Do I need a return flight within 60 days for a multiple entry Thailand visa (METV)?

Sep 16, 2024
2 months ago
Francesco ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello everyone....when you apply for a metv, do you have to take the flight with a return within 60 days or can I take it with a return within 6 months (approximately)? This point is not clear to me....From what I understood, speaking to the agency, I can make a reservation in order to obtain the visa but this is still not clear to me....And in any case if I'm not mistaken, I will have to take an open ticket to change the return and this will lead to additional costs each time to postpone the return and change it.... If someone can advise me, especially the cheapest solution, I would be really grateful....have a good day.....
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The inquiry revolves around the need for a return flight when applying for a multiple entry tourist visa (METV) for Thailand. Most responses indicate that it's necessary to confirm specific requirements with the Thai embassy or consulate, as some may require two round-trip tickets. Travelers can either book genuine tickets or use temporary/reservation tickets, which can sometimes be canceled or are valid for a short period before use. Ultimately, it's important to verify with the airline or embassy for the most accurate information.
David *******
Forget return tickets. Don't ask the airline...wasting your time on long pointless calls. Travel on a one way ticket. No more than 36hrs before your flight to Bangkok buy a “tick box” onward ticket from bestonwardticket.com ...will cost you only $12 and sufficient to demonstrate you hold a ticket in compliance with immigration rules.
Jay *******
@David ******
I read a news article last week that some airlines are refusing to accept these fake flight reservation tickets. Just saying. Better to go the whole hog and book a genuine ticket to Kuala Lumpur (as little as $40 or thereabouts) which I understand you can 1) cancel within 24 hours or 2) bin the ticket and swallow the loss or 3) use it and take a couple of days sightseeing in KL.
Bart **************
@Jay ******
these tickets are not fake. It's a real reservation that cannot be distinguished from one that will be used to fly with. The only difference is that this reservation will be cancelled again.
Jay *******
@Bart *************
I just paraphrased the news article I read. If the journalist got it wrong, how am I to know? But I'm guessing there's more fact to his/her report than some Delboy wannabee (
@David ******
) spouting his "informed" opinion on Facebook, is all.
David *******
@Jay ******
i led the horse to the water. No I can't make it drink. Hopefully others have a greater ability to comprehend and make their own inquiries. Lovely jublee Rodney !
David *******
@Jay ******
it's NOT A FAKE TICKET. It's absolutely 100% real. It's time limited until you pass through immigration. You need a diagram to understand ? Very simple and only $12
Luit *****************
@Jay ******
or just any real ticket that can be cancelled without cost.

Why always the fake and tricky solutions?
Bart **************
@Luit ****************
what you propose is not less tricky than what he proposed. It's the exact same approach in fact. I prefer your proposal over his because it doesn't cost money, but what he's proposing essentially boils down to outsourcing the two transactions for a small fee. It's not a bad solution either.
David *******
@Luit ****************
read above numpty
Luit *****************
@David ******
Why should I take anything from someone who exclusively insults others and is himself more stupid than a cow's backsid
Jay *******
@Luit ****************
Everybody's a Delboy Trotter or Arthur Daly (English TV characters).
Francesco ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@David ******
So you recommend making a fictitious reservation to get the multi-entry visa, and officially taking only one outbound ticket to Phuket and the return one a few days before leaving Italy so as to show it at check in from the site you posted for me?
Todd *********
@Francesco ***********
yup. Thousands and thousands do
David *******
@Francesco ***********
yes...the ticket is fully valid for 48 hrs to show the immigration officer. It's real but will become “cancelled” after two days.
Ken *********
My last visit was multi entry , 6 months. I had airline reservations actually for over 7 months out, because my last reentry was the day before my visa expired, but I was still authorized to stay another 60 days based on the reentry day..
Francesco ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have always done it this way....I booked a flight from Italy with a return in about 6 months.....then once in Thailand every 60 days I did a visa run or a trip to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore and return and I got another 60 days....but booking 2 flights from Italy is an exaggerated expense....a flight costs about 1200 euros return....if I have to book two then I look for another solution....
Ken *********
I arrived in Thailand on September 21, I left on April 29.
Jan ******************
The thai embassy in Rome demands minimum two inbound and two outbound tickets for a METV, so you might check further with them. If you buy one inbound and outbound ticket within 6 months and one outbound ticket after 60 or 90 days with an inbound ticket, you should be fine I guess.

