This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
What are some suggestions for obtaining a cheap onward travel ticket for a Thai tourist visa application?
Sep 19, 2023
3 years ago
Nadeem ********
ORIGINAL POSTERIdeas please!
So I’m told by the Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur that EVERY document listed here has to be offered to them as part of my 60 day tourist visa application. Including the second part of number 4: Providing transport tickets to show my plans to depart Thailand. This is ridiculous. I don’t have any! 🤷🏽♂️. There must be loads of people that don’t plan that far ahead on a 60 day stay. Especially when they plan to stay beyond 60 days like I am.
Can anyone advise me on a cheap way to produce a transport ticket leaving Thailand that the embassy will see and allow as admissible for the visa application?
So I’m told by the Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur that EVERY document listed here has to be offered to them as part of my 60 day tourist visa application. Including the second part of number 4: Providing transport tickets to show my plans to depart Thailand. This is ridiculous. I don’t have any! 🤷🏽♂️. There must be loads of people that don’t plan that far ahead on a 60 day stay. Especially when they plan to stay beyond 60 days like I am.
Can anyone advise me on a cheap way to produce a transport ticket leaving Thailand that the embassy will see and allow as admissible for the visa application?
TLDR : Answer Summary
Users are seeking advice on how to meet the requirement of providing a transport ticket as part of the application process for a 60-day tourist visa to Thailand. Many suggest that it's common for embassies to request proof of onward travel to ensure applicants do not overstay their visas. Recommended solutions include purchasing affordable onward tickets from travel agencies online, which often offer services to book and then cancel tickets for a small fee. Alternatives mentioned include booking refundable flights or taking bus tickets to nearby countries. Some users point out the necessity of having a confirmed accommodation booking as well, reflecting frustrations with the stringent visa application process.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted Thai Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Andreas *********
a REAL flight ticket showing you leave Thailand within 60 days, such as for example Air Asia one-way from Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur for 32.- US Dollars will give you a 100% guarantee of being accepted
Burnard ************
You are a "Top Contributor" to this forum and you need to ask this question? Seriously?
You're in Malaysia and you didn't need it when you entered? You have to be joking, right?
For a Tourist Visa most countries ask for your Travel out. Yeah, when I first started traveling I thought it was strange also to need to plan your exit in advance. It is what it is. But you're not a first-time traveler are you? You bill yourself as a person who travels a lot.
What gives? Are you drunk?
Have you always just been stamped in and were lucky enough never to have been asked for it?
You're in Malaysia and you didn't need it when you entered? You have to be joking, right?
For a Tourist Visa most countries ask for your Travel out. Yeah, when I first started traveling I thought it was strange also to need to plan your exit in advance. It is what it is. But you're not a first-time traveler are you? You bill yourself as a person who travels a lot.
What gives? Are you drunk?
Have you always just been stamped in and were lucky enough never to have been asked for it?
Henrik *****
You will be granted permission to go into to Thailand, and of course you will have to prove that will leave within the granted period.
That’s the polite way to say “Thank you” to your host.
That’s the polite way to say “Thank you” to your host.
Jamie *************
This is why they are doing it. To keep people from abusing the privilege of being in Thailand. And rightfully so.
Steve *******
FFS! It's a tourist visa! Most tourists would have a plan to leave the Country after their tour or on expiration of their visa
Paul ********
@Steve ******
the problem is there are thousands of tourists here with years overstaying and working here. They want genuine tourists who come and spend money into the economy. Not people who have no jobs no money and take the jobs away from poor Thai familiesSteve *******
@Paul *******
Exactly, I cant understand why people complain that they have to show onward travel when applying for a tourist visa or think they're entitled to stay as long as they like, it's one of the easiest countries to obtain a tourist visa, much easier than the UK or the US.Paul ********
@Steve ******
yes they think it’s a right not a privilegeReply to
Paul ********
Reply
Erin ***************
Nope, gotta have one. Buy a cheap one way to somewhere? Or, an open ended ticket?
Craig ********
There are services you can use that will let you purchase a plane ticket and then a couple days later they cancel it. It costs you a small service fee, but it provides you with the necessary booking.
