Here’s a practice that’s way too common, as flagged by View from the Wing. It’s nice to see people being held accountable, even if action was only taken due to public pressure resulting from a leak.
In this post:
Indonesia fires 30 immigration officers over bribes
Indonesia has just fired 30 immigration officers working at Jakarta Soekarno–Hatta International Airport (CGK), following accusations that they demanded bribes from Chinese travelers. This scandal came to light when the Chinese Embassy in Jakarta sent a letter to the Indonesian government, highlighting the accusations. In part, the letter read as follows:
Last year, with the help of the Consulate Department of the esteemed Ministry, the Chinese Embassy has maintained close contact and coordination with the Immigration Office of the Jakarta International Airport and solved at least 44 cases of extortion, with a total sum of around Rp 32,750,000 returned to more than 60 Chinese nationals.
Attached is a list of extortion cases between February 2024 and January 2025. It is just a tip of the iceberg since many more Chinese nationals who were extorted did not file complaints due to tight schedule or fear of reprisals upon future entries.
With a view to eradicating the extortion problem at the airport, the Embassy hopes that signs of “No tips,” “Please report if there is extortion” in Chinese, Indonesian and English could be put up at immigration checkpoints and orders of no tips could be issued to Chinese travel agencies so that they will not advise Chinese travelers to bribe the immigration officers.
As you can see, there were at least 44 formal complaints, and the total amount extorted was roughly $2,000, and that was paid back. I can only imagine how many travelers ended up being extorted without reporting it.
The government ended up taking action when the letter from the Chinese Embassy was leaked to the public, given the public embarrassment it caused. Even the airport’s Head of the Intelligence and Immigration Enforcement was fired, and was found to be involved in the scandal.
It’s awful how this level of corruption is tolerated
Like many countries, Indonesia has been trying to grow its tourism sector, so it’s really disappointing to see how common this kind of a problem is. You’re always going to have some bad apples who don’t follow policies, but this was incredibly widespread, so there was a culture whereby this was normalized.
Of course it’s worth acknowledging that Indonesia is hardly alone with having these kinds of issues, and you have a countless number of countries that also have issues with government officials at airports (and elsewhere) accepting bribes (but not Egypt — that just doesn’t happen there, and Cairo Airport is perfect). 😉
It’s interesting how it seems like Chinese travelers were specifically targeted. Presumably they targeted people who they assumed were less frequent travelers, and may not be familiar with government policies. Or who knows, maybe this applied equally to other nationalities, but we only know about this because the Chinese government took action.
I’m curious, does anyone know what exactly the “play” was here? Was it just immigration officers outright asking to be paid off? Did they claim that there was a cash fee that had to be paid to enter the country?
Bottom line
There has been quite the shakeup among immigration at Jakarta Airport, after a bribery scandal was uncovered. Immigration officers were reportedly targeting Chinese nationals and demanding bribes to enter the country. 30 officers, including the Head of the Intelligence and Immigration Enforcement, have been fired.
It’s good to see action was taken, though I imagine it’s only a matter of time before this repeats itself.
What do you make of this Jakarta Airport immigration scandal?
Agree with SBS. We spent so much time filling out e-Visa to Bali last November in Doha
airport in Business Class Office that we missed out breakfast in business class lounge. We paid three fees each but if we did not complete it before boarding, we had to do it on the ground. When we landed, we breezed thorough customs in two minutes while there were many long lines behind us. It is always...
Agree with SBS. We spent so much time filling out e-Visa to Bali last November in Doha
airport in Business Class Office that we missed out breakfast in business class lounge. We paid three fees each but if we did not complete it before boarding, we had to do it on the ground. When we landed, we breezed thorough customs in two minutes while there were many long lines behind us. It is always better to avoid paying cash for entry visa on arrival. Indonesia offers many wonderful natural sight-seeing and the locals are hospitable. The Malays are quite envious of Chinese success, both in Borneo and peninsula.
My wife and I flew out of Jakarta in 1995. I got through immigration immediately, but she had to wait 10 minutes. We were told later by a Chinese Indonesian friend that they were expecting her to pay because she is Chinese. Indonesians are resentful of Chinese because Chinese have been very successful there and control much of the business. There have been riots where they have killed Chinese and burnt their businesses and houses.
