Coming in visa exempt.. whats need right now (Jan 2 2024)

[TimmerSK]

What are IO asking for this time around? Passport, boarding pass and address?

 

Thanks.

[DrJack54]

Pretty much what you stated.

Some recommend that you have 20k baht or equivalent currency.

Rarely asked for. 

The airline at departure may require onward flight.

 

[TimmerSK]

Thank you DrJack. The forever changing requirements or procedures coming in can leave a guy wondering.

[DrJack54]

There is talk of "electronic travel authorization" ETA however anyone's guess when that will be introduced.

 

If you require onward flight for airline you could consider companies such as "onward ticket.com" $16 usd 

And yes present your boarding pass with passport at immigration.

Arrival card TM6 no longer required. 

[black tabby12345]

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Pretty much what you stated.

Some recommend that you have 20k baht or equivalent currency.

Rarely asked for. 

The airline at departure may require onward flight.

 

 

Question of 20K is more likely in case of land border(e.g. Mae Sai) than airport.

Airlines commonly question the passengers  for not having onward ticket.

As they are liable to bring them back to the port of departure in case they are denied entry at  their port of arrival(even though Thai immigration rarely ask for outbound pax).

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, black tabby12345 said:

Airlines commonly question the passengers  for not having onward ticket.

Yes.

I have pointed out previously that folk can try to obtain boarding pass without onward flight and if not accepted by airline, you can step away and either book flight via website I posted or cheapest throw away flight ticket.

Airlines are (can be) fined. That is their concern. 

[Chivas]

25 minutes ago, black tabby12345 said:

 

 

Airlines commonly question the passengers  for not having onward ticket.

 

 

I wouldnt quite agree that its "common" via ground handling

Even the last 3 one way tickets inbound (and intending to enter visa exempt) produced no questions over any onward travel

 

(One queried no visa but not onward ticketing)

 

Overall into 33rd year never been asked over cash ticketing hotels or absolutely anything arriving in Bangkok immigration

 

Others may find the opposite obviously nothing set in stone

[black tabby12345]

Just now, Chivas said:

 

I wouldnt quite agree that its "common" via ground handling

Even the last 3 one way tickets inbound (and intending to enter visa exempt) produced no questions over any onward travel

 

(One queried no visa but not onward ticketing)

 

Overall into 33rd year never been asked over cash ticketing hotels or absolutely anything arriving in Bangkok immigration

 

Others may find the opposite obviously nothing set in stone

 

Outbound ticket thing may be different from place to place.

But in my case, c/in(airport outside Thailand)staff often asked me for not having departure ticket(from Thailand) .

So I needed to explain that I have retirement visa and re-entry permit. Then they understood.

 

Regarding sufficient cash in the pocket, it once happened to me more than 15 years ago in Mae Sai(while I was a visa-runner before I get my current non-immigrant O retirement). The immigration officer asked me to show THB 10000-.

 

[Chivas]

2 minutes ago, black tabby12345 said:

 

Outbound ticket thing may be different from place to place.

But in my case, c/in(airport outside Thailand)staff often asked me for not having departure ticket(from Thailand) .

So I needed to explain that I have retirement visa and re-entry permit. Then they understood.

 

Regarding sufficient cash in the pocket, it once happened to me more than 15 years ago in Mae Sai(while I was a visa-runner before I get my current non-immigrant O retirement). The immigration officer asked me to show THB 10000-.

 

 

As I said others may have different experiences at both check in and immigration

[Katatonica]

Phuket: 2nd Visa Exempt entry in 2024 immigration said if I hadn't an onward flight I would have been sent back. Had 3 entries on TV before that. Said as long as I was on a short trip was ok if I had return flight without visa.

 

3rd one was fine, no problem, didn't need to see flight back or anything.

 

4th one big problem, had flight 7 days later, plus marriage certificate, told I would be sent back if no visa next time.

[Phillip9]

28 minutes ago, Katatonica said:

4th one big problem, had flight 7 days later, plus marriage certificate, told I would be sent back if no visa next time.

