This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
Do I need a return ticket for my 60-day tourist visa in Thailand if I'm planning to extend my stay?
Jun 13, 2024
2 years ago
Lenka ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERHello đđ»ââïž
I'm planning a trip to Thailand for 3 months â 60 days on a tourist visa + 30 days extension. I would like to know if I need to have a return ticket within those first 60 days (and then change it after arriving in Thailand), or if it would be okay to immediately buy the ticket for the final flight (87 days after arriving)?
I'm planning a trip to Thailand for 3 months â 60 days on a tourist visa + 30 days extension. I would like to know if I need to have a return ticket within those first 60 days (and then change it after arriving in Thailand), or if it would be okay to immediately buy the ticket for the final flight (87 days after arriving)?
TLDR : Answer Summary
When traveling to Thailand on a 60-day tourist visa with plans to extend for an additional 30 days, the need for a return ticket can vary based on several factors. Most responses suggest that while airlines may request proof of onward travel, immigration in Thailand is less likely to ask for it upon arrival. However, the regulations can differ depending on the specific embassy or consulate, as some may require a ticket leaving within 60 days while others might only need proof of onward travel within 90 days. To avoid complications, it's advisable to either purchase an onward ticket (which can be inexpensive) or confirm with the airline regarding their policies on return tickets.
90 DAY REPORTING RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Use the trusted Thailand 90 Day Reporting Serviceto get your in-person report done and mailed to you for as low as 375 THB (even if the online system doesn't work for you).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Pelle Erikssonâ
â
â
â
â
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.â
â
â
â
â
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted 90 Day Reporting Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Phil ********
It all depends on your airline if they'll let you board from your departure country.
This is the issue. If you arrive here and you are declined entry at immigration who pays for the flight out of here? The airline that flew you here then has to cover the cost to fly you back. The airline can also get fined for allowing you to fly here without a return or onward flight.
So, if you do come here and are denied entry (very unlikely) you're not sat in the immigration detention centre waiting for someone to buy you a ticket out of here.
So, if you already have a return or onward flight you go on that at no cost to the airline.
Im from the UK but i returned here 2 weeks ago on a one way ticket from Frankfurt however, I have a Non O visa and a flawless 22 year immigration record.
This is the issue. If you arrive here and you are declined entry at immigration who pays for the flight out of here? The airline that flew you here then has to cover the cost to fly you back. The airline can also get fined for allowing you to fly here without a return or onward flight.
So, if you do come here and are denied entry (very unlikely) you're not sat in the immigration detention centre waiting for someone to buy you a ticket out of here.
So, if you already have a return or onward flight you go on that at no cost to the airline.
Im from the UK but i returned here 2 weeks ago on a one way ticket from Frankfurt however, I have a Non O visa and a flawless 22 year immigration record.
Jan ******************
@Phil *******
Youâre right. Tourist visa formally requires an onward ticket. Non immigrant visas donât. But if the embassy issues a tourist visa with a return ticket within 87 days as they probably will, she will be fine both with the airline and the immigration in Thailand.Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Herve *********
to get the tourist visa, you will need to join a round trip ticket to the other requirements. the return can be dated 90 days after your 1st flight arrival (last I looked, it was so).
With a tourist visa, you need not show anything to the airlines, since the thai embassy/consulate, ie. thai auhtorities has given you the go. The airlines ask only visa exempt people because for them, the airline is the one giving the go at boarding time. It's their responsibility.
With a tourist visa, you need not show anything to the airlines, since the thai embassy/consulate, ie. thai auhtorities has given you the go. The airlines ask only visa exempt people because for them, the airline is the one giving the go at boarding time. It's their responsibility.
Ajané **********
The airline will ask you before you board your first flight. Our airline did not ask to see proof, only asked if we had one. We purchased âonward ticketsâ ahead of time to be safe. Itâs only $12/person and saves you from having to purchase an actual airline ticket
Ajané **********
Everyone here always wants to complicate it.. use
****************************
and keep it simple. It works, itâs legal, and is actually what many agencies recommend when applying for a visa before even purchasing your final ticketsReply to
Ajané **********
Reply
Colin ********
Only 30 days for tourists
Graham ******
@Colin *******
60 days with a Tourist VisaReply to
Graham ******
Reply
Don **********
I was asked for one on arrival.
Jonathin *******
If you plan to return on the same airline, you could buy a round trip ticket with a return before the 60 day visa would end. Then once here, change the return date to meet your situation. All airlines will have a fee to change the start date, but any good airline will not charge to change the return date. Check with the airline, but even if they do have a fee, itâs usually something like $50.
