ask
Search
Ask
Answered2 months ago

Can a coach or minibus ticket serve as proof of onward travel for the METV in Thailand?

John *******
asked Sep 16, 2026
842
views
5
replies
1
likes
Me and my wife will be travelling to Thailand for the first time in November, so we are applying for the METV online, our onward travel will be from chiang rai to HUAY XAI (Laos)as we would be getting the slow boat, Can anybody give me some advice on if the uk embassy excepts an onward ticket out of Thailand by coach or mini bus as onward travel confirmation?

We have done the usual search with Ai and other search platforms with all answer being very confusing.

Any help would be much appreciated.
Answer summary
The user is traveling to Thailand for the first time and is applying for a METV (Multiple Entry Tourist Visa). They seek clarification on whether the UK embassy accepts an onward travel ticket out of Thailand by coach or minibus for visa requirements. The community responses indicate that showing proof of onward travel by land is typically acceptable. However, they recommend providing evidence of a departure from Thailand within the first 60 days to justify the need for the METV, such as a flight itinerary without needing a purchased ticket.
5 repliesnewest first
4

Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.

Tod *********
no problem at all showing proof of onward travel by land. however for the METV you usually have to show your leaving Thailand after 60 days and then coming back so I don't know how you're going to show them that you need an METV AI is the worst source for accurate info about entry/visa/extension to thailand, there's so much bad info out there that if you don't ask the exact right question with the right wording you'll get outdated, wrong info that has been parroted so often the AI data mines it as real info
James ********
This is a recent post describing the METV multiple entry tourist visa...
********************************************
The METV multiple entry Tourist Visa is valid for use for 6 MONTHS from the date it's issued. Therefore, don't apply for it too soon. Upon your arrival into Thailand... You are stamped in for 60 days... That can be extended for 30 ADDED days at your local Thai Immigration office for 1900 Thai baht... OR... do a border bounce by land, sea or by Air.. getting a New 60-day stamp on arrival. That can be done on the same day return...with planning. As not all Land border crossings allow for same day return. One or two nights stay in the visiting country may be required. Repeat the process...get a NEW 60-day STAMP with one 30-day extension of stay. 2+1+2+1+2+1 = 9 months maximum. Be sure to leave Thailand a day or 6 prior to your stamped ending date each time. If you are going to use a BORDER BOUNCE, use an experienced border run service company to take you with a same day return. They arrange for your exit and re-entry same day. There are several fine companies who offer the same day BORDER BOUNCE services. At this time, All Cambodia land border crossings are CLOSED. AND All Myanmar land border crossings are CLOSED. There's a BORDER BOUNCE service company in Ranong, South Thailand which makes a same day BORDER BOUNCE to Myanmar and back. Flights are low prices to several SE Asian locations... Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam, Phnom Penh Cambodia, and Singapore...to name a few. Again, with flight schedules, same day return is possible. When you apply for the METV...show a trip departing Thailand within the first 60 or 90 days... which demonstrates the need for the METV multiple entry tourist visa. Just show desired flight date, destination, and airline. No actual ticket needed. Tod Daniels is the expert on the METV multiple entry tourist visa, in my opinion. He's advised MANY of its use on Thai Visa Advice forum.
James ********
James ********
This is a recent post describing the METV multiple entry tourist visa...

********************************************


The METV multiple entry Tourist Visa is valid for use for 6 MONTHS from the date it's issued.

Therefore, don't apply for it too soon.

Upon your arrival into Thailand...

You are stamped in for 60 days...

That can be extended for 30 ADDED days at your local Thai Immigration office for 1900 Thai baht...

OR...

do a border bounce by land, sea or by Air.. getting a New 60-day stamp on arrival.

That can be done on the same day return...with planning. As not all Land border crossings allow for same day return. One or two nights stay in the visiting country may be required.

Repeat the process...get a NEW 60-day STAMP with one 30-day extension of stay.

2+1+2+1+2+1 = 9 months maximum.

Be sure to leave Thailand a day or 6 prior to your stamped ending date each time.

If you are going to use a BORDER BOUNCE, use an experienced border run service company to take you with a same day return. They arrange for your exit and re-entry same day. There are several fine companies who offer the same day BORDER BOUNCE services.