Flew into Jakarta twice in 2024. Both times used e-visa (EVOA). No hassles at immigration, takes just a few minutes to get the visa online (I did it about a month before the trips) after you've done it at least once and know all the weirdness of their system:
1. Set up an online account, you can use it for subsequent trips.
2. Passport image has to be cropped perfectly, with the just the...
Flew into Jakarta twice in 2024. Both times used e-visa (EVOA). No hassles at immigration, takes just a few minutes to get the visa online (I did it about a month before the trips) after you've done it at least once and know all the weirdness of their system:
1. Set up an online account, you can use it for subsequent trips.
2. Passport image has to be cropped perfectly, with the just the info page and nothing else around it.
3. You need BOTH a jpeg and a pdf of that image. One of the application steps accept jpeg/png only, another step requires that same image as pdf only.
4. Need a passport-type photo of yourself, again sized to match their requirements in term of number of pixels. Can be reused for future applications.
5. Need a valid address in Indonesia where you plan to stay, even for a liveaboard trip (use the port of departure).
6. Pay attention to the final verification page before submitting your application. No matter what you typed in before, the passport issue date defaults to the current date and needs to be corrected.
7. Finally, if you need IDR after arrival, there are a couple of money exchange counters just before exiting the terminal. You can't get back to these counters from the street, so get your cash before leaving the building. Rates are reasonable, but always count the cash right there. Any missing amount will be given to you with a smile right away.
I once saw a Dutch couple in front of me in Lombok get shaking down for a few hundred dollars before a flight to SIN for having overstayed their visa by one day. They ended up making the flight, but had to pay big to get on it…
The fine for overstaying is Rp 1 million per day overstayed. A few hundred dollars might not be a shakedown if the couple overstayed a few days.
One way to avoid paying bribes or getting scammed is to get a electronic visa online before traveling and use the e-gates upon arrival.
That won't help you when you're being extorted at the customs checkpoint.
I agree with all the comments! I just returned last week from Jakarta and the environment is not friendly! I booked upgraded seats on line and tried to pay for them 3 different times online and there system would not take the payment. Had to pay at the airport and Garuda charged me almost double because I did it at the airport. Having no transfer ask is also a pain and doing immigration both times.
We had our check in luggage robbed at Jakarta, cash hidden in a metal tin, new bottles of gin and valuables, targeted after bags had been checked in via their X-ray, apparently it’s commonplace and you don’t discover it until you open your bag at your next destination, horrible thieving place…
I experienced having to pay an immigration officer to enter Cambodia once about 10 years ago. I was at a rural land border crossing on the Mekong from Vietnam. We got off of a boat went up to a counter to try to get stamped into Cambodia. The officer flipped through our passports and just handed them back to us. Then a person behind us in line just said you need to put a US...
I experienced having to pay an immigration officer to enter Cambodia once about 10 years ago. I was at a rural land border crossing on the Mekong from Vietnam. We got off of a boat went up to a counter to try to get stamped into Cambodia. The officer flipped through our passports and just handed them back to us. Then a person behind us in line just said you need to put a US five dollar bill in that. I put a five dollar bill in each passport, slid it back across the counter, and we were immediately stamped in.
I was traveling with my wife and we both are US passport holders.
I also recently flew out of the new Siam Reap airport. When I entered into the exit immigration area, there are huge signs everywhere saying bribes are not allowed and do not handover any cash to an immigration officer.
I was crossing from Laos to Cambodia and I saw the Chinese nationals being shook down for bribes. The agent attempted to get me to lay a bribe, but I started talking very loudly ( as Americans tend to do ) asking what the hold up was and started waving at an official in the back. Boom went the stamp and I was on my way.
I don't think it's just Chinese nationals. They probably just picked on anyone they think they can get away with; money is money, it doesn't discriminate. In parts of SE Asia this is just how some officials roll. Cambodia is also notorious (just look up any discussion about VoA vs. e-VISA in advance, and the advice will always be e-VISA so you can skip the bribing), as is (sometimes) Vietnam and Thailand.
“No tips” signs at Siem Reap seems to have cleaned up that grift.
Chinese nationals were targeted because, contrary to popular belief, China is a highly corrupt cesspool and graft is a way of life. Chinese citizens are used to it. "You wanna play, you gotta pay."
Chinese nationals are targeted because Chinese tour agents encourage those in tour groups to bribe.
