Return flight or one way is ok?

[HKexpat]

Am planning to enter as visa exempt for 30 days then apply for O retirement visa.   As am planning to not have any need to return to HK for at least a few years is it ok to just book a one way ticket as if I book less than a year I won’t plan on using the return portion so seems a waste.  Do I have to have a return flight to enter visa exempt?  Thanks. 

[hotandsticky]

The reality is "no".

 

You also have a strong position (if challenged) in that you can obviously shoe 800k in a bank account to support your retirement visa plans.

[daveAustin]

Might be worth booking a cheapo flight to an adjacent country within the 30 days just in case need to show onward flight, then either cancel it once entered or let it go. Apparently you can also ‘rent’ a ticket or summat??

[HKexpat]

Thanks for clarifying 

[Woof999]

Haven't had the need here, but in the Philippines myself and my mate used to come and go many times per year. We always used to book a very cheap ($30 or so) ticket to somewhere we had never been and never wanted to go. The joke between us, while looking through flight listings was "where don't I want to go this time?".

[HKexpat]

Thank you:) .

[Jack Batty]

I’ve entered Thailand tens of times and was never asked to show a return ticket. I always had one, but was never asked. I retired in 2019 and came on a one-way ticket. No problems. My plan, if it came down to showing an onward ticket, was to just get out of line, buy a cheapo Air Asia ticket to Phnom Penh on my phone, and get back in line. 

[Orinoco]

Unlikely for problem for immigration in Thailand 

But could be a problem with the airline.

If refused to enter Thailand the airline is held responsible for you.

Best get a cheep flight to some place.

 

[Orinoco]

9 minutes ago, Jack Batty said:

I’ve entered Thailand tens of times and was never asked to show a return ticket. I always had one, but was never asked. I retired in 2019 and came on a one-way ticket. No problems. My plan, if it came down to showing an onward ticket, was to just get out of line, buy a cheapo Air Asia ticket to Phnom Penh on my phone, and get back in line. 

All well and good idea,

But only good if the internet is working for you.

[Greenwich Boy]

If you arrive visa exempt you should be asked for proof on onward travel at check in. This often does not happen but why risk the stress. As recommended above a cheap flight from anywhere in Thailand to anywhere outside Thailand will do. Alternatively look up onwardtravel for 'rent a ticket' Peace of mind in my book for $12 or so 

[AaronC76]

I was refused a flight when I had a one way ticket to Thailand. I did as others have suggested, booked a cheap flight out of Thailand on my phone and then showed this to the airline.

[DrJack54]

14 minutes ago, Greenwich Boy said:

If you arrive visa exempt you should be asked for proof on onward travel at check in. This often does not happen but why risk the stress. As recommended above a cheap flight from anywhere in Thailand to anywhere outside Thailand will do. Alternatively look up onwardtravel for 'rent a ticket' Peace of mind in my book for $12 or so 

OP, read this post above I quoted twice as it's the correct advice.

 

The airline at departure may/will require an onward flight if flying visa exempt. 

It's never asked for on arrival at passport control. 

[StayinThailand2much]

You might have an issue with the airline, though. I had huge difficulty checking in for a one-way flight from Hong Kong to Bangkok with Thai Airways in 2017, as they insisted that I 'needed a tourist visa or a return flight'. - I finally convinced them that I had plenty of cash in case they had to take me back, but it was really scary, as time was short, and I still had to take the ferry from the mainland to Hong Kong. I barely made it there in time.

Edited February 10, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[cardinalblue]

Why not pay $100 or less for a cheap flight…

 

if you are coming to thailand and be willing to pay for all this added cost Covid nonsense, then you afford another extra cost…

 

don’t let cheap Charlieness cause you an avoidable issue…

[aussiexpat]

Another ridiculous thread with people saying you must buy a throw away ticket to justify what they think is real

 

Traveled to Thailand at least 50 times in last 10 years, never been asked to show onward ticket, just like no-one has been asked to show proof of 20,000 baht funds.

 

Waste your money if you like with a throw away ticket, but no need. Worst case scenario is buy a throw away if they insist, which they obviously don't unless you look like a homeless bum ????

[aussiexpat]

And here I am on a visa exempt with a one way ticket, just extended for another 30 days

 

I used to add a false date to my TM6 to pretend that I was flying out, this time I left it blank. Still arrived ok and got the extension ok with a blank TM6 ????

Edited February 10, 2022 by aussiexpat

[DrJack54]

38 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

And here I am on a visa exempt with a one way ticket, just extended for another 30 days

 

I used to add a false date to my TM6 to pretend that I was flying out, this time I left it blank. Still arrived ok and got the extension ok with a blank TM6 ????

Think you have previously posted this re no onward flight required.

Think you mentioned Thai airways (not sure).

It often depends on the carrier.

Jetstar for just one example along with AirAsia will 100% require onward flight.

I find your posts often poor advice. 

[aussiexpat]

5 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Think you have previously posted this re no onward flight required.

Think you mentioned Thai airways (not sure).

It often depends on the carrier.

Jetstar for just one example along with AirAsia will 100% require onward flight.

I find your posts often poor advice. 

