Answereda month ago
Do I need to pay for my flight ticket before applying for a Thai visa, or is a preliminary booking sufficient?
Regarding my flight ticket, does it have to be paid for before the visa application, or is a preliminary booking sufficient? Because it says "confirmed booking," and a confirmed booking means you have to pay the fee, but the visa hasn't been issued yet. Thank you.
Answer summary
The conversation discusses the requirements regarding flight tickets for Thailand visa applications. Users share varying experiences based on embassy requirements, with some embassies insisting on fully paid tickets, while others accept preliminary bookings. It is noted that a confirmed booking does not necessarily mean payment is required up front, as one can obtain a booking from a travel agency that may not need to be paid for immediately. Participants suggest that while some users have faced issues, others found ways around the strict ticket policies, indicating inconsistencies in embassy requirements.
18 repliesnewest first
Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.
Dave ******
Try just giving unconfirmed flight details, it usually works. If not just go ahead and book a flight with Etihad on Trip.com, get the confirmation email with itinerary and then cancel OR don't sweat it just book the flight, you'll get your visa if you've got the basics right.
Andrew *******
It’s crazy I remember airlines always used to say never book your flights until you have a visa if one is required. Booking flights without a visa doesn’t make sense.
Craig *******
Thats bullshit. How can you book and pay for a flight when visa approval is still pending. quote an intended flight number and that should do. I did it in May this year for non o retirement visa whilst in Australia.
Elías ********
That's embassy dependant. My embassy requested fully paid tickets, not just bookings.
Doug ********
I just picked a genuine flight number for outwards and return and no problem,no questions
Peter ****************
Julia
*****
Handle the ticket via an official Travel agency. They have the possibility to book a flight and cancel it within 2 or 3 days. I let them book a flight with expected travel dates and they sent me the confirmation by email. After that they canceled that flight. I got this service for free but some are asking a bit of money to do this.
Tom *****
Peter Van Eindhoven This only works if the application is approved within 72 hours; that is not the case at all Thai consulates worldwide, as some take up to four weeks to process the application.
Peter *****
Peter Van Eindhoven before the days of direct booking, people used travel agents and they could make a reservation but not ticket (pay for) the flight until nearer to departure. If you customer didn't pay for the ticket when it needed to be ticketted, the reservation would lapse. Smaller independent agencies would provide this service free but larger agencies would usually ask for deposit.
Phil ******
Yes
MagentaZ********
Need to have a confirmed booking. I don’t understand what you mean by “paid for”. If you paid with a cc and have not paid off your balance on your cc then it’s not “paid for”. So if that’s what you mean then no it doesn’t have to be paid for. As long as you got a confirmed booking.
Bella ***********
Yes
Gadey ******
They ask for proof of payment
Dave ********
What visa?
M ********
Dave Austin visa for entry
Dave ********
M Taylor that tells me nothing.
Henrik ****
It is actually a little tricky as it says exactly a "confirmed booking" and not a confirmed ticket. In Thailand you can easily get a confirmed booking that has not been paid for, but in Europe it is almost impossible...
Jared **********
Yes it means exactly what it’s telling you it means….as opposed to them telling you something and wanting something different? 🤦♂️
Thaimer ******
It needs to be paid
Activity
18 joined18
people
Related
25What do I need to apply for a 60-day tourist visa to Thailand, and how should I handle flight bookings?
5.8k291191mo
What are the requirements for landlords applying for visas to work remotely in Thailand?
930874mo
Do I need an onward flight ticket for the NON-O visa in Thailand or can I book a one-way ticket?
4.8k41448mo
Is a one-way ticket and four weeks of accommodation sufficient for a DTV workation visa application?
354229mo
Should I send my complete passport scan with my visa application or wait until asked?
1k691y
Is it too early to apply for a non-O visa from Canada before arriving in Thailand?
1.5k11131y
Which embassy offers the quickest turnaround for a DTV visa application?
3.5k31191y
Can you get a DTV visa for children with a previous overstay in Thailand?
40611y
What documents do I need to show for indicating my current location when applying for a visa from Vietnam?
1.4k6102y
Can I apply for a 90-day retirement visa upon arrival in Thailand?
4.8k41422y
Do I need to provide tax returns when applying for a visa in London if I haven't filed yet?
728342y
What are some recommended Thai visa agents in Bangkok for Australians?
4.8k44322y
What should I include in the visa application regarding the validity of my passport and the requirement for a local guarantor?
1.5k722y
Do I need to request my company to include 500,000 baht coverage in my sponsorship letter for visa application?
656322y
What are the latest updates on the Thailand visa entry rules as of June 2024?
18.2k1192822y
What is an example of an invitation letter for a Thai visa application?
3.6k11123y
Can I repeatedly apply for a Non-O visa for 90 days each time in Thailand?
2.6k16313y
Can I apply for a stickerless eVisa online at my home embassy while in Thailand and return from Cambodia?
1.5k10133y
What are the latest updates and requirements for the COVID visa extension in Thailand?
4.1k36334y
Can I apply for a COVID extension while waiting for my Malaysian residence approval?
519225y
What should I do if I forgot to sign my non-immigrant O visa documents like my bank statement?
1.1k775y
Can I qualify for a Thai retirement visa with 1.6 million THB in a joint account?
3.4k20476y
Do I need a police clearance from my home country to apply for a Non-B visa in Phnom Penh?
41727y
Should I apply for a 6-month METV or 2 x 3-month SETV visa for Thailand?
2.2k17178y
How does a past felony conviction affect Thai visa applications for expats?
3.7k21378y
Resources
Need help with your retirement visa?
#1 visa agent · 4,000+ reviews · 100,000+ expats served