Richard *************
@Jonathin ******
thats what im doing with the 30 day on entry change for return in 30 days to 88 days $300 nz thoe with china southern đJan ******************
@Jonathin ******
Normally itâs ok to have an onward ticket within 90 days on a tourist visa. Itâs just some strict embassies/consulate that will require 60 days, as an example Penang in Malaysia.Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Steven *******
I think new rules now, no visa for 60 day, then can renew other 30day, i think 1st July new rules, before was 30days no visa,
Jan ******************
@Steven ******
We hope it will take effect on 1 of July but we still donât know yet.Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Stephen ********
I've done the same many times and never queried but the airline. Immigration asked how long, and when I said something around the 83 days, he replied OK and stamped me in for the 60 days.
Henrik *****
If you want to stay 90 days, get a visa that allows you to stay 90 days, and not a visa that allows to stay only 60 days.
It will show, that you are not respecting the laws of the country you are visiting, if your intensions not correspond with your doings.
It will show, that you are not respecting the laws of the country you are visiting, if your intensions not correspond with your doings.
Jan ******************
@Henrik ****
Pointless comment. You are still respecting the system and the laws of the country by using the right theyâve given you to apply for a 30 days extension on a 60 days visa.đ€·đŒReply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Lenka ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERWow, so many comments đ Thank you for your advices everyone!
Robert *********
Not return ,out of Thailand .
A bus ticket to Angkor wat in cambodia .
Before the end of your first visa
A bus ticket to Angkor wat in cambodia .
Before the end of your first visa
Taguhi ************
Get a very cheap ticket to Malaysia within your 60 day visa just in case. I arrived 10 days ago with AirArabia. They didnât ask a thing, while the immigration officer asked when I was planning to leave. To my reply âJuly 15, Malaysiaâ he just said okay. Thatâs my experience though.
Ken ********
I once flew from UK to Thailand and the airline did tell me , I can't board the plane cos I only had a single ticket.
Wheni informed them I lived in Thailand, boarding was allowed
Wheni informed them I lived in Thailand, boarding was allowed
Jan ******************
@Ken *******
Do you have a Non O visa or extension of stay? In that case an onward ticket isnât required anyway.Ken ********
@Jan *****************
yes Jan, I showed them my non O. It was KLM flight from ukReply to
Ken ********
Reply
Ian ********
Airlines normaly ask for a return ticket because if you get refused entry in to thailand the airline gets fined and has to return you. So they normaly ask. Thats what i was told by embassy
Andrew *******
Canberra Thai embassy in Australia has just issued us a TR visa (60 days extendable to 90) with one way ticket inbound and outbound ticket at 70 days.
Mike ********
My airline wanted to see my 60 day Visa cause my return flight was in 90 days. They know you can extend, even leave Thailand and go back for 30 more days.
Mike ********
Hopefully they start the 60 day stamp soon so I won't have to get a 60 day Visa
Reply to
Mike ********
Reply
Jeff ********
When I applied for a 60 day visa, I did not respond to the request to provide proof of a return ticket. My application was rejected until I could provide them with the return ticket or at least proof I would be l would be leaving Thailand . Upon arrival in Thailand, no one ever asked to see any proof of that would be leaving. Take this for what it is worth. ïżŒïżŒ
Stephen ******
They will not let you in you have to have a return ticket to get your tourist visa
Lisa ********************
@Stephen *****
it depends. I got a tourist 60 day visa with return flight 189 days later. Usually, they only want to see flight departure from country you applied for visa from.Jan ******************
@Lisa *******************
As said in my comment. This is embassy dependent. Some issues a tv just with an inbound ticket, most accept an onward ticket within 90 days but some even demand onward ticket within 60 days.Lisa ********************
@Jan *****************
well I can only really confirm about London Embassy and the evisa. But agree, each Embassy does seem to have different requirementsReply to
Lisa ********************
Reply
Kevin ******
You could always be asked but you do not need a return ticket. Rather, you need proof of onward journey.
