It is possible for a foreigner to open up a stock broking account and be trading via the online app in less than a week.
In this article, I shall run through all the steps of opening up a brokerage account in Cambodia. I will explain via a step by step approach how this could even be potentially achieved in less than a week, from a foreigner who may not even have set foot in Cambodia previously.
This is just a real life example, from a “friend” of what can sometimes occur when banks follow a common sense, personal approach like occurred in Cambodia early in 2026.
Please be aware that this article is in no way any sort of recommendation.
One should be well aware of the long term history of Cambodia stocks. It would be fair to say it is not a market for the faint hearted. It is also a tiny market in comparison to others globally with only 11 companies having their stock listed for trading right now.
The below chart isn’t one of great beauty for long term Cambodian stock market investors from the beginning.
Cambodia stock market chart history up to 2026
That being said, for a country like Cambodia to be open to foreign capital and its banking sector to take a service orientated approach is becoming a unique feature these days.
I realize this website has focused on the Vietnam stock market, but I thought this article might be of interest to readers with the above point in mind.
Some neighboring countries of Cambodia on the other hand have seen anecdotal evidence online over the last year or so of troublesome issues around banking / visa processes.
Let’s get to it then, here is an example from the perspective of a foreigner holder investing in Cambodia via ACLEDA securities, the country’s largest broker.
MAIN STEPS IN OPENING UP A CAMBODIA BANK / STOCK BROKING ACCOUNT FOR A FOREIGNER
Note this is just an example of one person’s experience (In Phnom Penh) and may not work for others. Obviously the nature of the person and their particular passport etc. along with dozens of other factors might influence one’s experiences.
In an effort to keep things simple, I won’t dive deeply into all the related topics such as minor details of different visa processes and steps. There are plenty of other forums out there tackling those issues. Suffice to say though one generally needs a longer term visa to open a Cambodian bank / stockbroking account, so I do touch on these aspects first.
The main steps to opening a Cambodia stock broking account are listed below in order:
- (A week before planned arrival). Obtain an E-visa online for Cambodia that enables one to extend for a further 12 months when you arrive.(NOT a tourist visa) eVisa Kingdom of Cambodia (Official Government Website). Cost $35 USD, processing time is listed as 3 days for this. For banking / broking purposes, such E-visa will be needed for a later retirement extension (ER) potentially for those over 55 y o. Alternatively, an extension for business (EB).
- (Also within 7 days of arrival – after visa has been approved above). Submit your Cambodia e-arrival (free of charge) , Cambodia e-Arrival.
- Arrival day 1 in Phnom Penh – Go to a Metfone shop (even at the airport if you feel like it then) with your passport to get a local sim card and number. (Make a note to yourself to later make sure you keep the plan active as a Cambodia number will always be needed for OTP etc). When a bank account is set up it is simple for example to arrange a monthly top up of your sim card so you can’t forget.
It might also be worthwhile downloading the message app Telegram to use if you don’t have it already. This seems to be more common in Cambodia compared to other messaging apps such as WhatsApp and the like.
- Day 1 – Make sure you get a screenshot copy of the hotel that checks you in registering you on the address system for all foreigners present in Cambodia. This system registration (FPCS) is compulsory for hotels to do, and you will need it in order to get a visa extension.
Also take a few moments to get a few 4*6cm passport photos if you don’t have any on hand already.
- Day 2 – visit a reputable visa agent to arrange an extension for 12 months. E.g. online searches would indicate the likes of Cina Travel / Call Kim visa services, or Lucky Lucky moto and visa services. If over 55 y o, this may simply be a case of basically letting the agent sort it out for a fee ($US 280 approx) (ER) extension, and picking up your passport later. Some offer an express service for circa $80 extra where you may get the passport and visa extension back the very next day.
If not yet 55 years of age, a potential solution might be to apply for a self-employed work permit for the calendar year for another fee of ($US230 approx). This would be required to then be able to obtain an (EB) extension for 12 months. Receiving the work permit on first application if needed may take one week, although if it’s simply renewing the permit for the next calendar year it might be done as quickly as next day.
- Day 3 – Have a local beer or two and chill.
- Day 4 – Depending on your circumstances and also if you chose to use express service, there is a chance your passport and visa extension is ready to pick up from the agent’s office now.
Take these, with address copy (FPCS screenshot), (and work permit if applicable) to an Acleda Bank location e.g. Aeon Mall.
Work with the teller on duty in person to set up an account for you. They will guide you on the spot, work with you to register for the banking app, and complete the setup process. This may take less than 30 minutes with your bank account then ready.
At this stage it is handy to mention your interest in a securities account. There will be a different staff member specializing in that area so useful to get their Telegram contact details. Nonetheless the account application for the stock broking account can be done via the bank app.
For just the bank account here, there is no need to immediately fund it. Yet there will be a small $5 USD fee involved in the next step of applying for the stock broking account. Therefore, it is worth depositing at least a little bit of USDs at the same time when you open up your bank account.
