Royal Code

We,

N.S/R.K.M/0618/008

To the respected and noble Monarch, His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, Guardian of the Nation and Religion of Cambodia, Great King of Cambodia, Protector of Peace and Prosperity, Leader of the Cambodian People, Honorable King of Cambodia, Supreme Head of State of Cambodia.

• Considering the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia;
• Considering the Royal Decree No. N.S/R.K.T/0913/903 dated September 24, 2013, on the Appointment of the Royal Government of Cambodia;
• Considering the Royal Decree No. 02/N.S/94 dated July 20, 1994, promulgating the Law on the Organization and Functioning of the Council of Ministers;
• Considering the Royal Decree No. N.S/R.K.M/0196/08 dated January 24, 1996, promulgating the Law on the Establishment of the Ministry of Interior;
• Considering the notification of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen;

Hereby Promulgate The Nationality Law, which was adopted by the National Assembly on May 31, 2018, at the 10th session of its 5th Legislature, and thoroughly reviewed by the Senate in its 1st Plenary Session of the 4th Legislature on June 11, 2018, as follows:

Chapter 1: General Provisions

Article 1
This law aims to set the legal procedures for obtaining and renouncing Cambodian nationality for those residing in or outside the Kingdom of Cambodia who meet the prescribed conditions.

Article 2
This law stipulates:

• Acquisition of Cambodian nationality by birth;
• Acquisition of Cambodian nationality through legal adoption;
• Acquisition of Cambodian nationality by marriage;
• Acquisition of Cambodian nationality through naturalization;
• Loss of Cambodian nationality;

Article 3
This law applies to persons born or residing within Cambodia or abroad.

Article 4
The main terms used in this law are defined as follows:

1. Cambodian nationality: Refers to the legal and political relationship that binds an individual to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
2. Application for Cambodian nationality: Refers to the right of foreigners to apply for Cambodian nationality through legal marriage to a Cambodian citizen.
3. Naturalization: Refers to the granting of Cambodian nationality to foreigners based on conditions such as residence, investment, cash donations, or special contributions or achievements in the interest of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Chapter 2: Competent Authority

Article 5
The Ministry of Interior has the authority to implement the Nationality Law.

Chapter 3: Basic Principles

Article 6

• Any person holding Cambodian nationality is a Cambodian citizen.
• Only Cambodian citizens are eligible to hold a Cambodian identity card and passport.

Article 7
Cambodian citizens shall not be deprived of their nationality, expelled, or extradited to any foreign country unless agreed upon by both parties.

Article 8
Cambodian citizens residing abroad shall:

1. Be protected by the nation through all diplomatic means;
2. Not automatically lose their nationality.

Chapter 4: Acquisition of Cambodian Nationality by Birth and Legal Adoption

Section 1: Acquisition of Nationality by Birth

Article 9

1. Regardless of the place of birth, the following persons shall acquire Cambodian nationality:

• Any legitimate child born to parents (father or mother) holding Cambodian nationality, or
• Any child not recognized by their parents (mother or father) when the court determines that the child was indeed born to parents (mother or father) holding Cambodian nationality.

2. The following persons born in the Kingdom of Cambodia shall acquire Cambodian nationality:

• Any child born to legally residing foreign parents in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
• Any child of unknown parents (mother or father) and newborns found in the Kingdom of Cambodia shall be considered as being born in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Section 2: Acquisition of Nationality by Legal Adoption

Article 10
Foreign children legally adopted by Cambodian couples shall acquire Cambodian nationality when the adoption process complies with the current laws.

Chapter 5: Acquisition of Cambodian Nationality by Marriage

Article 11
Foreign men and women married to Cambodian spouses may apply for Cambodian nationality if they live together for three years after the marriage certificate is registered and have resided in Cambodia for at least 12 months. Foreign parents with minor children are also eligible to apply for Cambodian nationality as a family.

Article 12
Foreigners applying for Cambodian nationality through marriage shall meet the following conditions:

1. Good conduct and moral behavior;
2. No charges of serious crimes or misdemeanors;
3. Residing in Cambodia at the time of application;
4. Ability to speak Khmer, write Khmer script, and understand some Cambodian history;
5. Mental and physical health that does not pose a danger or burden to the nation;

Article 13
Foreigners applying for Cambodian nationality through marriage may choose to adopt a Cambodian name. In this case, the name must be clearly stated in writing at the time of the application for nationality.

Article 14
If the competent authority refuses the application for Cambodian nationality, the applicant has the right to appeal the refusal.

Article 15
The procedures for applying for and appealing Cambodian nationality shall be stipulated by sub-decrees. The granting of Cambodian nationality based on the nationality application shall be decided by Royal Decree.

Article 16
Any person acquiring Cambodian nationality through marriage shall take an oath at the Supreme Court. The content of the oath shall be stipulated by sub-decrees.

Article 17
Cambodian citizens shall not lose their Cambodian nationality due to marriage to a foreigner.

