Answered2 months ago
Will a bus ticket to Malaysia be accepted as proof of onward travel when arriving in Thailand?
Does anyone know if a bus ticket to Malaysia will be accepted as proof of onward travel when arriving at the airport?
And if it being refundable would cause any problems?
As they are getting way more strict now any advice appreciated 🙏
And if it being refundable would cause any problems?
As they are getting way more strict now any advice appreciated 🙏
Answer summary
The acceptance of a bus ticket to Malaysia as proof of onward travel upon arriving in Thailand depends largely on the airline's policies rather than Thai immigration regulations. While some travelers report that they have had bus tickets accepted, airlines may require a flight ticket due to concerns about their responsibility to return passengers if refused entry. Refundable tickets are generally not an issue according to most respondents. However, there are reports of increased scrutiny and potential restrictions on using certain forms of onward travel evidence, particularly from 'onward ticket' websites, which can be viewed unfavorably by immigration.
25 repliesnewest first
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Elipink #F43BEmail was verified
Hi I am Italian and will fly Austrian airlines from Paris to Bangkok on the 14th October. No time for a visa and I stay 32 days. Getting stressed. Austrian replied to ask the embassy. The embassy says train bus is accepted but it is not written on their French website. I am really going to Malaysia for a couple of weeks....
Priya S. #18A2Email was verified
Hey Elipink, from what I’ve seen, airlines like Austrian might still accept bus or train tickets as onward travel proof, but it really depends on the check-in staff and their policies. Just try to have a clear booking and maybe some backup like accommodation to ease any doubts.
Vic *****
Yes
Doug ********
I was asked twice by qatar airways at Heathrow and they accepted a train ticket from udon thani to vientiene and bangkok immigration asked me once and they accepted as well. I only had a one way ticket booked on both occasions
Seren *******
Ours to Laos was accepted - we were asked by immigration and we had proof of an actual booking, as well as booked accommodation (cancellable) for the first 2 nights.
Mark *************************
Worked for me every time. But maybe because Im Malaysian. I had a few friends that are not from Malaysia and it has worked for them every time. Hat Yai - Kuala Lumpur. 70+ ringgit, which is around 600 baht or so.
Curt ********
Yes
Jan ******************
As already pointed out, it depends on the airline. Many people will say they have never been asked. Some will say a bus or train ticket instantly was accepted, others that it was accepted only after some discussion, and a few that the airline insisted on an actual flight ticket.
The formal wording from the MFA is: "Evidence of travel from Thailand (air ticket paid in full)“.
The formal wording from the MFA is: "Evidence of travel from Thailand (air ticket paid in full)“.
Matt **********
Immigration don't care. They have 100 other reasons to refuse you entry. The airline cares because they're on the hook to take you back or send you onward if you get refused. So if your bus ticket is something you can't use if you are refused entry because it departs from inside the country, they could very well turn around and demand an onward flight ticket from the same airport they can use if they have to deport you
Chris *******
Matt Sheumack So on that basis if you arrive in Bangkok and have a flight leaving a couple of weeks later from Phuket you could be refused entry. I've never heard of a rule that says your point of departure must be from the same place as you arrived at.
Matt **********
Chris Blunt it's still a flight out of the country. There's a carrier that the airline can coordinate with. Globally, they're all connected to the same system. They can't do that with Joe's bus company.
Chris *******
Matt Sheumack You can't get from Bangkok to Phuket without passing through immigration and taking a domestic flight or land transport. That was your argument for a bus ticket not being unacceptable. Why is a flight acceptable but not a bus?
Peter **********
Matt Sheumack the issue isn’t immigration. It’s check in at the airport
Attractive***********
OPMatt Sheumack immigration do care, multiple people were deported for using the onward ticket website, they are seriously cracking down
Thank you 🙏
Thank you 🙏
Warwick ******
AttractiveSpinach5706 Deported or do you mean refused entry? Major difference.......
Attractive***********
OPWarwick Cook deported, some were held in the detention room for days until the next flight back to where they came from.
Greg ***********
AttractiveSpinach5706 the "fake" ticket is a wholly different topic. Immigrations considers "onwardtickets" as comitting fraud and will deny entry. All the while most Airlines will accept it as proof of onward travel
Matt **********
AttractiveSpinach5706 Onwardticket and the like have been the subject of crackdowns all over the place for the last few years. People have been warned against using it since 2023, if not earlier. And having a ticket from onwardticket is not the same as not having a ticket at all because it's a clear intent to defraud.
Feisty*******
We've been here for 3 weeks initially on a one way ticket.
We booked a $7 bus ticket to Vientiane.
We weren't asked for proof in Melbourne or Thailand.
We booked a $7 bus ticket to Vientiane.
We weren't asked for proof in Melbourne or Thailand.
Gerar ********
Means nothing,
It depends on the airline guidelines and the check-in staff if they ask for it.
Some don’t but most will ask for it.
You were lucky.
It depends on the airline guidelines and the check-in staff if they ask for it.
Some don’t but most will ask for it.
You were lucky.
Brandon ************
You should check with your airline if you want to be sure. Normally they are the ones who will ask if anyone does. Some airlines might only accept a plane ticket, while others might accept land transport, and others won't even ask.
Being refundable is irrelevant.
Being refundable is irrelevant.
Attractive***********
OP@Brandon ***********
it’s Air Asia coming from Bali
James *******
AttractiveSpinach5706 You want Brandon to call for you???
Attractive***********
OPJames Dewey I am just asking if he has any knowledge about Air Asia quite obviously…
Simon ********
AttractiveSpinach5706 ask them then, can you get to the airport beforehand?
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