Terary **********
Bus ticket. Before Covid I was buying bus tickets from Hat Yai to Penang for $6.00.
Latasha ********
@Terary *********
do they still accept bus tickets as proof of onward travel?Terary **********
I haven't tried since before Covid. I just got a Tourist Visa from the Thai Embassy US. During that process they requested "additional documentation" which was onward air travel. They were quite specific about flight details. I was applying for a METV so I bought a one-way flight to Kula Lumpur. I will use it so it wan't a big deal.
Last I knew (pre-covid). Bus ticket from Hat-Yai to Penang was $12/US, I think its worth a gamble.
Last I knew (pre-covid). Bus ticket from Hat-Yai to Penang was $12/US, I think its worth a gamble.
Reply to
Terary **********
Reply
Richard ******
What happens if you intend to have an extended holiday and you will be staying with your girlfriend at her rented condo? Does she have to pay 2-3 months of rent in advance just to satisfy this ridiculous requirement?
Richard ******
It's beyond ridiculous and in the next breath they are crying out for tourists. There's a reason the numbers are down. Who wants to go on holiday and jump through all these hoops.
Nigel *********
Try this for onward ticket. It's an affiliate link so I get some money back.
Stuart *********
@Nigel ********
You might want to actually add the link.Nigel *********
Reply to
Nigel *********
Reply
Jon **********
The last two friends I spoke to who entered Thailand were both asked for onward ticket when they arrived in Thailand. Both people had been out of Thailand for over 6 months but had visited multiple times in the past.
Jared **********
Having a short term visa showing proof of leaving isn’t the craziest request. Needing to show full booking confirmation for 2-3 months is actually absurd, especially given the severe weather that impacts many regions.
Onward tickets and fully cancellable booking confirmations to satisfy the requirements
Onward tickets and fully cancellable booking confirmations to satisfy the requirements
Richard ******
@Jared *********
It's madness.Jared **********
@Richard *****
i emailed with the NY embassy and offered to send them my last trip, over 30 hotels across 8 provinces and mentioned Phuket was currently having flood warnings at the end of November and they just didn’t careRichard ******
@Jared *********
My take is that they make it as difficult as possible to get people to use visa agents to "smooth things over" and we all know why that is don't we! There's a reason the beaches, bars and restaurants are empty!Jared **********
@Richard *****
never actually considered that for TR visas but that’s about all that makes senseRichard ******
@Jared *********
The London embassy webpage even has a link to agentsReply to
Richard ******
Reply
Jessica ********
@Nadeem *******
would onward ticket work?Jamie ******
************************
$15Jamie ******
Just book a ticket on dummy flights will cost you $10
Ryan ************
Buy a ticket to Vietnam, Cambodia etc. Around 2000thb
Daniel **********
Buy a refundable ticket and cancel.
Alistair **********
You can just enter visa exempt if you can't meet the requirements. Some embassies have more requirements than others, but the ticket departing is pretty standard.
It's actually a requirement to enter Thailand on a Visa exempt entry as well, it just very rarely checked by immigration.
It's actually a requirement to enter Thailand on a Visa exempt entry as well, it just very rarely checked by immigration.
Burnard ************
@Alistair *********
They might still ask for it upon entry for Visa Exempt.Reply to
Burnard ************
Reply
Burnard ************
Why are you not planning on leaving Thailand?
Neil *********
Onwardticket.com they will charge you 16 usd for one
Brandon ************
This is a requirement for a tourist visa from every Thai embassy. You need to prove you're going to be leaving within the time you'll receive for your visa and not plan to overstay. Your airline likewise may ask you to provide this proof of leaving Thailand within 60 days if you're traveling with a tourist visa or they will not let you fly.
If you Google "onward travel ticket" you can find agencies that will book a real plane ticket for you then they'll cancel it in the future. It's usually about $10-$15.
Please note that the onward travel is not the difficult item for this application. Please make special note of item 6. You need to show a PAID booking for somewhere you are staying for the entire time from the day your plane ticket to Thailand until your plane ticket out of Thailand. This also needs to have the tax ID number of the entity you are booking with.
