Buying property in Cambodia is an exciting opportunity, but understanding the title transfer process is essential to secure legal ownership. The procedure involves official documentation, tax payments, and registration with the land authorities. This guide provides a clear overview of how title transfer works in Cambodia, helping you navigate each step with confidence.

Check the Property Title Certificate

To initiate the property transfer process, the first step is to ensure the legal ownership of the property you’re purchasing. Ask the current owner for the original title certificate and verify its legitimacy with the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction (MLMUPC). This step confirms who legally owns the property and reveals whether there are any debts, legal claims, or mortgages attached to it. The verification process generally takes around 10 days.

Investigate the Property’s History

In addition to title verification, you should investigate the property’s background. Visit the local Commune Office where the property is located and consult with officials for any existing or historical disputes or issues. This investigation helps provide clarity on the property’s legal standing and any risks that might affect your decision. While some information may be available in a day, full confirmation could take up to 10 days. It’s efficient to do this step alongside the title check.

Validate the Seller’s Credentials

To ensure the transaction is secure, you must also confirm that the seller is legally allowed to sell the property.

• For individual Cambodian sellers, request three certified copies of their national ID.
• For foreign sellers, ask for three certified copies of their ID along with a certified copy of their citizenship decree.
• If a company or legal entity is selling the property, you’ll need:
  • Three certified IDs of the authorized representative, who must be a Cambodian citizen
  • A certified company registration certificate from the Ministry of Commerce
  • A signed shareholder resolution approving the sale
  • For foreign shareholders, three certified ownership documents
  • An official power of attorney granted by the Board of Directors
    This vetting can be done alongside your other research and usually requires up to 10 days.

Begin the Transfer at the District Land Office

After completing the necessary checks and deciding to move forward, both buyer and seller must go in person or through their legal representatives to the District Land Office. All required parties must be present to sign the documents, including the spouse of the seller if they are married. Processing this stage may take anywhere from 20 to 30 days.

Pay the Transfer Tax

The next step is to pay the required property transfer tax to the General Department of Taxation under the Ministry of Economy and Finance. After the payment is completed, you’ll receive a tax receipt. Although the buyer is legally responsible for this tax, in practice, the cost is often negotiated, and sellers may cover it. This procedure is usually completed within one day.

Complete the Cadastral Registration

With the tax payment out of the way, the next step is to officially register the transaction with the cadastral office of MLMUPC. This includes signing legal documents and providing a thumbprint, witnessed by a local authority to legitimize the transaction. This stage can take up to five days.

Receive the Official Title Certificate

Finally, the Municipal Land Office will issue your official Certificate of Title. This occurs after the District Land Office sends all supporting documentation. Depending on the speed of the processing, the final certificate is usually issued within one to two weeks.