Joe *********
@Kevin *****
So I could fly one way in from the USA⊠Get the new 60 day tourist visa + 30 day extension and have a one way ticket booked to Singapore for 89 days after my arrival in Thailand??? Is that correct? If so⊠I could do the one way ticket from the States and just purchase a super cheap one way ticket to Singapore or KL from BKKâŠPhil ********
@Joe ********
Yes. It doesn't have to be a return, it's an onward ticket out of Thailand.Kevin ******
@Joe ********
the onward journey must occur by the 60th day. However you can apply for a 30 day extension for 1900 THB at a local immigration office. As a US passport holder, you are visa exempt for 30 days. To extend for another 30, you can leave the country or visit immigration for the extension. The new 60 day visa you are referring to is not a visa, but a visa waiver for 60 days. This has not been implemented yet. I am not sure when it will be. There was wild speculation that it would be implemented on June 1. Now I have heard July 1, September, etc. It will be official when we read it in The Royal Gazette. I am not sure when you are coming, but you could apply online through a Thai Embassy website for the 60 day visa. Again, you may be asked for proof of onward travel when checking in for your flight. You could get a cheap ticket from Bangkok to say, KL, Vientiane, etc. Some ppl will read this and may say they never been asked for proof and that is true. Also google âonward travelâ for further information. You will get a list of sites that you will find interesting.Joe *********
@Kevin *****
Thanks Kevin⊠Great info. - Iâm just going to wait here in the States until the new 60 tourist âvisaâ is implemented and then book my flights⊠Going to do one way from LAX to BKK but will have an âonwardâ ticket booked and paid for on Air Asia to KL 59 days after I arrive BKK, in case the airline (American) or immigration ask for it⊠Iâll check out KL for a few days and then fly back into BKK and hopefully receive another 60 day tourist âvisaâ⊠Do you think thats possible? The ticket from BKK to KL is less than $100 so doesnât matter if I actually use it or not, can change the date etc⊠I want to do it this way as I plan to fly to Paris for a couple of months after my time in Thailand and its just almost impossible or too expensive to try and book a ticket like that, ie multi-city months apart⊠Thanks again⊠đđ»
Kevin ******
@Joe ********
sounds like a great plan!Reply to
Kevin ******
Reply
Jan ******************
@Lenka **********
If you hold a Slovakian passport youâll apply online trough the Thai embassy in Vienna. You can see further information here. I think youâll be fine with uploading the 87 days ticket as the embassy states that the tourist visa can be extended with additional 30 days. ***********************************************************
Lenka ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jan *****************
thank you đReply to
Lenka ***********
Reply
Merlyn ******
When i did the same before, i had the return ticket for the 90 days no questions ask.
Bart **************
Check with your embassy.
Chris *********************
Just book onward ticket
Jan ******************
Itâs a bit embassy dependent. Some embassies/consulates issues a 60 days tourist visa just with an inbound ticket, most accept an onward ticket within 90 days but some demand 60 days. So unless someone has applied at the same embassy/consulate as you, no one can give you a complete accurate answer. But I suggest youâll just try to apply with the return flight after 87 days and they will probably notify you by email if they donât accept this and you might have to change. Ore you just call them and ask first.
John ********
@Jan *****************
If in the UK., there's a visa email you can contact and I'm sure they'd advise you whether they'll accept a one-way ticket, if you explain that with your sixty day visa your applying for you'd like to get a thirty day extension whilst in Thailand. Personally I've flown into Thailand dozens of times on one-way tickets and without a visa and got visa exempt thirty days, although this was many years ago.Jan ******************
@John *******
Yes, I believe OP is from Slovakia. The UK site clearly demands onward ticket for both visa exemption and tourist visa now, but based on feedbacks from UK I know people are approved with an onward ticket after the initially 60 days.John ********
@Jan *****************
ok, thanksLenka ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jan *****************
thanks!Reply to
Lenka ***********
Reply
Christopher ********
I've never had the airline ask but immigration will ask how long and why you're there. When doing the e-visa it will ask your ticket information for arriving and departure. (At least for usa).I had to upload photos of it all during the application.
Christopher ********
They are asking if they need a return ticket for the visa....once again the answer is contact the embassy where they live. And for the record I've never been asked by the airline. I've been traveling to Thailand back and forth for two years and the process for the visa can vary depending on where you live.
