcotics or psychotropic substances are prohibited.
Laws differ from lived experience and this is not legal advice. Each fact shows its evidence type, date and source. Full method & sources →
Emergency numbers
Travel-medical cover that works abroad with no local address, and a data eSIM so maps and messaging work the moment you land.