Really bad idea to show a marriage certificate or even mention you are married on visa exempt entries.  Better to tell them you come to Thailand for the beaches or food or some tourist activity.

[DrJack54]

6 hours ago, black tabby12345 said:

So I needed to explain that I have retirement visa and re-entry permit. Then they understood.

There is no need to explain.

When obtaining boarding pass at departure point as you hand over pp you show page with reentry permit.

 

[black tabby12345]

17 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

There is no need to explain.

When obtaining boarding pass at departure point as you hand over pp you show page with reentry permit.

 

 

It solely depends on where you check in for flight to Thailand.

As far as I experienced, I often needed to do so(especially when the airline ground staff was less experienced and lacking Thai visa knowledge). 

While I didn't have to when they know well about it.

 

Looks like No Set Standard regarding the need for Outbound ticket.

No wonder what I met isn't  always the same as what you met.

So not much point to argue it.

End of the story.

 

[DrJack54]

On 1/3/2025 at 8:39 PM, black tabby12345 said:

Looks like No Set Standard regarding the need for Outbound ticket.

Of course there is no standard.

Many folk report zillion trips to Thailand without airline checking for onward flight.

Seems to me low cost airlines are more strict.

Also from nearby countries.

My MANY trips to Vietnam using AirAsia.

Also my trips using  Jetstar. Want onward flight or visa or reentry permit.

 

Hence my suggestion to have reentry page pointed out to airline check in desk.

They are looking for visa or reentry permit. Not both.

 

It's not specific to Thailand.

Taking Thai gf to Japan the airline will check flight out of Japan within 15 days.

Also checked at boarding gate. 

 

[sometimewoodworker]

12 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Yes.

I have pointed out previously that folk can try to obtain boarding pass without onward flight and if not accepted by airline, you can step away and either book flight via website I posted or cheapest throw away flight ticket.

Airlines are (can be) fined. That is their concern. 

Just a point of clarification. Airlines are fined they are also required to fly you out of Thailand even if you are unable to pay for your flight.

 

That immigration almost never checks and refuses entry is true.
 

That immigration does refuse entry occasionally is also true. If you are refused entry you can be held in immigration detention in the airport for days if you can’t get an immediate flight out that is acceptable to immigration is also true.

 

There are some countries where the airlines never check for onward/return tickets. Equally there are some where you will always be asked.

[TimmerSK]

Ya I'm just a tourist. I come once a year and really dont expect questions.. never been questioned once about anything  but i've been watching this board for as long as I can remember.. and know things here can change weekly. The whole ETA earlier this year was going to be a new one on me. When they dropped the TM6 no one told me about the boarding pass. I usually drop it in the trash but happen to have it that time in the bag.. glad I did and glad the wife kept hers and the kids cause a few guys in front of me were givin the gears by the IO and all I want is a smooth entry and dont want to be that unlucky guy. All the trips I have done it was the only time I ever seen anyone have any kind of issue.. even then it I dont think the IO was really all that pissed just frustrated.  A friendly reminder from the air stewards would go a long way for everyone.. even a helpful note on the embassy website would help those who have no clue before they come here.

[DrJack54]

7 minutes ago, TimmerSK said:

When they dropped the TM6 no one told me about the boarding pass. I usually drop it in the trash but happen to have it that time in the bag.

Boarding pass has always been required. Even when there was TM6.

There is a sign at immigration desk area.

Many folk chuck em and the immigration officers just ignore it.

 

[oldcpu]

12 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

Just a point of clarification. Airlines are fined they are also required to fly you out of Thailand even if you are unable to pay for your flight.

 

 

I have often puzzled over this explanation.  I am not saying it wrong - I simply puzzle a bit about it.

 

While I know of (and have on rare occasion encountered myself) case where (when at the airport on my way to Thailand, with me planning on visa exempt) I have been asked for an onward bound ticket (and I had such a ticket) ..  I struggle a bit to see how producing an onward bound ticket protects the airline. 

