How can travelers manage return ticket changes when using a 60-day visa exemption in Thailand?

@John *******

I am the same as you and have been coming to Thailand for 13 yrs. Not to say I won’t be asked next yr.I have always had a return air fare but sometimes the return ticket is for 87 days.

@John *******

Fair enough. You could easily be right in that the ticket's not booked as yet. But I will say that you could have been more clear and stated the intention of your helpful advice, which I fully acknowledge. These boards are full of jerks who come out with the likes of "I did this" or "I do that" because "I'm such a clever and well informed individual". That's exactly how your response came across, to be honest. No offence intended, am simply making a point.

@Jay ******

no problem. It wasn't ment to be a keyboard warrior response 😊

@John *******

No. I see that. 👍

@Chris ******

Tell that to the airlines.

@Bonnie ********

you keep saying it but it’s still not correct… any onward transportation booked to exit a country is satisfactory for an airline’s regulations. Airlines cannot force you to buy an air ticket? 👀 🤦🏻‍♀️

@Ellen ************

The formal requirement from Ministry of Foreign Affairs is an air ticket out, and yes

@Kate ******

I’ve seen feedbacks on people turned down with a bus ticket.

@Jan *****************

that’s a very tightly cropped image. The government website states ‘such as’ a flight ticket OR have evidence of the ability to travel to another country, in cases of transit.

@Jan *****************

I’m sorry - and obviously it’s all anecdotal, as we know that things are not consistent in many of these countries… Also that one little snippet… Not knowing the source or the passport it’s referring to… I’m just really not one to argue about these things, but a lot of people in this group seem to have a deep need to be right and become really angry with those who have had different experiences. It can be exhausting.

Having knowledge of airline protocol, which is always the same, tho inconsistently enforced- airlines require confirmation of forward travel because if immigration in the country where they land refuses a passenger for not having it, then the airline by law has to return them to their point of boarding. As we know, no airline wants to give up a seat for free.

@Ellen ************

As stated, this is the general formal requirements from The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you can investigate further in the source if you like. Pathetic statement “Deep need to be right”. The case is that it’s always someone who proclaims that their personal experience or view is correct and the only reliable source at the end of the day when it comes regulations for entering Thailand is The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Thai Immigration Police. Both formally required an air ticket out.

0a316

@Jan *****************

from what I read here it doesn’t appear to be up to date as a tourist coming from a non visa country does not need some of the requirements listed here.

@Max *******

@Angelo **********

@Kate ******

and Camberlain who seems to have blocked me. This is well known fact regarding tourist entries and have been discussed and stated several times previously as you see from a previous discussion with one of the moderators on this site. I’ve just provided and passed on the fact that I know and the feedbacks I’ve read over a longer period of time and that has really nothing to do with a desperate need to be right as someone proclaims.

@Jan *****************

And why do you address me in this post? I am not in that screenshot ...

@Angelo **********

you were a part of this discussion regarding onward ticket and visa exemption and I just referred to one of the many previous discussions regarding this matter on this site.

@Jan *****************

Yes and? The screenshot says what I say. And I am not on it. So, what is your point?

@Angelo **********

The point is that this is the formal requirements for all tourist entries to Thailand. And if my link from The Ministry of foreign affairs says nothing about flights as you proclaims, you should give it a second try.

@Jan *****************

I did not proclaim that. You answer to the wrong person.

@Angelo **********

Ok, then I’m sorry🙏

@Max *******

When you enter Thailand on tourist solutions as a tourist visa or a visa exemption which both now gives you 60 days upon entry, you’ll FORMALLY need to prove 3 things if you’re asked; 1) An onward ticket within the initial days you’ll get stamped in for, regardless if you can apply for an extension later 2) Proof of accommodation as a hotel booking or a letter confirming you’ll stay with someone 3) Funds equal to 20K baht in Cash.

@Jan *****************

I have never had to show any of this stuff. They ask how long you staying? I say as long as you will let me. Sometimes I know where I am staying. Many times I don’t. I say not sure yet.

