Do we need to show onward ticket entering Thailand from a land boarder ?

[genobkk]

Just asking for a friend…..  Do we need to show onward ticket while entering Thailand through a land border?   I know this used to be a requirement when traveling by air , not so much from immigration at the airport but being refused boarding by the airline     I don’t recall this being an issue at land boarders.    Western passport holder not ASEAN if that matters 

thanks in advance 

[DrJack54]

OP, in recent times that has been requested. 

To be clear you are asking about border  bounce. 

Where? Laos or Cambodia. 

  Bounce from where? Location in Thailand. 

Advisable to use agent border run company. 

Best to post name of crossing

[genobkk]

5 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, in recent times that has been requested. 

To be clear you are asking about border  bounce. 

Where? Laos or Cambodia. 

  Bounce from where? Location in Thailand. 

Advisable to use agent border run company. 

Best to post name of crossing

From Cambodia. Poipet.   Not a border bounce  he is living  in Cambodia   .   

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, genobkk said:

From Cambodia. Poipet.   Not a border bounce  he is living  in Cambodia   .

It's not a border bounce so flight ticket should not even be mentioned. 

My first post was typing about border bounce from Thailand to border.. 

Often folk hoping to do that same day.. 

The situation you describe is very different. 

Normally i would advise against Poi Pet however current thread in "visas to other countries".... The OP had no issue in entering Thailand from Cambodia at Poi Pet. 

[Upnotover]

https://aseannow.com/topic/1355585-border-run-report-cambodia-to-thailand-and-back/

[genobkk]

8 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

It's not a border bounce so flight ticket should not even be mentioned. 

My first post was typing about border bounce from Thailand to border.. 

Often folk hoping to do that same day.. 

The situation you describe is very different. 

Normally i would advise against Poi Pet however current thread in "visas to other countries".... The OP had no issue in entering Thailand from Cambodia at Poi Pet. 

but certainly it would be ask from the airline if flying.  The point is making for a flexible trip of a few weeks.  At first he wanted to fly in and use land border going back but I mentioned the airline requirements of showing onward ticket while entering.   Airlines can’t change ticket or anything so the land border seemed. more flexible   

[DrJack54]

16 minutes ago, genobkk said:

At first he wanted to fly in and use land border going back but I mentioned the airline requirements of showing onward ticket while entering.   Airlines can’t change ticket or anything so the land border seemed. more flexible   

If it's for few weeks why not fly both ways. To Thailand and back to Cambodia. 

Why back via land border. 

For folk that are flying one way the airline at departure will/may require onward flight. 

Some folks use rent a ticket. 

Companies such as, "onwardticket.com" 

[genobkk]

17 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

If it's for few weeks why not fly both ways. To Thailand and back to Cambodia. 

Why back via land border. 

For folk that are flying one way the airline at departure will/may require onward flight. 

Some folks use rent a ticket. 

Companies such as, "onwardticket.com" 

It’s about flexibility, being able  stay a few days longer, etc.    for this short journey AirAsia wants 6,000 THB plus round trip before adding any baggage  allowance so it becomes 7,000 to 8,000  Putting it in perspective a trip to Hanoi  or KL cost the same or even less.  Certainly might consider the flight in and border out for flexibility using website mentioned.  Just wanted to make sure  they didn’t ask for onward ticket details at the border incase that was decided 

[cjinchiangrai]

Maybe. The requirements are the same at the border and the airport.

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, genobkk said:

 for this short journey AirAsia wants 6,000 THB plus round trip before adding any baggage  allowance so it becomes 7,000 to 8,000

I didn't get anything like that. 

Anyway he can sort it out. 

Depending where he is located in Cambodia personally wouldn't even consider holiday using land travel. 

[Saigon]

When I went back to Thailand by land via Chong Mek last month

after spending more than 4 months in Vietnam, a female officer

first asked me if I had booked a flight ticket back to my 'home

country' from Thailand yet and I answered no to the question,

adding that I'd go back to Vietnam again by land, and that officer

asked me if I had booked a room to stay in Thailand yet but I

answered no to that question, either and then that officer

told me to book a room and show her the booking confirmation

on the spot!

 

I wouldn't think that kind of thing would happen to everybody,

but maybe you should get ready for that because anything could

happend at some of the Thai land crossings recently. Good luck!

