What should I know about required onward tickets when entering Thailand for 90 days?

They don’t ask about return ticket in immigration. But maybe your airline does, ask them.

When traveling to Thailand for 90 days, having an onward ticket is crucial to avoid any issues during immigration. This ticket serves as proof that you intend to leave the country.¹

*What is an Onward Ticket?*

An onward ticket is a reservation or booking confirmation for a flight departing Thailand within a specific timeframe, usually before your visa expires or within 60 days.

*Do You Always Need an Onward Ticket?*

Not always, but it's highly recommended. Some airlines might ask for proof of onward travel before boarding, and having one can save you from potential hassle.

*How to Get an Onward Ticket?*

You can book a cheap flight ticket to a neighboring country, like Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, for around $40 USD. Alternatively, services like OnwardTicket offer flight reservations for $14 USD.

*Key Things to Remember:*

- *Book in Advance*: Purchase your onward ticket before your trip to avoid any last-minute issues.

- *Cancelation is Allowed*: If you decide not to use your onward ticket, you can cancel it without affecting your immigration status.

- *Check Airline Requirements*: Confirm with your airline if they require proof of onward travel before boarding.

By having an onward ticket, you'll be well-prepared for your trip to Thailand and can avoid any potential problems during immigration. You should also consider reading a book or two before your travel.. I'd recommend a book "Thailand Unveiled 2024-2025" by James Anderson on Amazon..it has all the info and recommendations you need..you should check it out 😀

If you're on a 90 day visa surely you don't need a return ticket, 90 days non-O are all extendable

I arrived in Bangkok today and was not asked. However, I had already bought a flight forward ticket just in case. I was asked in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore over the last two months.

Someone else recommended buying a cheap train ticket. I found one for $7.00USD from Nong Khai to Vientiane Laos. I didn’t need it but for $7.00 it was worth the peace of mind.

It would help greatly to state what airline asked or didn't ask. Perhaps some apply the rules more than others

I've flown to Thailand twice in 2024 (second time on a one way ticket) my airline never asked and at immigration I was just waved through.

I always arrive on one way flight never been asked

How do you intend staying for 90 days? Will you get a visa or use visa exempt?

We have always been asked by Emirates Airlines for a onward flight ticket

I had to show my non o visa that’s all in airport b

Buy a low cost bus ticket out of Thailand and you can show it to anyone who asks

It's a lottery

It's pit luck, the issue is the airline raki g you might ask.vefire you get on the plane

Why not just use the onward ticket website

I've never been asked for a return ticket either on a 30 day or 60 day stay

The only one to maybe ask for ticket out of Thailand is the airline

The airline at your departure destination is who would ask you. We booth throw away train ticks for $12 each our last trip because we didn’t know when we were leaving. Check with your airline to see if train travel is acceptable. If you do get asked you will have to buy a return ticket to board and that can be very expensive. You could gamble and probably won’t be asked, buy you just never know.

Onward ticket.com works perfect. I think they cost $15.

Man up and buy a throw away

If you are flying to Thailand a one-way ticket without a visa, you can expect that the airline will ask you to provide proof of onward travel from the destination country within the expected length of stay stamped upon entry. In your case it’s a 60-days visa exempt entry.

It does not necessarily have to be the "return flight". It CAN be a return flight. But it can also be a one-way flight "out of Thailand" within the permitted period.

For example, a cheap one-way ticket with Air Asia from Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur for 35.- USD, is a 100% secure onward travel proof

Even if you have a visa, the airline can ask for proof of onward travel if you are leaving Thailand outside the length of stay stamped upon entry, or if you want to fly with a one-way ticket.

They "can", they don't necessarily do so. But if the check-in crew implements the rules consistently, they will definitely ask for it.

Because this IATA rule does in fact EXIST, even if many people don't believe it or want to accept it, just because they have never been asked for proof of onward travel.

The penalty for the airline that does not follow the rule is 10,000 U.S. Dollar if the passenger is rejected at the border of the destination country.

And if a flight is overbooked, the airline uses the onmward travel proof a proven means of thinning out the number of passengers. And that's what they will do!

Thai immigration normally is not interested in proof of onward travel or the return flight. They only ask for it randomly - this usually happens to those entering the country who have an extensive stamp history in their passport or passengers who turn up in ragged clothing.

The airline is only enforcing a guideline from Thai immigration. The IATA, as the highest aviation authority, has committed to applying these guidelines. And because Thai immigration has passed the check-duty to the airlines, it does not check again when you enter the country. They tacitly trust the airlines did check already

It is also important to know that many airlines do NOT accept a train or bus ticket to a neighboring country as proof of onward travel, but insist that it must be a FLIGHT ticket.

** You also often read that you can provide proof by booking a hotel in a neighboring country.

** Or by presenting a visa for the neighboring country.

** Or by signing a form in which you accept responsibility in the event of entry being refused.

** Or by taking a speedboat ride from Ko Lipe to Langkawi.

** or a bus ticket to Cambodia

** or a train ride to Singapore

** with a cheap "onward ticket" you can also provide proof of onward travel (but at your own risk)

These are ALL just half-hearted suggestions. There is NO guarantee that it will work. The airline decides whether to accept it or not

Of course there are people in every group who claim the opposite, but they can NEVER GUARANTEE their statements

Where as a “real” one-way flight ticket out of Thailand is always a 100% guarantee

Then there are people who firmly claim that the proof of onward travel does not exist, just because they have never experienced anything like it

But these people can never guarantee that you will not be asked. Such a behavior is irresponsible towards those asking in FB groups

There is NO guarantee that you will not be asked at check-in. It could just as easily be the other way around and proof of onward travel will be asked.

Then you are left standing at the check-in counter and will be refused boarding.

That is why I don't think it is a good idea to present your own experience as irrefutable. Thousands of travelers have been turned away in the past, and HUNDREDS face this problem EVERY day at airports around the world

What kind of proof of onward travel will be accepted, you should ask the airline, but it is best to do so in writing (email) In this case if you receive a positive reply, you can print it and take it to the check-in counter. Over the phone, airline employees sometimes tell you anything whatever comes to their mind, much of it might not be true.

Remember it is the airline that is fined if you arrive with an incorrect visa and denied entry.

It for the airlines not immigration.

It’s not emigration but immigration

yes i’ve heard it’s dependent on the airline but never been asked myself 🙌 been asked what i’m doing as i’ve been away from home so long but after explaining im just travelling and have no plan they’ve always wished me luck and stamped me in🫡 you can hire a departure ticket on onward ticket .com if you want peace of mind 👌

It's often the airline that asks for this within the allowed time which for many is 60 days visa exempt. Arrival day counts as day 1.

It’s your airline that usually asks

They didn't ask me as we get 60 days now