No, I have flown Etihad, Qatar, Singapore, Thai Airways all one way....maybe you look suspect on cheaper airlines like Jetstar why you seem to think it's mandated????

Edited February 10, 2022 by aussiexpat

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, aussiexpat said:

No, I have flown Etihad, Qatar, Singapore, Thai Airways all one way....maybe you look suspect on cheaper airlines like Jetstar why you seem to think it's mandated????

Stop.

I have flown from Thailand to Oz twice every year for last 10 years and during that time have also flown return to Vietnam every month for several years. 

Have dealt into this with airline staff as it's often mentioned on AseanNow.

Please post things that are water tight re flying visa exempt.

I can assure you that it's often a requirement to have onward flight.

 

Time for ignore another random. 

 

Indeed my most recent flight from Melb to Saigon with a tourist visa to Vietnam was held up at check in Melb due to fact that only had 5 days validity.

Airline wanted onward flight even with a visa.

I was able to show onward to Bangkok with 3 day stay in Vietnam. 

Please post fact 

Your info is misleading. 

 

 

[daveAustin]

4 hours ago, aussiexpat said:

Another ridiculous thread with people saying you must buy a throw away ticket to justify what they think is real

 

Traveled to Thailand at least 50 times in last 10 years, never been asked to show onward ticket, just like no-one has been asked to show proof of 20,000 baht funds.

 

Waste your money if you like with a throw away ticket, but no need. Worst case scenario is buy a throw away if they insist, which they obviously don't unless you look like a homeless bum ????

I too have been pulled up on this many moons ago and almost denied boarding. Happened to me once in around two dozen flights without visa, but it happens. That it has not happened to you is immaterial. It IS standard airline policy. Instead of flagging up ‘confused’ emojis and posting poor info at a time when travel is stressful enough, perhaps have a think first. 

[Lite Beer]

Without a Visa you need an onward flight ticket.

[EVENKEEL]

8 hours ago, aussiexpat said:

No, I have flown Etihad, Qatar, Singapore, Thai Airways all one way....maybe you look suspect on cheaper airlines like Jetstar why you seem to think it's mandated????

You have super human powers which makes you immune from having an onward ticket. Myself, I'm a mere mortal and I require an onward ticket when flying visa exempt. The "onward ticket" for 12 bucks works nicely.

[mtls2005]

13 hours ago, cardinalblue said:

Why not pay $100 or less for a cheap flight…

Onward Ticket

 

$12

 

 

[FriendlyFarang]

12 hours ago, aussiexpat said:

Another ridiculous thread with people saying you must buy a throw away ticket to justify what they think is real

 

Traveled to Thailand at least 50 times in last 10 years, never been asked to show onward ticket, just like no-one has been asked to show proof of 20,000 baht funds.

 

Waste your money if you like with a throw away ticket, but no need. Worst case scenario is buy a throw away if they insist, which they obviously don't unless you look like a homeless bum ????

It's an official requirement to have a booked ticket out of Thailand when entering visa exempt. Immigration doesn't enforce it though.

Many people have been asked at check-in to show an outward flight booking, because if they were denied entry due to this the airline would have to pay for the deportation and be fined.

[mrfaroukh]

To get your Thai Pass I think you need the return ticket or just a ticket to outside Thailand. Let us say you buy a ticket  to Thailand and from Thailand to cheapest country in the area

[BangkokReady]

On 2/10/2022 at 1:58 PM, DrJack54 said:

The airline at departure may/will require an onward flight if flying visa exempt. 

It's never asked for on arrival at passport control. 

I travelled to Thailand a couple of years ago and was grilled at check-in about visa for Thailand, onward flight and the visa for the onward destination (that I was never going to go to).  I told them I checked and I could get visa exempt and they were OK with it.

[DrJack54]

7 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

I travelled to Thailand a couple of years ago and was grilled at check-in about visa for Thailand, onward flight and the visa for the onward destination (that I was never going to go to).  I told them I checked and I could get visa exempt and they were OK with it.

What is your point.

At departure you may or may not be required to show onward flight.

Many airlines are very strict about this.

Some it seems are flexible.

I recommend in public forum to have an onward flight at boarding check in departure. 

[EVENKEEL]

8 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

I travelled to Thailand a couple of years ago and was grilled at check-in about visa for Thailand, onward flight and the visa for the onward destination (that I was never going to go to).  I told them I checked and I could get visa exempt and they were OK with it.

Funny how "couple of years" could mean 2 or 20 as we get older.

[LaosLover]

I have been questioned about a one way flight to Thailand from the US in the last five years and without an onward ticket to Laos would not have been allowed to board the flight. Call the airline and they will tell you what their rules are.

[DrJack54]

13 minutes ago, LaosLover said:

. Call the airline and they will tell you what their rules are

I think thats good advice.

 

I'm somewhat biased on this. 

Seems low cost carriers are more strict.

We often fly Bangkok to Japan (AirAsia)

Even with boarding pass for Thai partner they carefully count the days against return flight to allow entry to waiting lounge.

Thai are allowed 15 day visa exempt to Japan.

Without onward flight she simply will not be able to board flight. 

Edited February 12, 2022 by DrJack54