ask
Search
Ask
Answereda year ago

Do I need to book a return ticket to enter Thailand as a tourist for 60 days?

Ralph ********
asked Sep 11, 2025
5.4k
views
33
replies
9
likes
My name is Ralph

Hello. I have a question.

I will go to Thailand soon. That's a first. I'm going as a tourist for 60 days. Do I have to book a return ticket and show them upon arrival in Thailand. I will probably apply for 30 days about an extension. Thank you 🖐️

-------------

Jag heter Ralph

Hej. Jag har en fråga.

Jag kommer att åka till Thailand snart. Det är första gången. Jag åker som turist 60 dagar. Måste jag boka retur biljett och visa dem vid ankomst till Thailand. Jag kommer troligen att söka 30 dagar ca förlängning. Tack 🖐️
Answer summary
Ralph is planning to visit Thailand for 60 days as a tourist and is inquiring if a return ticket is necessary upon arrival. According to comments, while a return or onward ticket is generally a condition of entry, it is rarely checked by immigration. However, airlines may require proof of onward travel before boarding. Several commenters suggest ways to fulfill this requirement, such as purchasing a low-cost bus ticket to a neighboring country or a throwaway flight. Ralph also mentioned considering a 30-day extension for his stay.
33 repliesnewest first
21

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

Donald ******
Donald ******
Fill out the dtac online. Get the arrival card approved.
Henrik *****
Henrik *****
Off topic.
Peter ***************
Peter ***************
It is the airline that will want to see your return or onward bound ticket.
John **********
John **********
It will more likely be up to the airline you fly with, ask them
Markus *********
Markus *********
Du behöver troligen ingen returbiljett men vill du vara säker köp fast en bussbiljett till laos för 50kronor så har du något att visa upp
************************************************
Alan *****
Alan *****
It’ll be a lot cheaper booking a return flight. The airline might ask about the visa. If worst comes to worst just book a throw away flight
Beverly ***************
Beverly ***************
@Alan ****
try something closer. Pattaya-Kuala Lumpur. One-way only
Jim *******
Jim *******
@Alan ****
Would it be any cheaper?

For simplicity, Thai Airways ticket one way Tokyo - Bangkok is 10,000 THB (return is 20,000THB).

Return as one way is also 10,000 THB.

Those tickets are the cheapest. Any change of dates - 200 US$ fee.

Flexible tickets (dates change) are 40-50% more expensive upfront.

Edit: say, you are entering on 60days visa exemtion or on Non-O 90days. Then decide to xtend for 30 more days. You are in for that fee as you would have to change your return date.

The way around it may be to buy the initial ticket as the cheapest one, Then buy, at the same time the more expensive, independent one way return ticket with a flexible date.

If you buy them as return at the same time, one transaction, the onward the chepaest, the return flexible, the rules of the cheapest one apply to return ticket as well.
Alan *****
Alan *****
@Jim ******
in the uk for instance say a return flight costs £1000. A one way would be around £700.
Beverly ***************
Beverly ***************
When I applied for the Thai Digital Arrival Card 3 days before I arrived, the website asked for my departure info. I had booked a ticket from Thailand to neighboring country for $30 US. Once I entered that info, I was ok. Someone else on this site said they wrote in that they were leaving Thailand on a bus and put in a date. You might try that instead.
Henrik *****
Henrik *****
Departure date is an optional field, not marked *
Michael ********
Michael ********
@Beverly **************
just leave departure date empty it will not affect the application
Beverly ***************
Beverly ***************
@Michael *******
it was worth the $30 to not be questioned by the airline. I had a bad experience once in Asia flying to US but with a 30-day “layover” in Europe. I was also told if I left that space blank that I could not get that TDAC. Could have been bad advice.
Michael ********
Michael ********
@Beverly **************
yes just bad advice its not a compulsary field
Paul *************
Paul *************
So I wanting to share my experience. I am in the uk and I applied for the ninety day visa (Non-Immigrant) before leaving, to go and live with my thai wife we got married last year and I had an official translated married license in english with the stamp. When I try to do the e Visa application, it requested. The documents one being the marriage Licence. But for some odd reason, they have rejected it, & request it. been the original thai version ? So just to save you time.

Don't make my mistake, luckily for me. Although my wife is in the UK with me at the moment, her sister could get access to the house and send a copy off our marriage licence in the red folder. Although the UK e-visa is in english and it was an official English translate it version.