Lisa ********************
@Christopher *******
immigration rarely ask. Especially with a 60 day tourist visaChristopher ********
@Lisa *******************
in this post they are asking if they need a return ticket....which the answer is simply ask your embassy of where you live.Lisa ********************
@Christopher *******
the airline are more likely to ask, not immigration. I've never once been asked by immigration in over 30 arrivals. But the airline often ask. The local embassy know nothing about immigration entry criteria.Jan ******************
@Lisa *******************
The main thing is that an onward ticket is formally required for both visa exemptions and tourist visa. Non immigrant visa doesnât require onward ticket. Several embassies require it for issuing tourist visa, your airline can ask for it, and your right rarely asked for at the immigration unless they are questioning you for some other reason regarding your travel pattern.Lisa ********************
@Jan *****************
onward ticket is NOT required for visa exemption. Or tourist visa from London Embassy. But the airline may ask for return/ onward ticket. And then can deny boarding if they want.Jan ******************
@Lisa *******************
is this something you just know yourself without even bother checking the requirements from the Thai embassy of London?Lisa ********************
@Jan *****************
yes I've done it several times. They ask for departure date but not proof of return flight.Jan ******************
@Lisa *******************
They can deny you boarding because formal requirements for entering Thailand are not fulfilled and they can be fined and responsible for your return. Do you think theyâll deny you just for their own sake?Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Bart **************
@Christopher *******
what's so funny if you here confirm it's asked in the visa application stage?Christopher ********
@Bart *************
when you do the e-visa application online for usa it will ask for documentation of your flights both arrival and departure. But the good thing about the metv is you only have to do it once and can use it for 6 months.Reply to
Christopher ********
Reply
Brandon ************
You need to check with your airline. If anyone is going to ask, it will be your airline. Immigration rarely asks for a ticket out of Thailand.
Bart **************
@Brandon ***********
embassy*Jan ******************
@Bart *************
Now youâre not giving accurate information. Onward ticket is formally required for both visa exemption and tourist visa according to the general requirements from The Ministry of Foreign affairs. What other pages show or the practice from different embassies is subordinated. Only the Non immigrant visa doesnât require onward ticket.Bart **************
@Jan *****************
you are posting the exact same screenshot which again confirms my point. It's required for the application.The reason visa exempt entries require proof of onward travel is that there is no previous stage at which it could be required. Before people could travel visa exempt, everyone had to go to an embassy to get entry permission. That's where requirements were checked. Immigrations then only had to check whether you had a visa, as this implied the traveler satisfies anything that you show in that screenshot. Only when travelers received the opportunity to travel visa exempt, some additional requirements had to be formulated for entering. The embassy by the way has discretionary rights to grant or not grant visas, which is another reason it's not additionally required for entry as well: an embassy may be ok with particular travelers going without onward travel pre-arranged.
I don't understand why this is all so hard to understand for everyone here. Although not universal, it's fairly common also for other countries that visas are considered sufficient evidence to be eligible for entry. Sometimes additional evidence is tied to entering, for instance Myanmar requires proof of onward travel for entry if you have a tourist visa. But then they'll write this on your visa so you know it's not (yet) granting entry permission, it's only part of that. There are probably more examples where countries do this but we can't say it's common. The standard is that visas allow entry and requirements are checked by an embassy or similar body. (Myanmar's approach is of course much more sensible than what basically all other countries do: first decide if someone is welcome to enter and then allow him to book flights next, not before. But it's (unfortunately) not at all common.)
Jan ******************
@Bart *************
The reason Iâve posted it again because you obviously didnât read it. A tourist visa itself self is formally not sufficient for travelling without an onward ticket. You will be fine until the day your embassy, airport or the immigration ask for it as they are totally legitimate to do. And then youâll need to prove that the ministry of foreign affairs general requirements for tourist visaâs is wrong or false.Bart **************
@Jan *****************
I did read it, and in the top there's a word "issued". Hence it confirms my point..Jan ******************