 

I guess its a 'policy' protection for the airline , but not an actual protection (as the onward ticket , even if a real ticket, may not be usable in practice)?

 

For example, Thai airways in Frankfurt, on occasion (not always) for Frankfurt to Phuket (or Frankfurt to Bangkok) flights are known to  have asked for onward tickets out of Thailand.  Typically if one has such a ticket (ie a REAL ticket) it is for a flight a few weeks or so after one's planned arrival in Thailand it may or may not be usable if there is a problem at Thai immigration. 

 

I don't recall Thai immigration ever ask me for an onward bound ticket, ... but If Thai immigration were to deny me entry (say hypothetical because I had entered Thailand too many times in the past in a recent time frame when trying visa exempt), how is a real ticket in 3 weeks time going to help the airline?  At most it 'might' help me get through immigration to enter Thailand (hypothetically).

 

Hypothetical , if entry is denied now by immigration  - then a ticket 3 weeks later won't help one leave Thailand now.  The flight departure date must be changed.  And often many of us book cheap tickets where a change to the ticket's flight date can not be changed.

 

I assume being required to get an onward bound ticket, is to just give the airline confidence that one has a better chance of entering Thailand (if one has done so multiple times in the past).  I can't see it getting the airline off the hook for having to fly one out of Thailand (other than a possibly get out of a fine to the airline by immigration).  I suspect also, anyone in that situation (denied entry) even if the Airline is on the hook, one will have the Airline chase after them for the unplanned ASAP exit flight costs for flying out of the country.

 

I sometimes think this is just one of those "This is Thailand" sort of things. i.e. something one should know about and be prepared for, but the logic behind such does leave some unanswered questions - where indeed there may be answers - but just not obvious to all of us.

.

 

[Phillip9]

2 hours ago, oldcpu said:

I have often puzzled over this explanation.  I am not saying it wrong - I simply puzzle a bit about it.

 

While I know of (and have on rare occasion encountered myself) case where (when at the airport on my way to Thailand, with me planning on visa exempt) I have been asked for an onward bound ticket (and I had such a ticket) ..  I struggle a bit to see how producing an onward bound ticket protects the airline. 

 

The airline is required to check that you have an onward ticket.  If they fail to do that, they can be fined and responsible for returning you home.  If they check you have an onward ticket and you meet other entry requirements, they cannot be fined or responsible for returning you home even if immigration denies you entry for some random reason.

[oldcpu]

1 minute ago, Phillip9 said:

 

The airline is required to check that you have an onward ticket.  If they fail to do that, they can be fined and responsible for returning you home.  If they check you have an onward ticket and you meet other entry requirements, they cannot be fined or responsible for returning you home even if immigration denies you entry for some random reason.

 

Interesting - yet my experience is the vast majority of airlines don't check for an onward ticket.

 

Yes some do check - but most don't (based on my experience and on my talking to other expats and to friends who have visited Thailand).

 

I guess some airlines just 'gamble' or they don't implement a 'safe' policy with their airline staff.

[Phillip9]

5 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

Interesting - yet my experience is the vast majority of airlines don't check for an onward ticket.

 

Yes some do check - but most don't (based on my experience and on my talking to other expats and to friends who have visited Thailand).

 

I guess some airlines just 'gamble' or they don't implement a 'safe' policy with their airline staff.

 

Most people are traveling on return tickets anyway, so the check in staff likely forgets to notice you are on a one way ticket sometimes.  My experience is that even when flying the same airline from the same departure point, on a one way ticket, the check in staff only checks my onward ticket about 50% of the time.  

[sometimewoodworker]

4 hours ago, oldcpu said:

Interesting - yet my experience is the vast majority of airlines don't check for an onward ticket.

The check for outbound tickets is a Thai immigration requirement for some entries, specifically visa exempt that immigration very seldom asks is well known but it can be used as a reason for refusing entry.

 

If you will be required to show it to the airline checkin staff is highly dependent on where you board. For some countries you will always be asked, for others you will never be asked, for the LCC & VLCC airlines they are more likely to require a ticket