[genobkk]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

I didn't get anything like that. 

Anyway he can sort it out. 

Depending where he is located in Cambodia personally wouldn't even consider holiday using land travel. 

3 or 4 hours from the Poi Pet border  flying would require an hours drive to nearest airport so I see his point 

[genobkk]

15 minutes ago, Saigon said:

When I went back to Thailand by land via Chong Mek last month

after spending more than 4 months in Vietnam, a female officer

first asked me if I had booked a flight ticket back to my 'home

country' from Thailand yet and I answered no to the question,

adding that I'd go back to Vietnam again by land, and that officer

asked me if I had booked a room to stay in Thailand yet but I

answered no to that question, either and then that officer

told me to book a room and show her the booking confirmation

on the spot!

 

I wouldn't think that kind of thing would happen to everybody,

but maybe you should get ready for that because anything could

happend at some of the Thai land crossings recently. Good luck!

This is a big issue when crossing the border by land into Thailand for expats living in neighboring countries..  Poi Pet border certainly has a bad reputation, but generally that was on the Cambodian side   Female immigration officers in Thailand are certainly more aggressive and picky. I whiteness some very bad behavior from a Thai female immigration officer at  DM airport once, then of course I had her next and she gave me all kinds of attitude about not having Moo Ban in the address or something.   It’s a townhouse not in a Moo Ban.  Anyway thanks for the information 

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, genobkk said:

3 or 4 hours from the Poi Pet border  flying would require an hours drive to nearest airport so I see his point 

I don't. So 4 hrs to Poi Pet for a holiday of few weeks. 

Then where to after entering Thailand. 

Nevermind

[Serenity_Now]

I use Thai Railways book a ticket Hat Yai to Pedang Besar approx 347 Baht
The 50 baht train can only be booked 2 hrs in advance
but you can always get a refund on the ticket or ticket change date too,.

Works just the same as flight tickets
For Malaysia i use a Singapore bus ticket average $15/20 Everytime coming from Indonesia to Malaysia the airlines  insist on some sort of onward ticket.

They also cannot check if your airline tickets are real they can only look at the time and date flight number and see if such a flight exists.
Only USA has access to Passenger details from airlines

Though I am uncertain if that is changing with the digitization of entry i.e. ESTA Electronic travel Authorisation.
Indonesia and Malaysia already have this process good thing about Malaysia is AUTOGATE no need to speak with Immigration
Same Indonesia Jakarta autogates.

[genobkk]

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I don't. So 4 hrs to Poi Pet for a holiday of few weeks. 

Then where to after entering Thailand. 

Nevermind

1 hr drive to airport, arriving 2 hrs before international flight,  so 3 hrs, then 1 hr flight 4 hrs.  1 hr in Bangkok to get bags and clear immigration  5 hrs another 1hr into town 6 hrs.  If he takes a bus 7 or 8 hrs. including border crossing time.   Airlines can not change tickets and must pay for bags total cost 8k or more.   VIP bus is cheap and can buy last minute.  Anyway I am not here to argue about it, I just was looking for information about border crossing and if an onward ticket from Thailand is required to enter 

[genobkk]

10 minutes ago, Serenity_Now said:

I use Thai Railways book a ticket Hat Yai to Pedang Besar approx 347 Baht
The 50 baht train can only be booked 2 hrs in advance
but you can always get a refund on the ticket or ticket change date too,.

Works just the same as flight tickets
For Malaysia i use a Singapore bus ticket average $15/20 Everytime coming from Indonesia to Malaysia the airlines  insist on some sort of onward ticket.

They also cannot check if your airline tickets are real they can only look at the time and date flight number and see if such a flight exists.
Only USA has access to Passenger details from airlines

Though I am uncertain if that is changing with the digitization of entry i.e. ESTA Electronic travel Authorisation.
Indonesia and Malaysia already have this process good thing about Malaysia is AUTOGATE no need to speak with Immigration
Same Indonesia Jakarta autogates.

Great. This is a great option with the train.   Thanks for the idea.  Can show the ticket on the train app as well. Brilliant idea.  

