Can you enter Thailand with a one-way ticket?

Try it out and see what happens…..

Every day this same question in one form or another.

I was asked today about my return flight by the Malaysian Airlines staff during check-in. If you don't have a long term visa, you may be asked by the airlines during check-in or by Thai immigration after arrival.

Not a problem. The recent entry of my family was with one way ticket. As long as you comply with the visa-on-arrival expiry date, you should be fine.

Many come with one way ticket as they travel around SEA with no clear timetable.

It depends on where u are from

I’m amused at the comments, first time I came to Thailand they would not let me on the plane without a return ticket . I had a visa ever since 

Tickets are checked from departures not arrivals.

did for it for 10 years never a problem

With Non O Visa no problem. With short term visa I would be carefull. In the worst case you book at the airport one way to Lao or Cambodia.

I flew to Thailand from Uk with Emirates around 3 weeks ago.. it was a one-way ticket with no onward flight booked.. since my plan was to extend my tourist visa and then apply for a longer term married visa.. i wasn't asked whether i had an outward flight booked at checkin or at any point on my journey.. though when making a similar trip a few years back i do remember airline staff questioning me about it at checkin.. my reply was that i had a Thai wife and the marital home was in Thailand and i was still awaiting my married visa.. which was sufficient to pacify them at the time.. but that has been the only such conversation in many years of visiting Thailand on a one-way ticket.. that said, as anyone who has lived and worked in Asia for a number of years will testify.. the rules can change at any time as can the attitude of the staff charged with enforcing them.. so it is dangerous to rely on the fact that they rarely check you have an outward flight pre-booked.. best to set aside some money and give yourself enough time to book one (ie. online at the airport) when you go to check in for your flight.. just in case you get collared 😉

What kind of visa?

I came from USA a week ago with out a return ticket with no problem. They just ask when I'm leaving

Yes, I arrived in Thailand in December with no outbound travel arrangements. I’ve since taken a train to Malaysia for 1 day and returned with no issues. As well as paid for extensions twice, on the back end of each entry. Not once have I been asked for proof of onward travel.

Arrived Bangkok 2 months ago entered with a one way ticket and have since been to Laos and returned to Thailand with no problems

I flew here a month ago and had the same worry but i had q ticket ready to buy at airport if questioned but straight through never asked in the 3 airports I went through that day

Youst to do it all the time no problems But not for a long time I do no things have changed

I did it without any problems 1 year before COVID

You are risking to be denied boarding the plane!

Onwardticket.com ($12) if you’re worried about your airline asking about a return ticket

Stuart Cumming is right. It's a risk and it's your choice. Funnily enough whenever I vist Cambodia from Thailand they always ask for my onward flight out of Thailand at Cambodia check in.

Never been asked at BKK immigration, but have always been asked to show my onward fight when checking in from the USA!

I bought a $38 dollar ticket to Singapore just incase. Never was asked though.

If you are entering on a long term visa, like a Non O or Non OA, Non B or Thailand Elite you do not need an onward flight out from Thailand.

If on a visa exempt entry or tourist visa you may well need to have a flight ticket out of Thailand within the amount of days that your initial entry allows, regardless that you can get an extension in country. It doesn’t need to be a return ticket, any ticket out of Thailand will suffice.

In theory immigration can deny you entry if you don’t but they rarely ever would, because they know you can get an extension.

Almost always the hang up will be when you try to board your plane. Many airlines will not allow you to board without an onward ticket within the number of days.

Some will let you. Many won’t. Short haul carriers probably won’t care, but for long haul carriers they probably will. If you don’t have an onward ticket it’s the carriers responsibility (at their expense) to return you to your point of departure should immigration deny you entry for some reason.

You probably don’t want to be the one scrambling to buy an onward ticket at the check in desk. Best option is a changeable ticket, and just change the date when you’re here.

Alternatively you can Google “onward flight ticket” and you’ll find a plethora of companies willing to sell you one for around $10. A real ticket, Phuket to Singapore, would be approx £25/$35 depending on the time of year. Bangkok to Cambodia would probably be similar.

You’ll probably get a number of replies saying “I managed to enter with a one way ticket no problem, therefore you won’t have one either.” They’ve been to Thailand 20 or 30 or 100 times and haven’t been asked so they assume that no one else on the planet has ever been asked either.

When you get to the check in desk you’ll find out which way it’ll go for you. Be prepared. You might get away without one, but do you want to take that gamble?