Why was my wife denied boarding by Qatar Airlines due to lack of an onward ticket?

@Graham *****

sure... and that's why every time I fill in a TDAC and write my DTV visa number, the departure date field isn't mandatory. I've never written it, and Thailand Immigration has had zero issue with it. Again, they didn't make that field mandatory for a reason. Mind explaining this? Are you DTV holder, by the way? Cause I am, and I'm speaking from experience. Have flown more than 10 times already, always on one-way tickets, during the past year.

@Elías *******

It has no red asterisk so it's not mandatory for anyone

@Andy ******

not standard.. its the minority that are not understanding the rules

@Andy ******

some do, some dont

@Michael *******

a visa expires when you enter Thailand. How does that count in your statement?

@Nongnuch *******

may be my sentence was to short . What I mean is that you must have a ticket for the date before or one day the visa expires . As well it a rules for the airlines to request a return or forward ticket . It’s a rules in most countries. Unfortunately the airlines counter can’t know the immigration laws of each country. Schengen visa requirements return tickets . Immigration does not check if a return ticket is there the airline is . They must fly the passengers back on their cost and are responsible for.

@Michael *******

a visa already expires on entry. What you want to say is, that one needs an onward travel proof for a date that is within the 60-days STAY PERMIT you receive upon entering visa-exempt . . . it is not the visa which expires, this is irrelevant. It is the stay permit which will expire at a given point

@Nongnuch *******

thank you for your help you are right !

@Keef *******

yes that is very true, but one person having a shitty day should not control an other country’s visa system.

@Steve ******

I was responding to the comment above where the “expert” says it has been a requirement for ten years

@Steve ******

wrong. I’ve done it twice. Nowhere it says an onward flight is required.

@Neville *******

You're incorrect. Thai Immigration requires onward travel within your period of allowed stay unless you have a long stay visa. The DTV is not considered long stay.

@Steve ******

still wrong. Show me where it’s written that you need an onward ticket. That was a specific question I asked the lawyer during a conference call when I was organising our DTV’s. So unless you’re an immigration lawyer I’ll go with the professional advice I got.

@Neville *******

Go with Thai Immigration. Check the RTP Immigration website. Onward travel within 180 days is a requirement on the DTV.

@Steve ******

please be so kind and provide a link to where it states this as I am unable to find it. Thank you

@Steve ******

why don’t you show it as this is the info I got. This is why people should seek professional advice instead of Facebook keyboard warriors.

No, there is no official Thai immigration requirement mandating proof of an onward flight (or any booked departure from Thailand) when entering on a Destination Thailand Visa (DTV). The DTV is a multiple-entry visa valid for 5 years, allowing up to 180 days per entry (extendable once for another 180 days at immigration offices), which is designed for long-term stays by remote workers, digital nomads, and participants in Thai cultural activities. This contrasts with short-stay options like visa-exempt entries (up to 60 days) or tourist visas (up to 60 days), where onward travel proof is more commonly enforced, especially by airlines during boarding.

@Neville *******

The DTV is classed as a tourist visa and requires onward travel.

@Steve ******

do you have a reliable source for that requirement?

I have just done my TDAC on the DTV and did not provide an outbound flight. That tells me that immigration does not require this so why would an airline decide otherwise?

@Axel ******

The DTV is a type of tourist visa so the rules for tourism entries apply (20k cash, accommodation and proof of onward travel). Also, why do you think peole on DTVs cannot now get a bank account or many that have them are having difficulties?

@Graham *****

Thank you for clarifying the requirements. Would you mind telling me where I can find this in an official source as I am unable to verify this anywhere I can find official DTV information. Maybe a link to the immigration office?

@Axel ******

Why do you need proof, you plan accordingly?

@Graham *****

Official DTV document lists from Thai missions do not require an onward/return ticket or 20,000-baht cash. Those items appear in Immigration Bureau handbooks for Visa on Arrival. Different category, different rule but you if you have an official source I would really appreciate it if you could provide it. Thank you.

@Axel ******

What "Immigration Bureau handbooks for Visa on Arrival"? First I've heard of such guidelines. You show me yours.

@Graham *****

Oh you haven't heard of those?

@Axel ******

There is nothing in those lists which have Visa on Arrival in the title (which, if you knew anything, VoA is a Visa which costs 2000B on arrival for certain passport holders to get a 15 day entry stamp which cannot get extended).