Chapter 6: Naturalization

Article 18
Foreigners may apply for Cambodian nationality through naturalization. Naturalization is not a right of the applicant but a privilege granted by the Kingdom of Cambodia. In any case, the application may be refused at discretion.

Article 19
Foreigners applying for naturalization shall meet the following conditions:

1. Good conduct and moral behavior;
2. No charges of serious crimes or misdemeanors;
3. Holding valid residency documents in the Kingdom of Cambodia and having continuously resided for seven years from the date of obtaining the residency permit within the framework of immigration law;
4. Having a residence in Cambodia and holding the residency documents as stated in Articles 21 and 22 of this law;
5. Ability to speak Khmer, write Khmer script, and understand some Cambodian history, demonstrating the ability to integrate into Cambodian society and adapt to good Cambodian customs and traditions;
6. Mental and physical health that does not pose a danger or burden to the nation;

Article 20
For foreigners born in the Kingdom of Cambodia, the seven-year continuous residence period mentioned in Article 19(3) shall be reduced to three years.

Article 21
Foreigners holding valid investment authorization letters granted by the competent authority and having actual capital investment in the Kingdom of Cambodia, if meeting the conditions of Article 19(1), (2), (4), (5), and (6) of this law, and having legally resided in Cambodia for at least 12 months, may apply for Cambodian nationality through naturalization. The investment amount, priority sectors, types of investment projects, and other conditions shall be stipulated by sub-decrees.

Article 22
Foreigners making donations in the fields of socio-economic development and humanitarian efforts in the Kingdom of Cambodia, if meeting the conditions of Article 19(1), (2), (4), and (6) of this law, and having legally resided in Cambodia for at least six months, may apply for Cambodian nationality. The donation amounts for the national budget and humanitarian fields shall be stipulated by sub-decrees.

Article 23
Foreigners who have made special contributions or achievements in the interest of the Kingdom of Cambodia, recognized by the Royal Government of Cambodia, if meeting the conditions of Article 19(1), (2), and (6) of this law, may apply for Cambodian nationality through naturalization.

Article 24
Foreigners intending to apply for Cambodian nationality, along with their spouses or minor children under the age of 18, may apply as a family unit.

Article 25
Foreigners may apply to adopt a Cambodian name. In this case, the name must be stated in writing at the time of the nationality application.

Article 26
The procedures and forms for applying for Cambodian nationality shall be stipulated by sub-decrees. The granting of Cambodian nationality based on the nationality application shall be decided by Royal Decree.

Article 27
Persons authorized to acquire Cambodian nationality through naturalization shall take an oath at the Supreme Court. The content of the oath shall be stipulated by sub-decrees.

Chapter 7: Loss of Nationality

Article 28
Any Cambodian national aged 18 or over, acquiring another nationality, may voluntarily renounce their Cambodian nationality. Parents or guardians with minor children may voluntarily renounce Cambodian nationality for the entire family.

Article 29
The procedures and conditions for renouncing nationality shall be stipulated by sub-decrees. The approval for renouncing Cambodian nationality shall be decided by Royal Decree.

Chapter 8: Penalties

Article 30
Non-Cambodian citizens holding or using a Cambodian nationality identity card or passport shall be sentenced to five to ten years in prison. Any person providing a Cambodian nationality identity card or passport to a non-Cambodian citizen, including government officials, shall face the same penalty.

Article 31
Anyone forging a Cambodian nationality identity card or passport shall be sentenced to five to ten years in prison. Scratching, erasing, rewriting, or altering information on a Cambodian nationality identity card or passport shall be considered forgery.

Article 32
Anyone using a forged Cambodian nationality identity card or passport shall be sentenced to two to five years in prison and fined 4,000,000 to 10,000,000 riel.

Article 33
Organizers and accomplices shall face criminal penalties for offenses stated in Articles 30, 31, and 32 of this law, according to the conditions stipulated in the Penal Code.

Article 34
Any person violating offenses stated in Articles 30, 31, and 32 of this law shall face additional penalties stipulated in Article 54 (additional penalties) of the Penal Code.

Article 35
Legal entities shall be responsible for crimes stated in Article 42 (criminal liability of legal entities) of the Penal Code, applicable to offenses stated in Articles 30, 31, and 32 of this law. Legal entities shall be fined 10,000,000 to 100,000,000 riel and face additional penalties stipulated in Article 168 (additional penalties for legal entities) of the Penal Code.

Chapter 9: Transitional Provisions

Article 36
The legal documents related to the implementation of the Nationality Law promulgated by Royal Decree No. N.S/R.K.M/1096/30 shall continue to apply until replaced by new legal instruments.

Chapter 10: Final Provisions

Article 37
The Nationality Law promulgated by Royal Decree No. N.S/R.K.M/1096/30 shall be repealed and replaced by this law.

Article 38
This law shall be urgently promulgated.

Royal Palace, June 21, 2018 [Royal Signature and Seal]

Submitted to His Majesty the King for signature Prime Minister [Signature] Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen

Submitted to the Prime Minister Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior [Signature] Samdech Kralahoam Sar Kheng

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