Cambodia Waives Overstay Fines, over 4,600 Indonesians Head Home

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Cambodian government’s decision to waive overstay fines is expediting the return of thousands of Indonesians, with 460 more citizens recently added to the list, according to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh.

The Cambodian Immigration Authority has instructed those granted waivers to purchase flight tickets back to Indonesia no later than the end of April 2026, the embassy said in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

With the latest group included, a total of 4,677 Indonesians has now benefited from Cambodia’s policy of lifting penalties for overstaying visas.

The measure has significantly accelerated repatriation, sparing citizens from daily fines of USD 10, and shortening deportation procedures that would otherwise take more than six months.

To support the process, the embassy has issued 2,653 temporary travel documents (SPLP) for Indonesians without valid passports. Over the past three months alone, 3,159 citizens have been facilitated in returning home.

The embassy also highlighted Cambodia’s enactment of the Anti-Cyber Scam Law on April 7, 2026, which imposes severe penalties -- including fines up to USD 500,000 and life imprisonment -- for online fraud.

In light of these developments, the embassy urged Indonesians to remain vigilant against dubious overseas job offers, particularly in Cambodia, that promise high salaries under unrealistic conditions. It emphasized the importance of verifying information through official channels before deciding to work abroad. ***