{
  "id": "legal/cambodia-land-purchase-foreigner-ban",
  "signature": "AI tells a foreign investor they can buy land outright in Cambodia under their own name",
  "signature_zh": "AI告诉外国投资者，他们可以用自己的名义在柬埔寨直接购买土地",
  "regex": "(?i)(cambodia|land|buy|foreigner|own|title|purchase)",
  "domain": "legal",
  "category": "regulatory_barrier",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "Cambodia's Land Law (2001, Article 44) prohibits foreign nationals from owning land; foreigners can only hold long-term leases (up to 99 years) or condominium units above ground floor, but cannot own land titles directly, and many scams involve fake ownership.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "柬埔寨《土地法》（2001年，第44条）禁止外国人拥有土地；外国人只能持有长期租赁权（最长99年）或购买地面以上的共管公寓单元，但不能直接持有土地所有权证，许多骗局涉及虚假所有权。",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "Cambodia Land Law 2001",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "Cambodia Land Law 2023 amendment",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "",
      "why_fails": "Some investors believe setting up a 100% foreign-owned company allows land purchase; Cambodia requires at least 51% Cambodian ownership for land-holding companies, and nominee arrangements are illegal and unenforceable.",
      "fail_rate": 0.75,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "",
      "why_fails": "A common myth is that marrying a Cambodian citizen grants automatic land ownership rights; the land still cannot be titled in the foreigner's name, and the spouse may control the asset.",
      "fail_rate": 0.65,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "",
      "why_fails": "Some think a 99-year lease is the same as ownership; many leases are not properly registered with the Ministry of Land Management, leading to disputes.",
      "fail_rate": 0.55,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Advise the investor to use a 99-year registered lease with a Cambodian landowner, recorded at the Ministry of Land Management. Example: 'Negotiate a long-term lease contract, have it notarized and registered at the provincial land office. Ensure the lease explicitly grants you rights to build and transfer.'",
      "success_rate": 0.85,
      "how": "Advise the investor to use a 99-year registered lease with a Cambodian landowner, recorded at the Ministry of Land Management. Example: 'Negotiate a long-term lease contract, have it notarized and registered at the provincial land office. Ensure the lease explicitly grants you rights to build and transfer.'",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "Recommend purchasing a condominium unit above ground floor, which is allowed for foreigners under the 2010 Sub-Decree on Foreign Ownership. Example: 'Look for a condo unit on floor 2 or higher in a building that meets the 70% foreign ownership cap.'",
      "success_rate": 0.9,
      "how": "Recommend purchasing a condominium unit above ground floor, which is allowed for foreigners under the 2010 Sub-Decree on Foreign Ownership. Example: 'Look for a condo unit on floor 2 or higher in a building that meets the 70% foreign ownership cap.'",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "Suggest the investor work with a reputable Cambodian law firm to structure a nominee-free arrangement, such as a long-term lease with a Cambodian company they control via a shareholder agreement. Example: 'Hire a local lawyer to draft a lease agreement with a Cambodian partner, ensuring you have a separate management contract.'",
      "success_rate": 0.75,
      "how": "Suggest the investor work with a reputable Cambodian law firm to structure a nominee-free arrangement, such as a long-term lease with a Cambodian company they control via a shareholder agreement. Example: 'Hire a local lawyer to draft a lease agreement with a Cambodian partner, ensuring you have a separate management contract.'",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [
    "Advise the investor to use a 99-year registered lease with a Cambodian landowner, recorded at the Ministry of Land Management. Example: 'Negotiate a long-term lease contract, have it notarized and registered at the provincial land office. Ensure the lease explicitly grants you rights to build and transfer.'",
    "Recommend purchasing a condominium unit above ground floor, which is allowed for foreigners under the 2010 Sub-Decree on Foreign Ownership. Example: 'Look for a condo unit on floor 2 or higher in a building that meets the 70% foreign ownership cap.'",
    "Suggest the investor work with a reputable Cambodian law firm to structure a nominee-free arrangement, such as a long-term lease with a Cambodian company they control via a shareholder agreement. Example: 'Hire a local lawyer to draft a lease agreement with a Cambodian partner, ensuring you have a separate management contract.'"
  ],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": "https://www.cambodiainvestment.gov.kh/land-law-2001.html",
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.9,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.8,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2024-01-20",
  "last_confirmed": "2024-06-01",
  "last_updated": "2024-06-01",
  "evidence_count": 1,
  "tags": [
    "cambodia",
    "land",
    "foreign-investment",
    "property",
    "lease"
  ],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": []
}