@Terriann *****

Good for you. This is anyway the formal requirements for tourist entries and if you apply for a tourist visa some embassies won’t even issue a visa without these requirements.

@Jan *****************

what you say maybe true but there is more on that list than what you have said,I am only trying to say that the list is now not up to date.

@Max *******

Yes, that’s also for applying for a tourist visa at an embassy/consulate and some won’t even issue a tourist visa unless you can prove the requirements.

@Jan *****************

very true I just went through it all and by the time I got my visa for 60 days Thailand had changed the rules and I no longer needed a visa, that’s life.

@Jan *****************

your link says nothing about flight. And does not cover visa exempt entries.

@Angelo **********

Tourist entries has same requirements.

@Jan *****************

nothing related to visa free travel and there are many Thai government sources that state different forms of onward travel are accepted.

@Kate ******

What we know is that an onward ticket is rarely checked at the immigration, unless they’ll questioning you for some other reason. This is mainly an airline issue as they can be fined and responsible for your return if formal requirements aren’t fulfilled.

At the website to the Thai Embassy in London and Oslo it’s stated that an air, train, bus or boat ticket out within 60 days is sufficient. However the formal requirements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Thai immigration is “an air ticket paid in full”. Based on feedbacks we know that some are allowed boarding with a bus ticket without any issues, some are allowed boarding after some discussion but some also have been denied as the airline required an air ticket.

If you plan to stay for more than 60 days I suggest you call your airline and ask for their policy regarding this. There are cheap options where you can buy/rent an onward flight ticket for $15-16 USD and you can also buy an authentic flight ticket to a neighbour country at $30-40 USD as a cheap insurance.

@Jan *****************

really? Pathetic? Sure, you can seize your judgement as justification to insult me 🤷🏻‍♀️ “As stated” - what I stated is also correct- I wasn’t in direct disagreement? You’re illustrating my point… there’s absolutely no need to be anything less than civil? That’s my opinion. Yes, there are regulations, but we all know they are enforced inconsistently.

It is always best to follow immigration regulations to a T, but I didn’t offer anecdotal evidence – I offered actual fact, having intimate knowledge of airline regulations in regard to immigration. I didn’t feel the need to insult you or stomp on you and prove that I am right. I hope that this exchange has been sufficient for you to get your daily dose of ridiculing others and displaying your intellectual superiority. I really mean that, so that maybe no one else has to suffer your barbs today. 😞

@Ellen ************

there’s a really weird and toxic subgroup of expats in the communities.

@Kate ******

yes I call them gatekeepers. This sort of superiority and absolutism to the point of justifying abusive behavior towards others only exists in certain southeast Asian countries. It’s a damn shame.

@Ellen ************

Spare me for this wretch of yours. I live in Norway and only have knowledge of entry rules to Thailand which normally is a good help for others. That's it! Have a good sunday.

@Jan *****************

I didn’t say you weren’t being helpful and I didn’t even disagree with you.

But I don’t know how it is more helpful to people for you to insult other people? I don’t even understand what you mean by wretch here. Apparently another insult.

Oh well… but ‘spare you’?? - while I’ve been nothing but decent 🤦🏻‍♀️

Oh never mind. Apparently, you have chosen to delete your mean comments. May as well block you. Seems ridiculous to have to block anyone in a group like this, but…

@Ellen ************

I am thinking that maybe a harder country to get a visa in, might have a nicer expat community because it’s not such a free for all. I have been thinking a lot about Japan.

@Kate ******

a bit rich for my blood but I PM’d you

@Ellen ************

rural Japan is really reasonable though. And you can property very cheap with no purchase restrictions for foreigners. The longer I’ve been in Thailand the more I keep thinking about Japan. I think it’s being british I kind of like formality of thing a little there.

I don’t know, lots more exploring to do. We’re off to Koh Lanta today.

@Bonnie ********

I haven’t seen anyone saying they’ve been turned down for a bus as their onward journey.