Do I need proof of onward travel when flying to Bangkok on a tourist visa for retirement?

They will ask to see your return ticket. They want to be sure you have a ticket and do not lose all your money later and then can not buy one to leave on time.

Technically they can ask for this but I've been through Thai immigration several times and never had my return ticket checked. It was once checked going into Vietnam, but not really a bit deal, I just bought a very cheap flight in the airport. Right now, I strongly suspect Thai immigration will happily wave you through.

I beg to differ. Visa of any kind is taken differently to a visa exempt.

However, to avoid any issues at check in, phone the airline or better email them.

Pre-covid, bus tickets work as onward travel. Likely it will still work. Hat Yai to Peneng is the cheapest I found. 12go.asia

To add to this post, I have seen fellow passengers scrambling to buy a cheap ticket before they could board.

Most airline policies allow you to get a refund if the flight is cancelled within 24 hours, even non refundable fares.

I personally have done this previously. Booked DMK to Phnom Penh if I remember correctly, printed the booking confirmation, logged in and cancelled the flight.

Figured no one would verify whether I was still booked so long as I had the confirmation printed.

I didn't want to take a chance on a bad internet connection or a payment gateway being down when I showed up at the airport.

I had no issues clearing immigration w a tourist visa or boarding.

That was my experience. Your mileage may vary.

Stock answer as asked many times here.

If you are entering on a long term visa, like a Non O or Non OA 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 no problem, therefore you won’t have one either.” I love those posts (not). Because they’ve never been asked in X number of trips to Thailand 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?