This is so you cannot just make a free cancellation booking online and upload it then cancel it after you receive your visa.
Many of the Thai embassies and consulates in the region now have this requirement because they know full well the people applying for tourist visas there are just trying to get more time in Thailand and are not actually typical tourists. Thailand is quickly closing the loopholes people have been using to stay for a long time without a long term visa.
If you Google "onward travel ticket" you can find agencies that will book a real plane ticket for you then they'll cancel it in the future. It's usually about $10-$15.
Please note that the onward travel is not the difficult item for this application. Please make special note of item 6. You need to show a PAID booking for somewhere you are staying for the entire time from the day your plane ticket to Thailand until your plane ticket out of Thailand. This also needs to have the tax ID number of the entity you are booking with.
This is so you cannot just make a free cancellation booking online and upload it then cancel it after you receive your visa.
Many of the Thai embassies and consulates in the region now have this requirement because they know full well the people applying for tourist visas there are just trying to get more time in Thailand and are not actually typical tourists. Thailand is quickly closing the loopholes people have been using to stay for a long time without a long term visa.
Latasha ********
@Brandon ***********
how do you get the tax ID number if it's a booking you make on booking.com that has free cancellation..I need it for the visa but will not stay there the whole 60 days as I'm travelling around? thankyouBrandon ************
@Latasha *******
book directly with the hotel and let them know that you need that information before you book. What your plans are doesn't matter. You either meet the requirements for the visa or you don't.Latasha ********
@Brandon ***********
ok this hotel allow pay later option...what can I expect a document with the ID number or is it just a verbal number I take than write down on the booking for immigration?thankyouBrandon ************
@Latasha *******
you cannot get it. It an embassy wants the tax ID number they also want proof of payment. You cannot use an unpaid bookingLatasha ********
@Brandon ***********
ok if I choose a paid booking do I than call the hotel an d ask for the ID?I haven't made the reservation yet...will they give me a document or is it verbal thanksBrandon ************
@Latasha *******
they should email you something that meets the requirements of the embassyLatasha ********
@Brandon ***********
ok great thankyouReply to
Latasha ********
Reply
Nadeem ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks everyone for all your inputs. We think an ED visa is best suited to our needs. It’s too late to get one in KL as we are leaving here on 8th Oct heading to Sri Lanka for a month. The Thai Embassy in Sri Lanka not answering emails and website won’t let me book an appointment so if I can’t get an ED visa via Sri Lankan Thai embassy, then we will enter Thailand on the standard 30 day tourist visa and apply for an ED visa directly with Thai immigration to start when the 30 days have elapsed.
Brandon ************
@Nadeem *******
You need to start contacting schools now. Some have waiting lists for beginner classes. Also you cannot wait until your 30 days have elapsed. You need to go to your school as soon as you arrive and let them make copies of your entry stamp in your passport and other items so they can apply to the Ministry of Education for your permission. That can take 2-3 weeks. You also need to have about 15 days left on your existing stay when you apply for your ED visa with documentation from your school. It's very possible you can't even get it all done in time and will have to apply for the 30 day extension before you can apply for your ED. But if you wait until the end of your stamp to start the process you'll have to leave Thailand again because you won't have enough time.Nadeem ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
thanks for the heads up. We are talking to a school right now who have places and they are taking me through everything that is needed. We plan to go visit them with passports, paperwork, photos etc literally the day we land.Reply to
Nadeem ********
Reply
Jonathan **************************
@Brandon ***********
I applied in KL with proof of unpaid, cancellable booking (using booking dot com) in a hostel back in July, and that was accepted.Nadeem ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
I’ll get onto the Onward ticket thing and book a flight through one of the agencies that will have us departing around 60 days after entry into Thailand. Context… we plan to stay for 6 months as a family in Thailand. We intend to apply and pay for 60 day tourist visas for myself and the wife only. Our 4 children will go in on 30 day visa exemption. When we extend for 30 days and do the one border visa run, it will only be for me and the wife (the kids won’t come to the immigration centre or go on the border run with us). When we leave Thailand after 6 months, the kids will be classed as overstay.
