Answered9 years ago

Does my friend need an onward flight from Thailand if she's returning home from Cambodia?

Thailand Visa Exemption Onward Flight Requirement Immigration Rules Thailand Traveling from Thailand to Cambodia Chiang Mai Immigration Visa Exempt Entry

Álvaro **********

asked Dec 4, 2017

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Question about onward flight. A friend of mine is going to do this trip:

- Go: MAD - CNX (via HKG)

- Back 3 weeks later: PNH - MAD (via HKG)

Both flights operated with the same company (Cathay), and bought together.

As she is entering Thailand by air, with a 30 days exemption, should she has an onward flight/train/whatever from Thailand? Or, if asked, it's pretty clear that she is returning to her home?

My doubt is because she has a (real, not fake) return-to-home flight, but it's not from Thailand, but from Cambodia.

The check-in will be online, so I think there is no problem with the company.

But a bit worried about the inmigration at Chiang Mai if they ask for an onward flight...

We're going to leave Thailand just a few days after their arrive, crossing to Lao to do the slow boat to Luang Prabang, so no bus/train tickets...

Do you think it's worth to book some bus or train out of Thailand? Or will it be enough with the flight from Phnom Pehn to her home country?

Thanks in advance!

Answer summary

The question involves a traveler entering Thailand on a 30-day visa exemption and whether she needs to show an onward flight from Thailand, given that her return flight is from Cambodia. While it's an official requirement that immigration can ask for an onward flight, many travelers report that they are usually allowed entry without this documentation, especially if they have a clear travel itinerary. In this case, the traveler has a flight from Cambodia back to her home country, but might consider having additional documentation, like bus or train tickets for peace of mind.

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Barry ******

99% chance you will just get a stamp and no questions

9 years ago

Robert *******

Officially Immigration can ask. There are more than 30 million visitors a year into Thailand, we only see reports of people getting asked questions who have multiple Visa Exempt Entries and Tourist Visas in their passports over the last few years.

9 years ago

Álvaro **********

It's not her case: only one previous visit to the Kingdom, back in 2014 ;)

I know they can ask, that is the reason I'm a bit worried. She is coming back to our home country - she is in her holidays, must return to her work - but I'm not sure if the flight back home from Phnom Pehn is enough proof for inmigration in the case they ask...

9 years ago