Can a Belgian passport holder enter Thailand for 30 days without an onward flight ticket?

Dec 5, 2021
3 years ago
Ivo ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Asking for a friend (seriously), he is Belgium passport holder and wants to come to Thailand end of this month. As far as I understand he can come in for 30 days under de visa exemption and extend that in Thailand for another 30 days? But getting in he needs to proof that he will be leaving Thailand before the end of his first 30 days? Is this really checked?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A Belgian passport holder can enter Thailand for 30 days under the visa exemption and extend their stay for an additional 30 days. Upon entry, proof of leaving Thailand before the end of the first 30 days is normally required, but this is primarily checked by the airline prior to boarding, rather than Thai immigration. Many travelers report that immigration does not consistently verify onward flight details, and having a refundable return ticket can serve as proof for the airline. Despite this, there are scenarios where immigration could deny entry based on other factors.
Benjamin ******
I'm shutting this post down:

1. This is a visa advice group, not an airline advice group.

2. For visa exempts, the airlines may want to see a flight out of Thailand before allowing you to board the plane. Generally they will not ask for tourist visas, and they will not ask if you are entering on a Non-Immigrant visa.

3. Having an onward flight ticket out of Thailand does not guarantee entry into Thailand, and other reasons may exist for being admitted into Thailand.

My advice is to always get the correct visa for your stay before arriving in Thailand.

Thank you.
Hanane ***********
He can buy a return ticket from Emirates, he can easily cancel and ask for refund. they refund 100%.
Bo *************
I bought a Air ticket back to Denmark with Finn Air.

A few hours after they confirmed the ticket I read that this cheap standard ticket couldn't be changed or returned.

So I called Finn Air on the Finn Air app and they returned all the money to my account, because It was only a few hours after I bought the ticket.

But now I had a proff of a return ticket to show the Thai Embassy for my visa, so I And it worked.
Pascal *********
He can do like me book a ticket that will show fly black within 60 days and it's all good. Immigration don't even care for that and not ask your return ticket. Neither when you land, nor when you extend the 30 days. They just care the 1900 baht for 30 days extension.
George *************
@Pascal ********
I tend to agree that immigration doesn't care, but the issue is that your airline is likely to care when you board because they are responsible for flying you back if Thailand were to deny you entry (and you don't have an onward ticket). The airline may very well not allow you to board under those conditions, depending on the airline.
Pascal *********
@George ************
I flew Emirates with a 58 days flight with no visa everything went fine. Don't worry.
George *************
I agree with the advice that has been given previously, but I was just thinking... how does having a booked onward flight help the airline if you are denied entry to Thailand. You can't enter Thailand under those circumstances. Your booked onward flight is in 30 days. Doesn't the airline that brought you to Thailand still have to return you to your origin at their expense because you were denied entry by Thailand. In other words, how exactly does having an onward flight 30 days in the future help the airline in this situation?
Benjamin ******
@George ************
With an onward flight ticket, if you are rejected entry, you'll go to the IDC until your next (pre-paid) flight. I believe the daily fee at the IDC is 300 THB a day (if my memory serves me right).
George *************
@Benjamin *****
Interesting. Thanks.
Ivo ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
But with an onward ticket there is no reason to be rejected?
Benjamin ******
@Ivo **********
Yes there would still be reasons for rejection, including;

-The immigration officer believing you can't support yourself in Thailand/ abusing the visa exempt or tourist visa process

- You're on some type of black list

Or other valid reasons.

See attached for the potential reasons.
George *************
@Ivo **********
I think you can be rejected by Thai immigration for any number of reasons, only one of which is not having an onward ticket, but I understand that particular one is very rarely used.
Winfield *********
I just came to Thailand with three exact same scenario. Only the airline will actually check for a departing flight that is within the 30 days. I bought a refundable flight and used that to fill in the info for the Thailand Pass.
Charles ***********
In my experience, it's only checked by the airline check-in staff at the departure airport, not by immigration. So if there's a problem he could quickly buy a cheap onward flight in the region.
Paul ***********
@Charles **********
yes Immigration have no need to check as the airline who have to pay your repatriation costs if you are refused entry do this pre departure. ps even if you check in online with hand carry pre covid they have someone at the gate checking you have the necessary visas etc
Adam ******
No it’s not checked. They are more interested in your thailand pass and other documents to check your departure status. I just arrived last night and don’t have any departure ticket.
Angelo ***********
It is checked for the "Thailand Pass". For simple entry, I was only checked once. But the officer did not check the date, only if I had one.

If he can not get a return flight with changeable date, he should try to buy a cheap (40EUR) flight to Vientiane or any other place close buy.
Bo *************
I found a oneway ticket to Singapore for 41Us on Skyscanner.com
Adam ******
@Angelo **********
it is not checked for the Thailand pass! They only ask for your flight number and date of arrival. SHA+ hotel only asks for your flight arrival booking tickets. Nobody asks for your departure status or ticket. Not at this current time during covid anyhow.
Angelo ***********
@Adam *****
Well, on the web site, where I have to apply for "Thailand Pass": they do.
Jake ********
@Angelo **********
don’t worry. My stay is 32 days and I put it on the Thailand pass and got approved 😉
Benjamin ******
@Jake *******
Did you enter on a one way ticket, or just put it on the Thai pass?
Benjamin ******
@Angelo **********
Can you show a screenshot of that please?
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