Question… Do you think the embassy will have an issue with us showing them inbound flight tickets (which have the kids itemised) but then seeing the outbound flight tickets with just me and the wife on? Perhaps I should just create the outbound flight tickets with all of us on to be consistent?
And your other point on accommodation. We are staying in 2 places over the 60 days. First place is 8th Nov to 1st Dec. I’ve paid a deposit on that but don’t have to pay in full until I arrive so will the embassy be happy with that? 2nd place is 1st Dec to 5th Jan which has been reserved via Booking.com. The terms of my booking don’t require payment until arrival. That’s just how it is 🤷🏽♂️. How can the embassy not accept this?
John **********
@Nadeem *******
that sounds very risky to me. There's no way I'd leave my kids in Thailand while I went to apply for a tourist visa in another country which you might or might not get. And even if you do get the visa you might be denied entry to Thailand. What will you do then?Nadeem ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
yep I accept your point on doing a border run without the kids. But why would we be denied entry to Thailand if we have a valid approved visa?
John **********
@Nadeem *******
a couple of points1. You can't get a visa via a border run, you can only get a visa from an embassy. Normally that takes a few days in nearby countries.
2. A visa is no guarantee of entry. An embassy issues a visa but the decision to let you in or not is down to the immigration officer you stand in front of on entry. If they think you are using tourist visas to live inside Thailand inappropriately then they are very likely to deny entry. They are really clamping down on this at the moment. If you only have 2 back to back tourist visas you should hopefully be ok but more than that can be an issue, but I wouldn't rely on that if my kids could potentially be stuck on their own
Nadeem ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
I think we got a few things misunderstood on how I used the term “border run” - I didn’t make myself clear. I take on board what you are saying as this is really useful to know. It’s helping to shape my thinking on what I do. Thanks again.Ivan ************
@Nad***
I think you'd need a trusted person minding the kids who can bring them to you (outside Thailand) if necessary. Hopefully it wouldn't be, but this is a real possibility, you'd need a plan for how you get reunited with the kids if you are denied visa/re-entry. To be honest you might be best off just bringing them with you on the visa run, if you can meet the requirements for yourself, you presumably can for the kids as well.Reply to
Ivan ************
Reply
Burnard ************
@Brandon ***********
It helps Immigration greatly when they read our forums. They, may, in fact, post these questions expecting someone to post a "Travel Hack" so they can look for it so to make it hard for people when the suspect they are doing this (whether they are or not)
Brandon ************
@Burnard ***********
Onward travel isn't exactly a secret. Plus it's a real plane ticket. How are they going to deny a real plane ticket?Burnard ************
@Brandon ***********
You are right but Thailand Immigration, being what it is, will find a way to make it difficult.But, you are right. I have done this and never had a problem. However one time I bought a REAL bus ticket into Laos and they found that suspicious.
Maybe they will see a pattern in the airlines or something. Or think they see a pattern.
I remember some things that we used to openly talk about on these forums that are no more.
However, using a real ticket may not be a problem but using your real name announcing that you are going to do this might be a problem.
Reply to
Burnard ************
Reply
33 comments
2 years ago
23 comments
2 years ago
23 comments
2 years ago
2 comments
2 years ago
70 comments
2 years ago
45 comments
3 years ago
22 comments
3 years ago
How can I obtain a 60-day tourist visa for Thailand and extend it without losing my outbound ticket?
18 comments
3 years ago
3 comments
3 years ago
6 comments
3 years ago
9 comments
3 years ago
9 comments
4 years ago
18 comments
4 years ago
33 comments
4 years ago
9 comments
4 years ago
20 comments
4 years ago
13 comments
5 years ago
6 comments
5 years ago
3 comments
7 years ago
10 comments
7 years ago
33 comments
8 years ago
5 comments
8 years ago
7 comments
8 years ago
7 comments
8 years ago
18 comments
9 years ago
7 comments
a month ago
9 comments
a month ago
21 comments
a month ago
16 comments
a month ago
8 comments
a month ago
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.