Chinese Tourist Claims Bribes Ease Entry to Thailand in Viral Video

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Immigration officers at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport reported a Chinese tourist who secretly recorded them while narrating that entering Thailand could be made easier through bribery.

The video alleged that Thai immigration officers could be bribed and would even help carry passengers’ luggage.

The video, posted on social media, quickly went viral. According to Nation Thailand on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, the tourist also claimed that working in Thailand without a visa was possible if one had connections with the Immigration Bureau.

Choengron Rimpadee, chief of Immigration Division 2 at Suvarnabhumi Airport, confirmed that the video was recorded in the airport’s immigration arrival hall. The officer shown in the video was identified as Police Captain Eknarin Chantamatharapaskul, deputy inspector of the immigration entry unit.

Chinese Tourist Asked for Help

According to Eknarin, the incident began when a Chinese tourist approached him asking for help filling out the online registration form (TDAC), saying they didn’t understand the system. Out of goodwill, he assisted by entering the information.

The tourist later requested to expedite the passport process, citing urgency.

Eknarin escorted him to the regular passport inspection line before returning to assist another traveler. He was unaware that the tourist had secretly recorded him from behind.

He emphasized that his actions were solely intended to help a tourist in need. He said he was shocked to learn that the footage had been misused, edited, and paired with false commentary, which damaged his reputation.

Misuse of Visa-Free Entry

Thailand offers visa-free entry to travelers from many countries, including ASEAN nations and China. However, this policy is often abused for employment purposes.

Choengron said that Thailand recently cracked down on foreigners misusing visa-free access. Between January and May 2025, immigration officers denied entry to around 8,193 foreigners, many of whom were suspected of entering under the guise of tourism to work illegally.

He added that some individuals and agencies have misled Chinese nationals through fake content and advertisements, claiming they could arrange entry into Thailand through “connections” with immigration officers. Many tourists have also turned immigration checkpoints into “challenge content zones,” secretly recording staff and restricted areas to create viral videos.

Eknarin has filed a defamation complaint with investigators at the Suvarnabhumi Police Office. The Immigration Bureau has also taken legal action under immigration law to revoke the tourist’s visa and blacklist them from re-entering Thailand.

The Thai government urged the public not to trust or share misleading content that could harm the integrity and credibility of Thailand’s immigration services.

A similar case occurred in Indonesia in January 2025. A Chinese tourist posted a TikTok video claiming they could enter Indonesia more easily by offering a bribe.

The video showed a tourist slipping Rp500,000 inside a passport at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, which was claimed to be a bribe to gain entry. The tourist later issued a clarification and apology, saying the money was for visa fees, not a bribe.

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