*************************************************************************
David *******
@Jan *****************
are you for real? Of course they couldn't care less if foreigners waste thousands on dollars or euros on UNUSED wasted tickets. There are other more practical economical solutions. Read and learn!
Billy ******
@David ******
very abrupt.
David *******
@Billy *****
i try to get across that it's wasteful to buy expensive DATED tickets which won't be used or which require big extra fees to change dates. I learned to regularly use a throwaway ticket $12....i want others to grasp simple point without protracted explanation. It's so easy...I thought short and punchy drives home the point
Jan ******************
@David ******
Do you try to learn me about fake tickets? Well I can tell you if you want to use a METV you’ll also need to leave first time within 60 or 90 days with a REAL ticket. And you’ll also need to enter with a real ticket and leave with a real ticket within six months.
Francesco ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
What does it mean, 2 incoming and 2 outgoing tickets? It seems crazy to me, even on an economic level.... Last year I remember having made an open ticket with a return flight that was 2 months away.... which I then proceeded to cancel once on site, to take a new return flight 5 months later......
Jan ******************
@Francesco ***********
And you see in the e-visa portal if you don’t justify your need for a multiple entries they might just issue a single entry without refunding your extra fee.
Jan ******************
@Francesco ***********
This is general requirements for a METV as from the thai embassy in Norway.

You’ll need to leave Thailand first time anyway within 60 days (or 90 days if you apply for an extension) on your first entry.
Francesco ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jan *****************
Ok so I have to have a return flight in the first 60 days right? and then I also have to have another one that leaves from day 61 for another 60 days?! that's what's not clear to me
Jan ******************
@Francesco ***********
If you plan to stay for six months on your METV you by one ticket to Thailand and one ticket back to Italy after six months.

Then you got one inbound and one outbound ticket.

Within this six months you buy one ticket out of Thailand as an example to Phnom Penh in Cambodia and one return ticket back from Phnom Penh Cambodia to Thailand.

Then you’ve got two inbound and two outbound tickets. Period!

You know your METV gives you 60 days upon entry which can be extended with additional 30 days, so you’ve got 60 or 90 days for your first stay and your outbound ticket to Cambodia.
Francesco ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I made all the trips after 60 days by car
Francesco ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jan *****************
I did this before covid.... last year, in order to get the metv, the plane ticket absolutely had to be with a return of 60 days....
Jan ******************
@Francesco ***********
Ok I understand, then the embassy in Rome is quite strict. So you need to do your first trip out within 60 days then.
Brandon ************
@Francesco ***********
you don't need any return flight. You just need a ticket out of Thailand.

One ticket to Thailand from the country where you are applying for a visa.

One ticket out of Thailand within 60 days of arriving the first time.

One ticket back to Thailand within 6 months that the visa will be valid for.

One ticket out of Thailand within 60 days of the 2nd arrival ticket.
Francesco ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
I usually left Thailand at 60 days (or rather at 90 as I asked for a 30 day extension) by car...... so I didn't need plane tickets.... my flight before covid left the day I left Italy and the return was approximately 6 months away..... then after covid, see last year, I booked an open ticket with a departure and return at 60 days which I then cancelled as the nature of the ticket itself allowed it.... I don't know if I explained myself....
Brandon ************
@Francesco ***********
well the requirements are pretty clear on the embassy website and the e-visa portal. You risk paying for a multiple entry and only receiving a single entry otherwise.

Search Google for "onward travel ticket" and you can use a service to book all the tickets you need for your application at about $10-15 each.
Brandon ************
@Francesco ***********
What do you mean crazy? You are literally asking them for a visa that lets you enter and leave the country at will for 6 months. The online application very clearly states you must show a need for multiple entries. How do you expect to show that you need it without showing them you will be entering Thailand, leaving Thailand, and entering Thailand again? That's how you prove you need multiple entries. Without providing this justification for your needing it, they will instead issue you a single entry visa, because you only showed them you need to enter Thailand one time, and they will keep the difference in fee.
Brandon ************
You need to ask your airline.
Bart **************
@Brandon ***********
he needs to ask the Thai embassy where he applies.
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