½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Menu
½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Corrupt Immigration officials at PNH Airport

Post new topic

Guestposter103
Hello,

We visited Phnom Penh last week from Vietnam. I'm myself a U.S Citizen and obtained a 30 day E-Visa,  My spouse is a Vietnamese citizen able to enter Cambodia without a Visa under the Asean agreements.  When we arrived at the immigration (passport control) area we were directed to separate immigration officers. I showed my U.S passport,  e-visa,  passport got stamped without delay. When my spouse presented her Vietnamese passport, the immigration officer knocked on her desk and showed a $10 bill, partially covered with a piece of paper. My spouse replied "I  don't' understand" after which the officer knocked for the second time and showed her the $10 bill again . At this point she called me to come over, after which the officer immediately stamped her passport and threw it back to her.  When we returned recently from PNH airport back to Vietnam, the exact same situation happened again with another officer. We have never experienced such a high level of corruption in any country. What's interesting to point out is that I was never asked to pay for a "bribe"

I'm wondering if someone else experienced a similar situation in Cambodia?
Hannostamm

@VN Expat This has been going on as long as I can remember. I was married to a Vietnamese and the same thing would happen every single time we left or entered the country. It happens to Chinese too, the immigration officials know that those two nationalities are easy targets and often cough up the money without resistance. My ex never stood up for it. She just told them that she knows her rights and refuses to pay.

Guestposter103

@VN Expat This has been going on as long as I can remember. I was married to a Vietnamese and the same thing would happen every single time we left or entered the country. It happens to Chinese too, the immigration officials know that those two nationalities are easy targets and often cough up the money without resistance. My ex never stood up for it. She just told them that she knows her rights and refuses to pay.

- @Hannostamm

WOW! That's terrible to hear that this happened to your ex as well! .  Looks they target some specific nationalities and ask for a bribe.

I'm wondering how many people actually pay  , since it appears that bribery happens a lot in Cambodia!
Hannostamm

@VN Expat This has been going on as long as I can remember. I was married to a Vietnamese and the same thing would happen every single time we left or entered the country. It happens to Chinese too, the immigration officials know that those two nationalities are easy targets and often cough up the money without resistance. My ex never stood up for it. She just told them that she knows her rights and refuses to pay.

- @Hannostamm

WOW! That's terrible to hear that this happened to your ex as well! .  Looks they target some specific nationalities and ask for a bribe.

I'm wondering how many people actually pay  , since it appears that bribery happens a lot in Cambodia!
- @VN Expat

I used to fly in and out a lot and saw immigration officiis sit in front of piles of money. They were not very shy about it.
hdgh29
Any expat who has dealings here with someone in uniform knows that it almost always involves a small financial transaction. It is just part of life here, like the wet season, like the mosquitoes, and the odd dose of food poisoning. Not always a pleasant experience, but if you stay long enough it is impossible to avoid. Overall, the benefits outweigh the obstacles, so might as well just accept it. What are you going to do about it - write to the papers?
Guestposter103
Any expat who has dealings here with someone in uniform knows that it almost always involves a small financial transaction. It is just part of life here, like the wet season, like the mosquitoes, and the odd dose of food poisoning. Not always a pleasant experience, but if you stay long enough it is impossible to avoid. Overall, the benefits outweigh the obstacles, so might as well just accept it. What are you going to do about it - write to the papers?
- @hdgh29

Have travelled to over 75 countries, including most here in SE Asia. Have never encountered a situation of being asked for a bribe to enter and leave a country. I have absolutely no issues paying for Visa fees or other charges. although be upfront and honest about it. Airline tickets already include airport taxes to be paid to the airport authorities.  I like your comment about going to write to the papers...LOL.. do the papers still exist?

Cambodian citizens are able to enter Vietnam Visa Free under the Asean agreements, I expect that Vietnamese citizens can also enter Cambodia without being molested.  Cambodia a beautiful country and does not need these crooks to represent Cambodia!
hammyt
@VN Expat

When going from Singapore to Batam, Indonesia I have more than once been asked for "coffee money" by the immigration officials in Indonesia. It is despicable and detestable, but you are kind of at their mercy, since they can refuse you entry. So I was resigned to give them $10 in order to get into Indonesia. That was pre-covid, so I don't know if you can get a Visa on Arrival in Batam at this time.
Guestposter103
@VN Expat

When going from Singapore to Batam, Indonesia I have more than once been asked for "coffee money" by the immigration officials in Indonesia. It is despicable and detestable, but you are kind of at their mercy, since they can refuse you entry. So I was resigned to give them $10 in order to get into Indonesia. That was pre-covid, so I don't know if you can get a Visa on Arrival in Batam at this time.
- @hammyt
Seems you experienced the same type of bribery in Indonesia!  We did travel to Jakarta a few years ago, although we were not asked to pay a bribe.
Willdduff
After being shaken down 3 times in one day on a hired Sihanoukvil moped, I gave up hiring.
Apokalis

@VN Expat Bribery is a way of life in Cambodia

hdgh29

It can have its uses. Slapped with a $200 fine in Auckland because my car's rego ran out, it was either pay up or go to court. In Siem Reap I was fined for not having my bike's reg card on me - I was given a choice, $25 with a receipt or $10 no receipt. Of course I did the right thing....

Willyboy1937

No corruption now, prior to 2018 on 3 occasions when I booked a return flight it was 29 days from the time I arrived, on presenting my visa I was told by a very bad tempered official that I over stayed my visa by 1 day and must pay $5 to him, after I refused he pushed back my visa and said, you not fly, so I paid up, a receipt was not offered, Phnom Penh today 2022 is a much safer place ( apart from the night market, keep your money in your shoe as this place is a gold mine to gangs of pick pockets) and I hope to settle there permanently in the near future.

Articles to help you in your expat project in Cambodia

  • Traveling to Cambodia
    Traveling to Cambodia

    Cambodia incites a feeling of awe that can be said of a few other countries, and has rightfully earned its ...

  • Working in Phnom Penh
    Working in Phnom Penh

    When it comes to expat living, Phnom Penh has it all. Thanks to an influx of foreign investment over the past ...

  • Living in Phnom Penh
    Living in Phnom Penh

    Before going to anywhere in the world, people always try to find out about those places first. Likewise, before ...

  • Lifestyle in Cambodia
    Lifestyle in Cambodia

    If you are about to settle in the Kingdom of Cambodia, you are probably wondering about its inhabitants' ...

  • Student life in Phnom Penh
    Student life in Phnom Penh

    Adjusting to life as a student can be difficult. Even more so if you are trying to do it in a new country, but ...

  • Opening a bank account in Cambodia
    Opening a bank account in Cambodia

    As a foreigner living in Cambodia, opening a bank account is relatively straightforward and can save you quite a ...

  • Developing your social circle in Phnom Penh
    Developing your social circle in Phnom Penh

    Moving to a city where you have no friends or family can be daunting. Thankfully, Phnom Penh has a large and very ...

  • Popular neighbourhoods in Phnom Penh
    Popular neighbourhoods in Phnom Penh

    As a new expat in Phnom Penh, you are going to need to know the best neighbourhoods to live in for your budget, ...

All of Cambodia's guide articles