On the banking app there is a clear section to choose and open up a securities account by submitting an application via the app. Follow the instructions there, it is fairly straight forward, like you can see via the below link.
- Day 5 – Working with the app, and / or any extra assistance needed by a Cambodia securities account representative, your application could be approved by the next day.
The stock broking account can then be activated via the app straight way. Link your Acleda bank account balance and the trading account together. If you have funds ready to go in your bank balance, simply transfer it instantly to the broker account balance, then trade away!
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM DOING BUSINESS IN CAMBODIA AND THEIR STOCK MARKET
- Easy common-sense approach
- Open to foreign capital
- Visa friendly policies
- Agents can process visas extremely quickly, no need for lengthy confusing online applications to poorly designed systems and long wait times.
- In person, fast, attentive personal service by dedicated bank tellers. (unheard of in the West since the 1990s?)
- In person, fast, attentive personal service by dedicated Cambodia stock broking staff, including live personal instant response messaging on Telegram guiding through account opening if needed. (unheard of in the West since the 1990s?).
- No phone calls needed, same person contacts all the way.
- No dialing through any message responded call lines for any activation of anything.
- No emailing a query to an unknown contact area and getting assigned a case number and a 3-5 day wait.
- Very good speedy internet coverage with the local wifi plan.
- If getting around Phnom Penh using the Grab taxi app, the wait time for a tuk tuk is never more than a couple of minutes. They are often ready to pick you up before you are ready!
- Phnom Penh has just recently developed their new airport. Techo International Airport. Further down below is a video link to give you a feel for the new airport, it looks fantastic! Those that made the video below had a super quick experience clearing immigration (6 minutes they said I think). Likewise, that resembled my experience recently.
And “airport prices” at this new Cambodian airport, are not as heart attack inducing as you are normally used to in airports!
Flying in (& out) of Phnom Penh’s New Airport – Techo International Airport
The above might be food for thought for those that might have some perception that frontier markets are “uninvestible”, or inaccessible.
It is also worth pondering how in some cases in various other countries, such seamless visa / banking solutions increasingly appear so difficult these days.
IS CAMBODIA BUSINESS FRIENDLY?
Perhaps this ability to be able to “get things done” a small secret to the Cambodian economy growing by 6% and more a year for the last couple of decades or so?
Interestingly, the Cambodia Bank Acleda as discussed above has its own stock listed as one of the 11 companies on the board. Supposedly it has a pe ratio of just 4 and price to book ratio of 0.5. I hear from chatting to some of the locals that Acleda tends to offer a more “fee friendly” experience overall compare to other well-known Cambodian banks.
SHOULD I INVEST IN CAMBODIA IN 2026?
Obviously for most readers opening a Cambodian stock broking account wouldn’t be practical simply because most would not want / need a 12-month visa and bear the costs of that.
I have however observed online lately lot of frustrations about banking in ALL countries these days. With that in mind, I figured all readers might find such experiences above at least somewhat interesting to note.
RISKS OF INVESTING IN CAMBODIA AND FRONTIER MARKETS IN 2026
Please don’t forget the Cambodia stock market chart I posted earlier though, perhaps a bank’s PE ratio should be 4 times there!
Frontier stock market investing is obviously very risky, so be careful.
Things you might see in frontier market economies:
- Political interference with the financial system / central bank
- Unsustainable budget deficits
- Attempted shootings of the country’s leaders
- Government buying large stakes in private enterprises
- Yield curve controls
- Motivations towards wars
- Trade restrictions and related uncertainty, changing trade policies, tariffs etc
- Government shutdowns, scheduled economic data releases delayed for weeks
- Geopolitical risks
- Hostility towards foreign arrivals
- Inconsistent / low regard to rule of law from leaders
- Weakness in its currency
Oh wait, did I just describe with the bullet points above a large well-known economy / stock market at all time high valuations?
Below is a quick final summary of the steps involved.
HOW TO OPEN A CAMBODIA BANK STOCKBROKING ACCOUNT
(A week before planned arrival). Obtain an E-visa online for Cambodia (retirement or business). After visa has been approved above, submit your Cambodia e-arrival.
Day 1 Get a local sim card and number. Make sure you get a screenshot copy of the hotel that checks you in registering you on the address system for all foreigners present in Cambodia. (FPCS)
Day 2 – visit a reputable visa agent to arrange an extension for 12 months.
Day 3 – Have a local beer or two and chill.
Day 4 – Take passport, with address copy (FPCS screenshot), (and work permit if applicable) to an Acleda Bank. On the banking app there is a clear section to choose and open up a securities account by submitting an application via the app.
Day 5 – Your application could be approved by the next day and ready to trade instantly.
Disclaimer: I do not have any affiliate relationships with the service providers mentioned above such as visa agents, banks and brokers.
The purpose of the article was simply to document someone’s stated experience in early 2026 in Cambodia on the above matters.
Then again, if any of the service providers want to approach me about an affiliate relationship, everyone has their price so I guess so I will respond 😊 and note here if anything has changed in that regard.
