Arriving on one way ticket albeit immigration officer couldnt have actually known that last night

3 people in front of me all heavily grilled (they were Indian no disrespect) phones out showing details of hotel bookings etc

Get to front and he says how long you stay for after looking at various Evisas and Visa exempt entries. Now I always buy one of these onward tickets out of Thailand (whether fake or not) from various sites and knew it was on phone so I said 30 days and I'm leaving

Moment of truth please show me your ticket lol

Somewhat cool I hand over phone and I screenshotted the ticket.....looked at it for what seemed an age and passed back phone with a "thank you"

Jetstar was the airline lol

Clearly they wouldnt have facility to check tickets (you would assume)......you have to ask yourself If they could and the ticket  was clearly "fake" what would the reaction of the immigration officer be !  Dont want to be in that position again !

In future I will stick to multi entry visa purchased in advance.....he could have added entry under immigration system (who knows)

Am pretty sure thats the first time from memory since 1st trip in 1989 that I have ever been asked anything at all

Edited in.....he still stamped the 60 days although I could hardly have complained if he stamped up to ticket departure date !

Edited April 25, 20251 yr by KyleReading

I've always been asked to show onward ticket as I fly in on a one-way ticket and also hotel booking, bloody pain when I'm not completely sure when and where my next destination is.

3 hours ago, atst said:

I've always been asked to show onward ticket as I fly in on a one-way ticket and also hotel booking, bloody pain when I'm not completely sure when and where my next destination is.

Yes wasnt asked anything at check in on Etihad (either visa or for an onward ticket)...you have to assume that the check in agent can immediately see its one way as well

Only at immigration. I think in hindsight he had grilled the 3 blokes in front of me and then got promptly presented with a person with huge Evisa, old style consulate Visas, and Visa exempt entries going back decades and decades and thought he'd ask a genuine question which was fair enough

If I hadnt had the onward ticket I think I just might have got "referred" to higher office yesterday

Probably marginally helped that I was dressed nicely

Edited April 25, 20251 yr by KyleReading

Been in and out a few dozen times in the last decade. Been asked for an onwards ticket about twice (so stepped out of the queue and did a throw-away booking) - but this was by the airlines at check-in. Never actually by immigration.

Twice I've told immigration I was here on a tourist visa (exemption) as part of the process to extend/convert to another visa type, and they didn't ask for any proof. 

Saying "I don't have an onward ticket as I'm planning to convert to a long-term visa" seemed to be enough.

10 minutes ago, themelonman said:

Been in and out a few dozen times in the last decade. Been asked for an onwards ticket about twice (so stepped out of the queue and did a throw-away booking) - but this was by the airlines at check-in.

Now I would be more concerned about be asked at check in

They "probably" can in fact "check" that throaway onward ticket from one of these "semi fake" sites (I choose my words carefully lol)

Clearly the initial immigration booths cant

Been asked many times by airlines for the onward ticket, but never immigration.

44 minutes ago, KyleReading said:

.....Visa exempt entries going back decades and decades...

Doesnt your countries passport have an expiry data?

1 minute ago, Kandinski said:

Doesnt your countries passport have an expiry data?

Couse it does same everyone else but immigration officers can see every entry from your very first time of arriving should they choose to

All passports are interlinked the world over

Getting new passport removes absolutely nothing

Terrorists the world over would have a field day if they thought a new passport removed all traces of previous activity

The sites like onward ticket usually do have a legit booking in the system that immigrant can check if they want. That's one of the reasons they usually only allow 48 hrs use so they can resell it to the next person.

Interesting thing is that the airline is supposed to check before departure as if you get denied by immigration because you don't have an onward ticket the airline is responsible for the costs of transporting you back.

2 hours ago, themelonman said:

but this was by the airlines at check-in.

I retired from Delta Airline. I worked as a gate and ticket counter agent on international flights out of Seattle. If we had questions this is the site we and others used. TIMATIC 

 

I worked with agents that would deny you boarding if you didn't have an onward ticket. I worked with some who would board you and that's partly because of what I write below.

 

In the second screenshot that paragraph says "COULD be refused entry" in this case to Thailand. It doesn't say "WOULD be, but COULD be" For myself and some other agents I worked with we'd let people go without onward ticket with the "COULD be" if you follow what I'm saying. Kind of like a fine line! But we never had issues.

 

So yes at check-in it's the airline responsibility to check the requirements!

