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

Sep 11, 2025
3 days ago
Ralph ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
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 đŸ–ïž

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Jag heter Ralph

Hej. Jag har en frÄga.

Jag kommer att Ă„ka till Thailand snart. Det Ă€r första gĂ„ngen. Jag Ă„ker som turist 60 dagar. MĂ„ste jag boka retur biljett och visa dem vid ankomst till Thailand. Jag kommer troligen att söka 30 dagar ca förlĂ€ngning. Tack đŸ–ïž
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Ralph is traveling to Thailand for 60 days as a tourist and inquires whether he needs to show a return ticket upon arrival. Responses indicate that while it's generally a requirement to have an exit ticket, enforcement by immigration is rare. However, airlines may check for flight details before boarding. Some suggestions include potentially buying a cheap bus ticket for exit proof or looking into affordable return flights. Extensions beyond the initial stay may be sought but are not necessary for the initial 60 days.
Donald ******
Fill out the dtac online. Get the arrival card approved.
Henrik *****
Off topic.
Peter ***************
It is the airline that will want to see your return or onward bound ticket.
John **********
It will more likely be up to the airline you fly with, ask them
Markus *********
Du behöver troligen ingen returbiljett men vill du vara sÀker köp fast en bussbiljett till laos för 50kronor sÄ har du nÄgot att visa upp
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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 ***************
@Alan ****
try something closer. Pattaya-Kuala Lumpur. One-way only
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 *****
@Jim ******
in the uk for instance say a return flight costs ÂŁ1000. A one way would be around ÂŁ700.
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 *****
Departure date is an optional field, not marked *
Michael ********
@Beverly **************
just leave departure date empty it will not affect the application
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 ********
@Beverly **************
yes just bad advice its not a compulsary field
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 *****
The OP asks about tourist entry, so not much r relevance in answer.
Michael ********
Airlines are issue, immigration rarely ask
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 ***************
@Wayne ******
Cambodia? Did they open the border crossing again?
Wayne *******
@Steve **************
Edited 👍
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 ********
@Ralph ******
Nearly every Airline Checks IT now.No ticket out of Thailand within the 60 day visaexeption=No boarding.
Sean **********
@Ralph ******
Philippine Airlines checked and argued with me even when I showed them a one year Non-O visa extension
Robert ********
@Sean *********
That’s weird. I hope you got it right with a person in charge.
Cruise ******
@Ralph ******
so it is now again back to 60 on entry + 30 extension = 90 total?
Robert ********
@Cruise *****
Never changed after they started that.

Stop interpreting rumors as truth.
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 ********
@Mica ********
this all depends what country you are from you could be classed as high risk
Henrik *****
Not as much a question about nationality, as which airline you travel with.
Ralph *******
@Ian *******
Yes, of course, but I think the author isn’t in that category.
Mica *********
Graham ******
@Mica ********
proving the point that it does get asked for
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..
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