At this time, All Cambodia land border crossings are CLOSED.

AND All Myanmar land border crossings are CLOSED.

There's a BORDER BOUNCE service company in Ranong, South Thailand which makes a same day BORDER BOUNCE to Myanmar and back.

Flights ✈️ are low prices to several SE Asian locations... Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam, Phnom Penh Cambodia, and Singapore...to name a few. Again, with flight ✈️ schedules, same day return is possible.

When you apply for the METV...show a trip departing Thailand within the first 60 or 90 days... which demonstrates the need for the METV multiple entry tourist visa. Just show desired flight date, destination, and airline. No actual ticket needed.
@Tod ********
is the expert on the METV multiple entry tourist visa, in my opinion.

He's advised MANY of its use on Thai Visa Advice forum.
Tod *********
Tod *********
no problem at all showing proof of onward travel by land.

however for the METV you usually have to show your leaving Thailand after 60 days and then coming back so I don't know how you're going to show them that you need an METV

AI is the worst source for accurate info about entry/visa/extension to thailand, there's so much bad info out there that if you don't ask the exact right question with the right wording you'll get outdated, wrong info that has been parroted so often the AI data mines it as real info
John *******
John *******
OP
@Tod ********
thanks for your advise, it all helps, after leaving Thailand we will be going to Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and then back to Thailand on the METV, then moving on across virtually all off SE Asia, we have a itinerary that last a year, so was hoping to go back to Thailand if needed as an option on the standard visa.

Activity

4 joined
John *******
John *******
John *******
4
people
Thai Visa Advice
Thai Visa Advice
...members40% approval
Member 1
Member 2
Member 3
Member 4
Member 5
Member 6
Member 7
Member 8

Related

25
Can I use an onward ticket to satisfy entry requirements if my UK tourist visa isn't approved?
1.1k10917d
What are the new visa entry rules for UK tourists visiting Thailand?
2.1k7465mo
What are the requirements for booking a return ticket when applying for a METV to Thailand?
7.5k391446mo
Do I need proof of onward travel with a METV in Thailand?
560256mo
Can I enter Thailand more than three times in six months?
7.6k291736mo
What are my options for obtaining a long-term visa in Thailand given my current tourist exempt status and recent financial situation?
4.6k36556mo
Can I re-enter Thailand on a 60-day tourist visa after a 3-month break and then apply for a retirement visa?
8.7k78869mo
What are the risks of entering Thailand with a one-way ticket and planning to extend my stay?
3.4k224210mo
Do I need a DTV visa or METV for multiple trips to Thailand each year?
2.8k21291y
Will Immigration Give Me Trouble for Multiple Short Visits to Thailand This Year?
3k19291y
Will I face issues getting another 60-day visa exemption if I return to Thailand shortly after my first stay?
1.6k12121y
Do I need to stay overnight in Laos when performing a border bounce for my METV in Thailand?
3.1k20202y
Will I have any issues entering Thailand on a Visa Exempt Entry as a tourist after two previous visits?
733262y
How do I extend my METV for myself and my daughter, and what documents do I need?
809382y
How does the six-month tourist visa work for entering and leaving Thailand every sixty days?
1.4k6162y
What should I do about my visa situation after being advised to apply for a visa due to multiple entries into Thailand?
3.6k21463y
Do I need a return ticket when flying to Thailand on a one-way ticket?
2.5k19173y
Do I need to purchase actual flights out of Thailand for my METV application, or is an onward flight sufficient?
2.9k18363y
Will I face immigration issues traveling to Thailand frequently?
5.4k43554y
Can I apply for a 60-day tourist visa with a 66-day round trip flight booking from Germany?
1.4k7165y
What happens if I'm denied entry into Thailand with proof of onward travel to Vietnam?
2.5k20147y
Will I have trouble returning to Thailand after traveling to Malaysia and Singapore with multiple tourist visas and a cancelled student visa?
3418y
Why was I aggressively questioned at immigration while returning to Thailand on a METV?
59788y
Is a paid bus ticket sufficient proof of onward travel for a visa run from Thailand?
992639y
Should my onward travel for a Thai Tourist Visa be within 60 or 90 days?
1.1k839y

Resources

Need help with your Thai visa?