 

Just had a quick look think its best to book two one way tickets and pay the cancelation fee for the second flight if needed

Your fare: Economy

•  Hand baggage included (7 kg)

   1st checked bag included (30 kg)

   Cancellation fee: AU$66

   Change fee: AU$26

On 25/04/2025 at 08:26, Smeghead76 said:

The sites like onward ticket usually do have a legit booking in the system that immigrant can check if they want. That's one of the reasons they usually only allow 48 hrs use so they can resell it to the next person.

Interesting thing is that the airline is supposed to check before departure as if you get denied by immigration because you don't have an onward ticket the airline is responsible for the costs of transporting you back.

Indeed am startled that Etihad didnt check either for Evisa or any onward ticket

I agree that its clear that these sites can generate a "reservation" complete with Eticket number etc which drops off the system at the 48 hour mark if not paid for etc

Edited April 27, 20251 yr by KyleReading

I flew back in from Malaysia last weekend into Don Muang and almost everyone was getting asked for onward tickets at immigration counters as they speak to you over a microphone and you can hear all the conversations from the surrounding booths. I had one of those onward tickets and was nervous about showing it as it clearly says not a fully paid reservation. I think being a white skinned middle aged guy might get you some leeway in not being asked for the onward ticket as I was not required to show it. Certainly every passenger from the sub-continent was getting asked for proof. Interestingly I was not asked by the airline in Malaysia which is the first time in a long while.

Bloody hell mate, drama queen much?? The IO just did his job and asked for an onward ticket! It probably took you longer to write it out here than the actual event took.
 

 

No drama, just an informative post. 
 

I will be coming to Thailand in a few weeks and might use a one way from London as I’m not sure of my itinerary. In that context this is useful information. 

2 minutes ago, Snowbird99 said:

No drama, just an informative post. 
 

I will be coming to Thailand in a few weeks and might use a one way from London as I’m not sure of my itinerary. In that context this is useful information. 

You have always needed a return or onward ticket on visa exempt, always. They have always asked people on entry for it too. 

Edited April 27, 20251 yr by Gonetothedogs

On 25/04/2025 at 21:23, atst said:

Just had a quick look think its best to book two one way tickets and pay the cancelation fee for the second flight if needed

Your fare: Economy

•  Hand baggage included (7 kg)

   1st checked bag included (30 kg)

   Cancellation fee: AU$66

   Change fee: AU$26

This fare was BKK to Phnom Penh thought it might be the cheapest fare but should have no baggage maybe save more 

Been in and out 50 times. Never been bc asked.  Mid you I’ve always had an onward ticket.   Maybe they do know. 

18 hours ago, keepitfun said:

Been in and out 50 times. Never been bc asked.  Mid you I’ve always had an onward ticket.   Maybe they do know. 

No immigration doesnt know. Its become apparent though this year that immigration have been instructed to be a little more "enquirying" on visa exempt entries

All forums and FB groups are reporting the same

20 hours ago, KyleReading said:

 

speaking of “spurious” quite why you think an IO asking you for an onward ticket, and delaying your entry into Thailand for 15 seconds is worthy of a dedicated thread and all this drama is beyond me. 

The guy just did his job and you are acting like you were placed in a jail cell for interrogation 

 

 

get a grip, seriously 

 

Ok guys, this can be discussed in a mature and informative manner for the benefit of all travellers.

@KyleReading, knock off the personal insults please, final warning.

On 27/04/2025 at 21:54, Gonetothedogs said:

You have always needed a return or onward ticket on visa exempt, always. They have always asked people on entry for it too. 

Never ever been asked.  I am hansum man. 

54 minutes ago, Arnie85 said:

Never ever been asked.  I am hansum man. 

Been asked a few times, they have the right to ask and it’s not exactly the end of the word.

You are supposed to have one so it’s fair enough. It’s literally the IOs job to check these things. 

Edited April 29, 20251 yr by Gonetothedogs

Lots of semantics.   Indeed the letter of the law is you should have proof of onward travel, be it by air or by land/ sea. 
Let's not confuse "ease of entry" i.e. how often an IO actually does check your hotel address or that proof of travel, how many questions the IO will ask ...  with what they CAN indeed check up to the full extent of their powers.  An IO's job is to check/ decide if you can come in the country and to estimate the chances you will NOT stay beyond your allotted time.
If you don't have the proof, it's up to the IO to decide if they let you in or not, based on multiple factors, many of which can be subjective.  How you dress, how you talk, the answers you provide, what other destinations you have been before/ how frequently you travel...
Now, IOs are humans and it's quite possible some travellers get grilled (much) less, some more. 

PS: even if you have proof of onward travel in 25 days, you will still be stamped the full stay allowance...