In depth · Property
Buying property in Phnom Penh: the rules for foreign buyers
The official framework for buying a home in Phnom Penh. It is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Updated October 2026
What foreigners can own
Under the 2010 law on providing foreigners with ownership rights in private units of co-owned buildings, foreigners may own private units from the first floor up, not on the ground floor or below, within a cap per building, and not in buildings close to the land borders. Sources disagree on whether the cap counts units or floor area: ask your lawyer for the building’s figure.
Land and houses
Land, and houses with their land, are reserved for Cambodian citizens and Cambodian companies. Structures offered to foreigners as a route to land deserve careful independent legal advice.
Before you sign
Have a lawyer who acts only for you confirm the strata title, the developer’s permits and the building’s foreign quota before you pay a deposit. The Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (mlmupc.gov.kh) is the official source on titles.
Where people live
See our property guide for BKK1 and Tonle Bassac, Daun Penh, Toul Tom Poung, Koh Pich and Chroy Changvar. We don’t publish prices or yields.
Questions and answers
Can foreigners buy property in Phnom Penh?
Yes, apartments in co-owned buildings from the first floor up, within a cap per building. Land is reserved for Cambodians.
General information only, not legal or tax advice. Confirm every step with a Cambodian lawyer.