Thailand forum

I would like to point out that if you purchase a Thai Tourist Visa beforehand (I know here in Canada it costs $35) then you don't need proof of an outgoing flight. Much cheaper alternative, plus you have 60 days allowed in the country as well, which is perfect for people who plan on visiting Laos or Cambodia but might want that fifth week in Thailand.

Etihad LHR took same attitude with me and so I had to book a 70€ trip to Phnom Penh. The check in desk informed me I would have been ok with a 3 month rtn but I think they were busking. Just made me get out of Thailand even quicker (not that fond of it)! Was impressed by the speed and efficiency of PP Visa desk @ Airport - although I had forgot a photo ( 2 dollar fine) whole 'plane load processed pdq.

Bdtjones ... visas are free until March of 2011, so it IS a much cheaper alternative.

A friend of mine got soaked in Toronto. They made him pay $35. Visa scams in Canada! Who would have thought?

like the others have said, it isn't Thai immigration that worries about this - it's the airlines. this happened once to my wife while flying United to Bangkok. the gate agent at Dulles Airport in DC didn't want to let her board, but eventually did. the gate agent at her connecting flight through LAX could have cared less about the more than 30 days thing.

even if there wasn't a free Thai visa, purchasing a 60-day Thai tourist visa is still a simple and relatively inexpensive way to avoid worry about what the airline may or may not do the day you show up for your flight. plus, it gives you lots of extra flexibility for an extended trip.

and is it available on arrival (overland) or does it need to be obtained in advance?

sad days for the asian backpackers! i had to buy a last minute flight to PP for 300NZD that i might be to cheap to change.
and of course the customs when i arrived did not bat an eyelash at me. i don't think they even looked at me. i bet they have the arrangement with the airline to insist on a return flight so the customs guys don't have to worry about it.


talapia, when i get home lets find this Canadian visa scammer and chuck apple crawlers at him.

i agree that 99 out of 100 or even 999 out of 1,000 times thai immigration will not refuse entry to someone who does not have the required onward ticket. but thai immigration is completely within their rights and regs to do so if they choose and there is nothing you or the airline can do about it if they do.

this isn't a scam. the airline is just protecting itself in case thai immigration does choose to refuse entry, because if they do, the airline is on the hook to fly you back out.

i'm not sure playing the tough guy at the ticket counter is the smartest move either. there is a big difference between polite yet firm and being the ass that gets denied boarding. in other words, it is true that the airline doesn't decide who enters thailand or not, but they do decide who gets on their aircraft or not.

i'm also not sure how complaining would help. you would essentially be complaining to the embassy that the airline is correctly complying with thai law.

perhaps checking with your airline to see how they interpret and enforce this rule before you buy your ticket is a good rule of thumb and get it in writing. if you don't like the answer you get, choose a different airline. otherwise, that 60-day tourist visa solves a lot of problems and concerns. cheers.

Let's make this clear:
NO ONE IS SAYING THAI IMMIGRATION REQUIRE PROOF OF ONWARD TRAVEL.

The airlines do however increasingly enforce the onward ticket rule and yes they can deny you boarding the flight to Thailand. If you have a Thai visa already then no problem. If you don't have a visa that means you intend to enter on a 30-day visa exemption, in which case technically they require you to have a flight out of Thailand within that timeframe.

However, they may well let it slide if your ticket out is say 90 days on and you use the "will travel overland" explanation. And of course there are instances where they just let it slide altogether because they can't be bothered. The main message here should be:

You risk being denied boarding of the flight to Thailand if you don't have a visa or an onward flight ticket. Taking that risk is your choice. On arrival to Thailand, however, currently there is no similar requirement.

Plenty of folks still report "I've been to Thailand X times and never been checked". Congratulations, but the risk of being checked remains.

Sorry about the all-caps and bold but it's been explained over and over again.

I keep a good summary of the visa and ticket situation here:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1969547

I agree with sayadian.

And when you think of it: why would an airline be stricter than Thai immigration?

Airline regulation states

"You will not be permitted to board your flight without proof that the government at your destination will allow you to leave the airport. Thus, every US citizen leaving or returning to the US must present a valid passport and a travel, student or work visa, if required. Some nations, such as Brazil, require any visitor to obtain a tourist visa before entering the country. Check the US Bureau of Consular Affairs or the embassy of your intended destination for visa requirements."

The above may differ from country to country but in most countries airlines can be held accountable and could be shued if they let you onboard against these rules.

Experience may be different but that takes nothing away from the above.

I wonder how much of that the police passed on.
Yes,it's nice to see nothing has changed in Cambodia.

In S.E.Asian countries if you smile and are polite and give due deference to authority the world is a sweet place and I would imagine that the Thais would never try to make things awkward for you.I expect that if you went along demanding your rights an immigration official would soon produce this requirement out of the rule book and you wouldn't have a leg to stand on.The airlines probably know the Thais aren't going to hassle you but they've probably had the occasional bad experience with a belligerent farang who has drunk too much and has got him/herself turned away.I expect they're just covering themselves.

Yes stef1. You should be fine. Print out your onward flight to show your airline at the airport in your own country when you check in. Your airline will probably require you to show it. It's highly unlikely anyone else will ask to see it.


I've been asked to show onward proof of travel/visa every single time I've flown to Thailand from Paris for the last 5 years. Doesn't seem to matter which Middle Eastern airline I use, they all seem to want to see proof of onward travel nowadays....don't think it's just an Etihad problem oscarcat.

Once you're in SE Asia it's different. I've never been asked to show onward proof of travel when I'm flying to Thailand from another country within the SE Asia region. Didn't get asked when I flew from Sri Lanka on Air Asia either.

Great thank's to captian bob who has explained how it is . you can mail your airline company explaining that you will be travelling overland/sea and would like a cover note
(before you buy the ticket) or as mentioned by an air asia flight then change the flight for a thai internal flight

This happened to my mother, and interestingly enough the airline people in Boston - not understanding that laws and rules in Thailand are flexible - decided she needed an early return ticket. So they printed her a fake one! Of course, she didn't need it.