Foreign Staff in 2027: Apply for Your Quota by 30 November, Then Secure Work Permits
At a glance
On 31 August 2026, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) issued Notification No. 025/26 opening applications for the 2027 Foreign Manpower Quota (FMQ). Every factory and enterprise that employs foreign nationals, or plans to employ them in 2027, must apply through the Foreign Workers Centralized Management System (FWCMS) between 1 September and 30 November 2026. An approved quota must be in place before work permits can be obtained for foreign employees. The MLVT also requires enterprises to link their Labour Automated Central Management System (LACMS) account with the FWCMS. It reminds foreign nationals that they must apply for a work permit within 90 calendar days of first entering Cambodia.
Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT).
All factories and enterprises employing, or intending to employ, foreign nationals in 2027.
30 November 2026, applied for online at fwcms.mlvt.gov.kh.
Labour Inspector fines of KHR 12.2 million–18 million (approx. US$3,050–4,500).
What did the MLVT announce?
Notification No. 025/26 opens the annual window for employers to apply for the number of foreign nationals they may employ in the coming year. The main points are:
The quota comes before the work permit. Without an approved 2027 FMQ, an employer cannot obtain work permits for its foreign employees for 2027.
- Application period: 1 September 2026 to 30 November 2026.
- Who must apply: all factories and enterprises that currently employ foreign employees, or intend to do so, in 2027.
- Channel: online through the FWCMS at fwcms.mlvt.gov.kh.
- New businesses: enterprises established after the notification was issued may apply for an FMQ as soon as they start operating, if they intend to employ foreign workers.
- LACMS–FWCMS link: all enterprises and factories must link their LACMS account with the FWCMS.
The quota is an annual approval, not a one-off. An enterprise whose foreign staff are already in post must still obtain a 2027 quota to keep employing them next year.
The 10% rule and how it is split
Under the quota system, foreign nationals may generally make up no more than 10% of an employer's Cambodian workforce, calculated as foreign employees against local employees. The 10% is divided as follows:
| Category | Maximum share of Cambodian workforce |
|---|---|
| Office employees | 3% |
| Skilled labour employees | 6% |
| Unskilled labour employees | 1% |
| Total standard quota | 10% |
Exceeding the cap: Prakas No. 277/20
In August 2020, the MLVT issued Prakas No. 277/20 on Special Conditions on the Employment of Foreign Nationals. Under it, an enterprise within the scope of Article 1 of the Labour Law that cannot find suitably qualified Cambodian nationals, or enough of them, may ask to employ foreign nationals beyond the 10% limit. The excess requires MLVT approval.
What this means commercially
For foreign investors, the quota is a workforce-planning constraint as well as a filing requirement. Because the standard quota is calculated against the Cambodian workforce, an enterprise with a small local headcount has correspondingly little room to employ foreign nationals. Several practical points follow:
- Early-stage entrants: A newly established subsidiary that plans to bring in a foreign management or technical team should check whether its expected Cambodian headcount supports that number. If not, it should plan for a Prakas No. 277/20 request from the start.
- Category matters, not just the total: The 3% / 6% / 1% split means an enterprise may have room within the 10% total and still exceed one category, for example office roles. Assigning each foreign employee to the right category before applying avoids problems later.
- Investment timelines: Expatriate arrivals for a project launch, factory commissioning or management handover depend on quota approval and then work permits. These steps belong in the project timetable alongside company registration and licensing.
- Transactions: In an acquisition or restructuring, the target's FMQ approvals, FWCMS records and work-permit status are part of labour due diligence. Gaps in these records can turn into penalties and operational disruption after closing.
Work permits: the 90-day rule
Under Article 261 of the Labour Law, foreign nationals must hold a valid work permit to work lawfully in Cambodia. Notification No. 025/26 reminds all foreign nationals residing and working in Cambodia that they must apply for a work permit through the FWCMS within 90 calendar days of their first entry into Cambodia.
Existing work permits must also be renewed each year by the deadline the MLVT sets in a separate notification. For 2026, the MLVT required renewals by 31 March 2026. Employers should watch for the corresponding notification on 2027 renewals.
What are the penalties?
Failing to obtain the 2027 FMQ by the deadline may lead the Labour Inspector to impose fines of KHR 12.2 million to KHR 18 million (approximately US$3,050 to US$4,500). These amounts equal 61 to 90 days of the base daily wage under Article 369 of the Labour Law and Prakas No. 326 on the Base Daily Wage for the Calculation of Penalty Fees. Late work-permit applications or renewals may also lead to penalties for both the employer and the foreign employee.
What should employers do now?
A practical checklist and timeline for the 2027 cycle:
Now (October 2026): Confirm FWCMS and LACMS access
Check that your enterprise's FWCMS account is active and that the LACMS–FWCMS link has been completed in line with the guidance on the FWCMS.
Now: Map your 2027 foreign headcount
List every foreign employee you expect to employ in 2027, including planned arrivals, and assign each to the office, skilled or unskilled category.
Now: Test against the 10% cap and its split
Compare planned foreign headcount with your Cambodian workforce, category by category. Identify any shortfall early.
October–November 2026: Prepare any Prakas No. 277/20 request
Where you need more than the standard quota, assemble the supporting justification for why suitably qualified Cambodian nationals cannot be found in sufficient numbers.
No later than 30 November 2026: File the 2027 FMQ application
Submit through the FWCMS well before the deadline, because approval may take several weeks.
Early 2027: Renew existing work permits
Watch for the MLVT notification setting the 2027 renewal deadline and file renewals on time.
Ongoing: Track new arrivals
Record each foreign employee's first entry date and file the work-permit application within 90 calendar days.
Key takeaways
- The 2027 FMQ window runs from 1 September to 30 November 2026, and applications are made through the FWCMS.
- An approved quota is a prerequisite for work permits. It is required every year, including for existing foreign staff.
- The standard cap is 10% of the Cambodian workforce (3% office, 6% skilled, 1% unskilled). Prakas No. 277/20 allows MLVT-approved hiring above the cap.
- Enterprises must link LACMS with the FWCMS.
- Foreign nationals must apply for a work permit within 90 calendar days of first entry.
- Missing the FMQ deadline may lead to fines of KHR 12.2 million–18 million.
How MLV Law Group can help
MLV Law Group advises foreign investors and foreign-owned employers on employing foreign nationals in Cambodia. Our employment and labour team can review your 2027 foreign headcount against the quota categories, prepare and file FMQ applications and Prakas No. 277/20 requests through the FWCMS, manage work-permit applications and renewals, and carry out labour-compliance reviews for transactions and restructurings.
To discuss your 2027 quota position, contact our team at legal@mlvlawgroup.com or +855 71 777 4168. For more context, see our practice areas on Work Permits and Employment & Labor.
Statutory Disclaimer
This note is general information on Cambodian law as at 2 October 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Statutes, prakas, notifications and administrative practice change. An engagement letter is required before MLV Law Group acts on any matter.