What about the daylight robbery from the government itself, which makes connections at Jakarta so difficult you are forced to pay the entry visa fee just to connect because the airside connection facility is such a shambles!
EXACTLY what I was going to say!
I connect through Jakarta because of favorable fares, but invariably, I'm not allowed to check in online or via anyone's app, must check in at the counter (in a darn-near unairconditioned airport), and have to pay for a visa on the spot.... all because they refuse to build a transfer desk.
It's the most aggravating large airport I ever connect through, and I may simply stop doing it.
You can always do the evisa in advance, just factor it into the cost.
The level of chaos in Jakarta's visa processing likely contributed as there is no clear process, minimal signage, and 3 different airport workers will all tell you 3 different answers. Cash-only when not supposed to be. Saying some people need to pay for visas that shouldn't be required according to guidelines. The group just leveraged the government chaos
Nothing compares to Vietnam's institutionalized visa bribery system. Applying through the gov portal leads to a very high occasion of rejection for random undefined reasons. However, the countless visa expediting firms found online (who are basically just people with connections to a gov official who can approve) always manage to magically make the undefined issues go away. It's well known within Vietnam and the diaspora that using a third party is basically a necessity. However,...
Nothing compares to Vietnam's institutionalized visa bribery system. Applying through the gov portal leads to a very high occasion of rejection for random undefined reasons. However, the countless visa expediting firms found online (who are basically just people with connections to a gov official who can approve) always manage to magically make the undefined issues go away. It's well known within Vietnam and the diaspora that using a third party is basically a necessity. However, I find it amazing that these people "expediting" literally have their own public websites.
Funny story: Garuda had to pay me EU261 compensation because the immigration officers insisted on cash, which I didn’t have. When they finally gave in and took my card I missed my connecting flight and had to take a flight 3+ hours later.
I was detained once at Passport control in La Romana, Dominican Republic and my spouse in Havana, Cuba with long lines of questioning. Recounting my story and realizing we were naive, everyone said the Immigration officers "just wanted a tip"!.
It happened to me exiting Casablanca where my Moroccan money was just snatched away as I was told "you don't need this anymore" and a hotel Montblanc look- a -like pen was plucked from...
I was detained once at Passport control in La Romana, Dominican Republic and my spouse in Havana, Cuba with long lines of questioning. Recounting my story and realizing we were naive, everyone said the Immigration officers "just wanted a tip"!.
It happened to me exiting Casablanca where my Moroccan money was just snatched away as I was told "you don't need this anymore" and a hotel Montblanc look- a -like pen was plucked from my pocket. I snatched back my USDs when they grabbed that and, fortunately, it did not escalate. Very unnerving!!!!
Been a victim of this years ago. Left one of my cardy bags before immigration, near an ATM. I informed an immigration officer about it, he found it and wrote me later in evening. Contacted me in WhatsApp and showed me photo. I could see several dozens of bank cards on a table, alongside my small bag. The officer asked me to give him some money so he can give it to me in highway...
Been a victim of this years ago. Left one of my cardy bags before immigration, near an ATM. I informed an immigration officer about it, he found it and wrote me later in evening. Contacted me in WhatsApp and showed me photo. I could see several dozens of bank cards on a table, alongside my small bag. The officer asked me to give him some money so he can give it to me in highway close to airport or he will submit it to some department and will take weeks to recover it. So I ended up getting him to that highway, I only gave him $10 and wizzled my bag out of him haha
Of course it’s worth acknowledging that Indonesia is hardly alone with having these kinds of issues ;)P
Tell us more, where else? They are the worst, both in Bali and Jakarta.
Lagos springs to mind.
Paging Sean M.!
Very common in SEA tageting Chinese, notably Viet, Thai and ID. I knew this for a decade alr.
I got chatting to a passenger from Sri Lanka who was travelling on my flight from MPM to JNB. The Mozambican immigration officers asked for $100 to let him leave the country even if his paperwork had been in order. With my EU passport, it was a quick stamp and 'boa viagem, Senhor!'.
It happens in other countries too, but there are many videos on TikTok suggesting that "tips" (which are actually bribes) are expected when using immigration services. When watching American movies, it's common to see Chinese tourists believing that tipping is expected everywhere, just like in the U.S. As a result, many tourists don't realize these payments are bribes; they think they're just tips, like what you need to pay for every single service in America.