@Graham *****

My sincere apologies for the confusion I have caused. Of course you are correct regarding the VoA. As a side note the handbook does have a section on the VoA as per the previous link I sent. You might have overlooked it as it was a bit further down.

here is the link its no 48

/48-Public-Handbook-Application-for-E-VOA.pdf

What I meant was the Visa Exemption Scheme which requires 10K THB and an onward travel ticket with a fixed exit date and a Destination other than bordering countries.

However this does not seem to apply to the DTV as it is a multiple entry 5 year Tourist Visa.

Again I would highly appreciate it if you could provide the source of this requirement, which given that you seem to be a SME on the topic, would be easy to provide. Thank you kindly

@Graham *****

I am one of those people who likes to verify any information provided on FB with official sources as it otherwise is somewhat hearsay.

And I assume, that given how certain you are about your statement, that you have some reference to official sources. Would be great if you could provide those. Thank you

@Axel ******

exactly. Sounds like he’s going off what he’s read on Facebook. During a phone call with an immigration lawyer in Bangkok when I was organising ours an onward flight wasn’t a requirement. At least not in February anyway.

@Axel ******

The TDAC is just an ARRIVAL card, there's no requirement to provide an outbound flight. However, if asked, it is a requirement to provide Thai Immigration with onward travel within the time frame of your visa

@Steve ******

you are of course correct regarding the TDAC Arrival card. That's why I left the departure date blank.

However the logic in the context of the airline refusing to transport the passenger due to lack of an onward flight would be that Thai immigration does not require this per se so why would the airline refuse when there is clearly no repercussion to them if the passenger has no onward ticket.

And of course you are also correct that the IO can ask whatever they like and let you in or not based on your answers.

Going back to my original comment would you be so kind to provide the source that states the requirement for a DTV holder to have an onward travel. This would be helpful for everyone in the group where you have found that requirement. Thank you

@Steve ******

no you dont. Nobody plan trips 6 months ahead. And you can extend at immigration aswell so who plans 1 year upfront?

@Kurt ************

Many DTV extentions being denied. They are not a given!

@Steve ******

nothing is given, still dont need a onward needed. Most people with dtv stay 100 + days when they first are here, if not even longer. Many works and just does border skip for the weekend even

@William **********

its literally their job!! 🤣🤣 especially if they offered to show her the document!

@William **********

if they are going to assume authority on the subject, then yes it is self-evident they need to know the rules or be open to being informed on them on the spot.

@William **********

they have a program to check , they don’t need to remember.

@William **********

takes 2 seconds to check. So thats just a bad take

@Wannikea ********

do you have more info on that ?

@Martyn **********

wrong.

@Stephen *******

She has a type of tourist visa so the rules for tourism entries apply (20k cash, accommodation and proof of onward travel)

@Stephen *******

more AI generated crap

@Graham *****

yes but not if you google a certain set of keywords and then put your hand on a Bible and swear to the first AI generated answer 👍🏼

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

AI lol, okko out if that is our future

@Stephen *******

unfortunately legally you must show a return ticket . Even you have a long visa . The law is that everyone who fly to countries like Thailnd Costa Rica and many other say you need a return ticket . That what the airlines are obligated to check ! Often the airlines have not undated system about the long term visas . There system just just say “ must have a return flight “ . Yes it depends if they check at counter actually check that or not . Yiu had a stubborn one unfortunately. Reason for airlines to check is that they are liable for the guest and must pay for the flight return in case you are refused at the border patrol . So emigration can not be blamed for that in any country. Sometimes they not accept train / bus / ship travel back either . So if you travel often you know to have a “ return ticket “ you can actually buy them for 10 $ . Online. Now don’t blame me for this rule ….

@Michael *******

not true

@Michael *******

even if you have a retirement visa

@Martin ********

the thing is the airline does not know that . And they not know the laws of each country. They just use their system . May it help you get a letter or such that you got a retire and stay in Thailnd from the Thai government. Again many airlines agents don’t check or you can explain , or you have bad luck .

@Michael *******

they checked my passport to see if I had a visa. She asked me why I only had a one way ticket and said ok.

@Michael *******

The retirement visa is stamped in your passport!

@Stephen *******

I believe the airline can refuse you a flight if you don't have a return flight or onward travel, or a visa, otherwise you become their responsibility if refused entry

@Ken *******

dtv is a 5 year, multi entry visa. Qatar made a mistake.