PHNOM PENH – Cambodian authorities screened more than 1,100 foreign nationals seeking to marry Cambodian citizens in the first half of this year as part of efforts to prevent human trafficking and forced marriages.
The Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department said 1,154 foreign nationals from 36 nationalities, including 52 women, were interviewed between January and June after applying to register marriages with Cambodian citizens, as reported by Khmer Times.
During the same period, the department assessed and forwarded 1,169 cases, involving 43 women, to the One-Window Service Office for further processing.
The screening is intended to ensure international marriages comply with legal requirements while identifying potential cases of trafficking, exploitation or fraudulent marriages.
Under Cambodia's regulations governing marriages between citizens and foreigners, foreign applicants must be physically present in the country and submit documents including a valid passport and visa, certificate of marital status, criminal record certificate, employment confirmation from their home country and a health certificate.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Ministry of Interior review the documents within five working days.
Once approved, the couple must submit their application to the commune administration where the Cambodian partner has permanent residence, along with documents such as birth, marital status and health certificates.
The application is then reviewed by commune civil registration officials within three working days before a public marriage announcement is issued.
The notice is displayed for 10 days at both the relevant foreign embassy or diplomatic mission and the commune office, allowing objections or complaints to be submitted.
If there are no objections, the couple can proceed with the registration.
Both parties must sign a marriage agreement and register the marriage in person before civil registration officials, accompanied by two legally qualified witnesses, for the marriage to be legally valid.
The department's screening efforts were highlighted during a meeting at the Ministry of Interior reviewing Cambodia's anti-human trafficking efforts during the first six months of the year and setting future priorities for the National Committee for Counter Trafficking.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Sokha, who chairs the committee, commended the authorities' efforts and urged officials to maintain vigilance against human trafficking, particularly cases involving illegal or fraudulent marriages.