Is a printed onward ticket required to enter Thailand, or is a phone copy acceptable?

Sep 28, 2017
7 years ago
Andrey ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi. Stupid question. Is there is requirement to have printed onwards ticket when enter Thailand? Is ticket on your phone OK? Got an immigration officer in Malaysia who was angry with ticket on the phone. He pointed on sign no cellphones.

Not related to my question. Watching how a guy was questioned in departure hall (after he already cleared immigration) by immigration officers. They took pictures of his passport. Clearing immigration doesn't guarantee if you will not questioned!

Update.Boss was explaining to officers (one of them was a man who stamped my passport). Guy has a very difficult visa history I believe. They discussed 5-10 minutes his passport. Again, it was in front if boarding gate. Means they were looking for him.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The consensus among travelers indicates that having a printed copy of your onward ticket is advisable when entering Thailand, as some immigration officers may require it. While electronic tickets on a phone could suffice, you may run into issues if the officer insists on a physical document. Various users shared experiences suggesting that bringing a printed itinerary can help avoid complications, despite not always being asked for this document during their travels.
Tod *********
Strange that happened AFTER he was stamped out of thailand and at the boarding gate..I mean if he was getting ON a plane to leave thailand and already stamped out..
Amornrat **********
Many incidents we are not reading about. Guess how many people travel with dodgy documents... Needless to say that some are passing through Thai Airports too.
Andrey ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Added some info. There is another topic to discuss in my post.
Erik ************
No, there isn't..... who wants to 'discuss' a situation you don't know from a man you don't know? Bargirls maybe.
Ron *******
Considering there are signs banning phones at immigration at airports in Bangkok, you may want to have a printed intenary.
Kari ********
I remember one time where I was traveling to Bali. Showed airline staff my confirmation on phone but she wanted to see it on paper. Luckily by chance, I had it on paper but I normally don't. I think it's always better to be safe than sorry.
Tod *********
I would say when in doubt err on the side of caution and have a printed itinerary of onward travel just to be sure.
Noël ***********
I've never been asked to show this. Not once in 3.5 years with numerous visas and trips in and out. That said, I typically have it on hand just in case.
Ron *******
I had the same issue at Vancouver. No print out of the return portion of the ticket. Held me up 2 hours until the BA desk opened and they could confirm I had a return.
Richard *******
Me either after 36 years of world wide travel. Having said that I always had a print out of my ticket (after they stopped paper tickets) and itinerary along with reference numbers. As
@Tod ********
says, err on the side of caution. A ship mate of mine was almost refused transit through LHR because he had not printed out his ticket or reference, luckily another of our crew had printed the whole list and the problem was resolved.
Donna ********
Airlines have told us that having a copy of your onward ticket on a phone, laptop or tablet isn't good enough. They have said if the battery fails on your device then you have no way to show your ticket so it's always best to have a print out.
Keith **********
I always just had the ticket email on my phone till the time I had difficulty connecting to email server to show ticket at airport. Now I just do quick print off. You actually dont need it for check-in, they always work from your id
David ************
Good point.
Tod *********
Hmm, not to be pedantic but I'd say IF you had an immigration officer in Malaysia who was angry with you tryin' to show a confirmation via a phone and who pointed to the no cellphone sign I'd say you answered your own question ;)
Tod *********
I know that people have used their phones to show onward travel when flying into the country at both Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi.
Sam *****
Have a print out. Skip any problems. Every city has internet cafes and any hotel reception your at will print for you. I have been asked. I had it. No issues.
Andrey ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am familiar with this requirement. The question is do I need to print on paper
David ************
Yea, I mean why not. Use phone as a backup if you loose it.
Jordan ********
I would say allways have physical copy's
Tod *********
when entering thailand you can always be asked to show the 3-proof-ofz if an immigration officer wants to see them

proof of onward travel

proof of adequate funds

proof of a confirmed hotel booking or lodging.

The southern land borders are especially persnickety about things when you stamp in.
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