Cambodia government dismisses ‘fake’ notice ordering foreigners to leave country by May 31

Saturday, May 30, 2026 - The Cambodian government has termed as fake a now viral notice that had directed Nigerians and other African nationals residing in the Southeast Asian country to leave before May 31, 2026, or face arrest, imprisonment and hefty fines.

The country’s Ministry of Interior, through the General Department of Immigration, said it had taken note of at least two news sites that had published the information derived from the said notice, clarifying that it was false and misleading.

“The General Department of Immigration of the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Cambodia has the honor to inform the national and international public that the General Department has observed that recently, certain websites published information in English stating ‘Cambodia Orders Africans with Expired Immigration Waivers to Leave by May 31, 2026’,” read the statement.

“The General Department of Immigration of the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Cambodia wishes to clarify that the information published on those websites is completely untrue.”

The Cambodian Department of Immigration further went ahead to urge the public to refer to its official website or make calls to their hotlines to obtain correct information on any matter touching on the department.

“To obtain official information, the national and international public are requested to visit the official website of the General Department of Immigration at www.immiqration.qov.kh or make direct call for further information via Hotline…,” noted the statement.

The fake viral notice in question had stated that the waiver previously granted to African nationals, including citizens of Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Uganda, will expire on May 31.

Hence, it added, all foreign nationals whose immigration-related fines had been cleared would be forced to leave Cambodia on or before the deadline.

The notice had further warned that any foreign national found in Cambodia from June 1, 2026, after the expiry of the waiver period, will be arrested either at airports or other locations across the country.

It said those found in violation of immigration laws would face a two-year jail term and be required to pay a penalty of $8,000 (approximately Ksh.1 million) before being allowed to leave the country, the document states.

The fake directive also indicated that police would begin operations targeting foreigners suspected of overstaying their Visas or residing illegally in the country from June 1.