@Bart *************
2. TOURIST VISAâThis type of visa is issued to applicants who wish to enter the Kingdom for tourism purposesâ.
2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
- Evidence of travel from Thailand (air ticket paid in full)
***************************************************************
*****
0a316Bart **************
@Jan *****************
"issued". The rest I explained.Jan ******************
@Bart *************
I donât understand why you still try to pass on not accurate information. Onward tickets is formally required even if youâre issued a valid tourist visa without an onward ticket from your embassy. Itâs just the Non O immigrant visa that doesnât require onward ticket AND people are de facto denied travelling without an onward ticket on a tourist visa IF the airline or the immigration requires it. For entering on a tourist visa youâll need to be prepared to prove 3 things; 1) Funds 20K baht 2) Proof of accommodation and 3) Onward ticket within the visa the period (even though the immigration will accept that youâre entitled to do an extension).Bart **************
@Jan *****************
sources I've posted say otherwise: the funds requirement is listed but the other two are not. Sources you've posted are still only confirming my point. It should be easy to understand why I'm still repeating the point, which by the way is not inaccurate.Jan ******************
@Bart *************
Ok I personally would advise people to trust the general requirements from The Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding short stay visa and not a third part website, especially when itâs known that people de facto are denied travelling to Thailand regarding this. Short stay visa and visa exemption requires onward ticket. Long term visa donât.đ€·đŒReply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Brandon ************
@Bart *************
The person didn't indicate that they are asking for the visa application, they are just asking generically. The embassy cannot answer if their airline will require proof of leaving within 60 days which the airline can very well ask for if they are traveling with a tourist visa.Bart **************
@Brandon ***********
the embassy can answer that: the airline will not ask for it. What matters is if the embassy themselves ask for it.Luke **********
@Bart *************
both EVA Air and Philippine Airlines require it. Not sure about others.Bart **************
@Luke *********
mistakes happen. Next time they won't.Brandon ************
@Bart *************
it's still on the airline to enforce the onward travel requirement for tourists. A visa exempt is a tourist. A tourist visa is a tourist. People can and are asked for both.Bart **************
@Brandon ***********
it's not required, therefore the airline cannot ask for it. You may be right that they might still do it, but then I don't understand how a phone call upfront could help out. It's then a mistake by the check-in crew, which very likely isn't also made by operators in the backoffice. In the same way, if operators in the backoffice mix up exemption and tourist visas, I would not necessarily expect check-in crew to also get it wrong. If you want to anticipate a mistake, which I don't think is necessary because you can always explain the mistake to the employee making it, but if you want that, just get the onward ticket. You can't really predict the mistake.Graham ******
@Bart *************
A phone call to the airline is no help if you are then challenged at check in, it needs to be email or text which can be printed and shown when necessaryBart **************
@Graham *****
agreed.Jim ********
@Bart *************
Proof of onward ticket is most definitely required, although not always requested. My own experience is it happens more often since covid. Qatar Airlines and Philippine Airlines have asked several timesBart **************
@Jim *******
IATA Travel Centre, results after requesting entry requirements fictitious UK national going to Thailand for 51 days.Jim ********
@Bart *************
IATA is a non-regulatory body. The airlines make their own policies under their T&C. But hey! You believe what you want. This forum is about people's experiences and many have stated that they're asked for itBart **************
@Jim *******
they're an informative body listing the entry (=flight eligibility) requirements as each respective country has them.Jan ******************
@Bart *************
All the formal and general requirements for the different visa types is stated in this document. ***************************************************************
*****
0a316Jim ********
@Bart *************
Yes and like all "informative" bodies they make mistakes! And they cannot overrule terms and conditions of airlines!Jan ******************
@Bart *************
Youâre right about the embassy/consulate in the first place, but as I said in a previous discussion an onward ticket is according to formal requirements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs required for both a visa exemption and a tourist visa and therefore the embassy/consulate, airline and the immigration can ask for it. Itâs just the Non immigrant visa that formally doesnât require an onward ticket. ***************************************************************
*****
0a316Bart **************
@Jan *****************
that source only confirms the point I'm making: that it's the embassy requiring an onward ticket. If you look up the entry requirements, you'll find it's either a visa OR the three things are are needed to be granted visa exemption. It's not both.Jan ******************
@Bart *************
This is the formal requirement from The Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Even if not all embassies implement the formal requirements on their site as an example the Norwegian here, itâs still a formal requirement for a tourist visa and based on feedbacks people also are denied regarding this.Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
45 comments
2 years ago
44 comments
2 years ago
11 comments
2 years ago
Do I need a bus ticket for my 60-day tourist visa in Thailand if I have a return flight for 90 days?
6 comments
2 years ago
8 comments
3 years ago
3 comments
3 years ago
9 comments
3 years ago
14 comments
4 years ago
6 comments
4 years ago
18 comments
4 years ago
12 comments
4 years ago
18 comments
4 years ago
7 comments
4 years ago
6 comments
4 years ago
51 comments
4 years ago
5 comments
4 years ago
What are the return ticket requirements when entering Thailand with a TR visa that I want to extend?
12 comments
5 years ago
24 comments
4 years ago
26 comments
5 years ago
20 comments
5 years ago
16 comments
5 years ago
37 comments
5 years ago
74 comments
6 years ago
0 comments
7 years ago
30 comments
7 years ago
7 comments
a month ago
9 comments
a month ago
21 comments
a month ago
16 comments
a month ago
8 comments
a month ago
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.