Do I need to book onward travel for a 60-day tourist visa if I plan to extend my stay in Thailand?

Here’s my usual stock answer. Haven’t posted it for a while so it may be of interest to you and others.

If you are entering on a long term visa, like a Non O or Non OA, Non B 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 a one way ticket no problem, therefore you won’t have one either.” They’ve been to Thailand 20 or 30 or 100 times and haven’t been asked so 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?