I did notice that the payment taken.Was a thai embassy payment receiving not a u k? So make sure you send Thai version. & not the english one
Henrik *****
Henrik *****
The OP asks about tourist entry, so not much r relevance in answer.
Michael ********
Michael ********
Airlines are issue, immigration rarely ask
Wayne *******
Wayne *******
Its up to you but you may be asked about your exit out of Thailand by the airline you fly with. I have been asked before and told them I hadnt chosen a leaving date and have always been OK

If it concerns you, buy a bus ticket to Laos for a few quid and simply show them that.
Steve ***************
Steve ***************
@Wayne ******
Cambodia? Did they open the border crossing again?
Wayne *******
Wayne *******
Ralph *******
Ralph *******
Under the current rules you will get a 60 day visa exemption on entry. So, you won’t need the extension unless you want to stay for longer.

It’s a condition of entry that you have an exit ticket, but they very rarely check. However, your airline may check before issuing a boarding pass.
Reinhard ********
Reinhard ********
@Ralph ******
Nearly every Airline Checks IT now.No ticket out of Thailand within the 60 day visaexeption=No boarding.
Sean **********
Sean **********
@Ralph ******
Philippine Airlines checked and argued with me even when I showed them a one year Non-O visa extension
Robert ********
Robert ********
@Sean *********
That’s weird. I hope you got it right with a person in charge.
Cruise ******
Cruise ******
@Ralph ******
so it is now again back to 60 on entry + 30 extension = 90 total?
Robert ********
Robert ********
@Cruise *****
Never changed after they started that.

Stop interpreting rumors as truth.
Mica *********
Mica *********
@Ralph ******
Etihad refused my boarding at check in as I had no onward travel documents or proof of booking an exit from Thailand.
Ian ********
Ian ********
@Mica ********
this all depends what country you are from you could be classed as high risk
Henrik *****
Henrik *****
Not as much a question about nationality, as which airline you travel with.
Ralph *******
Ralph *******
@Ian *******
Yes, of course, but I think the author isn’t in that category.
Mica *********
Mica *********
Graham ******
Graham ******
@Mica ********
proving the point that it does get asked for
Mica *********
Mica *********
@Graham *****
yes and it was quite a shock at check in with people behind etc. we had to leave the queue and make the reservation right there before they let us board..

Activity

21 joined
Ralph ********
Ralph ********
Ralph ********
Ralph ********
Ralph ********
Ralph ********
21
people
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
...members60% approval
Member 1
Member 2
Member 3
Member 4
Member 5
Member 6
Member 7
Member 8

Related

25
What are the best options for proving onward travel when entering Thailand without a visa?
1.1k9136d
Do I need a visa for under 60 days in Bangkok, or can I extend a 30-day arrival visa?
1.4k12157d
Can I extend my 30-day visa exemption for another 30 days while in Thailand?
4.9k28911mo
What are the options for British passport holders to extend their stay in Thailand beyond the initial 60-day visa-free period?
7.7k69822mo
Can you book a one-way flight to Thailand on a 60-day visa exemption?
28.4k2153995mo
Do I need a visa for a 50-day stay in Pattaya in August?
7.3k351526mo
Can I pay for a visa extension online before arriving in Thailand?
10.2k591856mo
How can I stay in Thailand as a tourist for 3 months?
10.3k801239mo
Will my frequent tourist visits to Thailand raise concerns at immigration?
17.5k15017810mo
Can I enter Thailand with a 60-day tourist visa on arrival if I have no return ticket?
4.8k36521y
How many times can I enter Thailand on a visa exemption?
9.9k761161y
What are the options for staying in Thailand from October to April?
16.8k1212382y
Do UK passport holders need additional documentation for a 28-day trip to Thailand under visa exemption?
6.1k51512y
Can I get another 30 days in Thailand by leaving the country and re-entering after my initial visa exemption granted on arrival?
2.9k24202y
Can I apply for a 60-day tourist visa at the Thai consulate in Malaysia after my ED visa expires?
823293y
What is the best visa option for a 86-day stay in Thailand on a French passport?
1.6k7243y
Can I stay in Thailand for 90 days with a 60-day tourist visa and a 30-day extension?
2.1k2133y
Can I extend my 45-day visa-free stay in Thailand by 30 days?
9662144y
What are the best visa options for an Australian planning a 3-month stay in Thailand?
2k15154y
What are my options for extending my stay in Thailand as a French passport holder without a visa?
1.4k1164y
What are the visa options for UK citizens traveling to Thailand for under 90 days?
1.3k944y
How can I maximize my stay in Thailand with an METV and COVID extension?
1.4k9115y
Should I apply for a 60-day tourist visa or enter Thailand on a 30-day visa exemption and extend it later?
804355y
Do I need a return ticket for my 90-day tourist visa in Thailand?
1.8k1666y
Will I face issues entering Thailand for 53 days without a visa if I plan to travel outside the country first?
4.1k36288y

Resources

Need help with your Thai visa?