International transfers to and from Cambodia

In 3 bullets

• Receiving an international transfer in Cambodia: classic SWIFT to your KH bank (ABA / ACLEDA) — free incoming at ABA for most currencies.
• Sending from Cambodia: SWIFT (15 USD cable + 0.15% min 15 USD), or Wise / Revolut from a foreign account for lower fees.
• No strict FX controls for individuals, but transfers > 10,000 USD trigger an AML declaration (KYC).

Eligibility

To make international transfers (SWIFT) in Cambodia, you need:

• A bank account in Cambodia (see the account opening guide) if you want to receive or send from Cambodia.
• The SWIFT / BIC code of the recipient bank and the IBAN or account number depending on the country.
• For large amounts (≥ 10,000 USD or equivalent), to be in good standing with your tax status in both countries (3916 declaration in France, ToS declaration in Cambodia if tax resident).

Cost and duration

At ABA Bank (the reference for expats)

Receive a transfer (inward SWIFT):

• Free under the current promotion for EUR, CAD, AUD, GBP, THB, VND, SGD, CNY, JPY currencies converted to USD on arrival.
• In USD direct: free as well, depending on the active promo.
• Outside promo: ~0.1% of the amount, capped by the bank.
• No maximum cap for inbound transfers.
• Lead time: 1 to 3 business days depending on intermediary bank chain.

Send a transfer (outward SWIFT):

• Commission: 0.15% of amount, minimum 15 USD.
• Cable fee: 15 USD additional.
• Cancellation: 30 USD if you change your mind after sending.
• Lead time: 1 to 3 business days.

Also to pay: correspondent bank fees (sometimes 10-30 USD deducted along the way if OUR is not selected).

At ACLEDA / Canadia / J Trust

Rates comparable to or slightly above ABA. ACLEDA is more present in the provinces but its mobile app for SWIFT is less smooth than ABA Mobile.

How to receive an international transfer

1. Share the right details

For a relative to send you money from abroad, provide:

The Cambodian account number has no IBAN format — it is a long number like 000-12345678-90 depending on the bank.

2. Ask the sender to use the “OUR” option

Three SWIFT fee options:

• OUR: sender pays all fees → you receive the exact amount.
• SHA (default): fees shared → correspondent bank can deduct 10-30 USD along the way.
• BEN: beneficiary pays all → avoid.

For small transfers (< 1,000 USD), OUR is often more expensive than the SHA loss. For large amounts, OUR pays off.

3. Verify arrival

The ABA Mobile app notifies in real time when the transfer arrives. If after 5 business days nothing arrives, ask the sender for the SWIFT trace (MT103) and present it to your advisor for tracing.

How to send a transfer abroad

ABA SWIFT Mobile route

The ABA Mobile app lets you send a SWIFT directly from your phone. Procedure:

1. Transfers tab → SWIFT.
2. Enter: name, IBAN, BIC, bank, beneficiary address.
3. Choose the currency (USD, EUR…) and amount.
4. Choose the fee option (OUR / SHA / BEN).
5. SMS OTP confirmation.
6. Confirmation by notification.

The amount is debited immediately, the beneficiary receives in 1 to 3 days.

Alternative route — Wise / Revolut

If you have a Wise or Revolut account funded in USD in Cambodia (see the dedicated guide), transfers to France or Europe are:

• Faster (instant for Wise EUR → EUR).
• Cheaper (~5-10 USD for 1,000 USD vs ~30 USD via SWIFT).
• Mid-market rate with no hidden margin.

But you must first fund Wise from Cambodia — done via SWIFT transfer from ABA, so with initial fees. The benefit shows mainly after several transfers.

Required documents

For an incoming transfer (nothing to provide in advance)

• Full bank details to the sender.
• For transfers > 10,000 USD: the KH bank may ask for proof of fund origin (employment contract, real-estate sale, inheritance…) as part of AML.

For an outgoing transfer

• ID (passport).
• Proof of transaction if > 10,000 USD: invoice, contract, etc.
• For repeated and large transfers (real estate, business purchase), the bank may request the tax return or an opinion from the NBC .

Ceilings and declarations

Legal ceiling

• No legal ceiling for individual transfers between accounts domiciled in cooperative countries.
• Above 10,000 USD in a single operation, the bank applies its reinforced KYC process (fund origin, justification).

Declaration on the French side

Every French tax resident must declare:

• The existence of the Cambodian account each year (form 3916, attached to the 2042).
• The income received in this account (interest, dividends, capital gains) under French tax.
• Annual flows > 10,000 € to or from abroad must be reported to TRACFIN by the French bank. No personal declaration, but keep the receipts.

Declaration on the Cambodia side

• No specific declaration of flows for an individual.
• If you are a Cambodian tax resident (≥ 183 days), all income received is included in the ToS base or in passive income tax.

Common pitfalls

FAQ

How long for a transfer from France to ABA?

1 to 3 business days typically. Initiate the transfer before 2 pm FR time on a business day for processing the next day in Phnom Penh. Weekends and public holidays (FR or KH) suspend flows.

What are the fees to send 1,000 USD to France via ABA?

• ABA commission: 0.15% of 1,000 = 1.50 USD → min 15 USD applied.
• Cable fee: 15 USD.
• Total ABA: 30 USD.
• • any correspondent fees (5-15 USD if SHA).

So 30 to 45 USD for 1,000 USD sent. Wise would be 5-10 USD for the same amount — hence the value if you transfer regularly.

My transfer is stuck — what to do?

1. Check the status in ABA Mobile or with your advisor.
2. Ask the sender for the SWIFT MT103 trace (reference number).
3. With this MT103, your bank can trace the transfer through the correspondent chain.
4. Resolution time: 5 to 30 days, depending on the bottleneck.

Can I transfer in KHR to France?

Theoretically yes, but no French bank holds KHR accounts. In practice, convert to USD or EUR in Cambodia before sending (NBC rate near mid-market).

Is there a ceiling for repatriating funds when leaving Cambodia?

No, no FX controls for individuals. But prepare:

• Proof of fund origin (real-estate sale, end of assignment, inheritance).
• Proof of tax payment in Cambodia if tax resident.
• In France, 3916 + 2042 declaration for the relevant year.