[Serenity_Now]

31 minutes ago, genobkk said:

Great. This is a great option with the train.   Thanks for the idea.  Can show the ticket on the train app as well. Brilliant idea.  

They have an app?
I used laptop got a pdf ticket emailed but yes no need to print for train if its on your phone


GOT TO SAY I would not install a Thai app on my phone as it has my banking app.
Thai rail site used to be really bad and hacked to hell 
Its not so bad now though Plus I use prompt payment I dont use my cards on such sites
For that i use malaysia touch n go app 

[genobkk]

38 minutes ago, Serenity_Now said:

They have an app?
I used laptop got a pdf ticket emailed but yes no need to print for train if its on your phone


GOT TO SAY I would not install a Thai app on my phone as it has my banking app.
Thai rail site used to be really bad and hacked to hell 
Its not so bad now though Plus I use prompt payment I dont use my cards on such sites
For that i use malaysia touch n go app 

Yes, they have an app.  It’s great.  I have used it several times to book tickets.  It’s directly from the SRT, not a third party app.  Sorry I don’t recall the name of the app.  My phone is charging 

[Scouse123]

I go regularly to Cambodia, it's not an issue for me as I have a retirement extension.

 

This month, I took my son and his mother, (who were both holidaying here from the UK) to Cambodia for three nights along with my Thai partner through Chong Chom/ O Smash border crossing.

 

Nobody was asked on our return to Thailand through the land border anything relating to flight tickets or onward travel.

[Scouse123]

It takes me 4.5 hours from Kalasin to Chong Chom. It is about 30 minutes crossing the border. Free luggage allowance.

 

Likewise, it then takes 2.5 hours to Siem Reap. Total is 7.5 hours.

 

If I was to fly, it is one hour to ROI Et airport from my home, arriving an hour before, plus luggage fees. 

 

I then fly an hour to Bangkok, then more often than not, a bus to the terminal. Faffing around another 20 minutes.

 

There I collect luggage in about another 20 minutes.

 

Then I must make my way to international departures and clear immigration, ensuring I am two hours at least before the flight. 

 

It never works that way for connections, I am usually waiting 4–5 hours for connecting flight to Siem Reap, flight time to Siem Reap is another 1 hour.

 

Then I clear Cambodian immigration and collect luggage, at least another 35–45 minutes.

 

Then it's another hour in a taxi to Siem Reap. 

 

Total 10 or 11 hours messing about, then the same farce on return flights.

 

And it's more expensive.

 

That's why we drive.

[Nid_Noi]

22 hours ago, genobkk said:

Just asking for a friend…..  Do we need to show onward ticket while entering Thailand through a land border?   I know this used to be a requirement when traveling by air , not so much from immigration at the airport but being refused boarding by the airline     I don’t recall this being an issue at land boarders.    Western passport holder not ASEAN if that matters 

thanks in advance 

Entering Thailand (Ranong) coming from Kawthung (Myanmar) mid-December 2024, I was asked to show an onward ticket even with a visa expiring mid- April 2025. Never been asked before at land, sea port or airport of entry.

Depends on the mood of the IO. Sometimes they are “chatty” and find any excuse for conversation.

[Yagoda]

On my last crossing into Thailand via Poipet/Aranyaphrathet (US Passport, 30 plus years of entries and exits, prior retirement visa in Thailand, present retirement extension in Cambodia) I was not asked.

 

On my 2 or 3 Aranyaphrathet entries last year, I was not asked.

 

In fact in my entire life I have never been asked for an outward ticket by anyone other than Airline staff in the USA, and once on Air Asia when I was operating on Visa exempts. Long term Visas satisfy the airlines.

 

My kid was asked once at DMK Immigration on her first trip in and she looked like a bum. She had an outward ticket though

 

My friend from SA with a Cambodian Tourist Visa  expiring that day was not asked in Aranyaphrathet, but she had at outward ticket back to Cambodia. She had one older Tourist Visa entry and exit.

 

When I was operating Visa exempt and needed a ticket (other than a real return), I would drop $50 on a ticket for something like Hat Yai to KL.

 

[genobkk]

4 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

I go regularly to Cambodia, it's not an issue for me as I have a retirement extension.

 

This month, I took my son and his mother, (who were both holidaying here from the UK) to Cambodia for three nights along with my Thai partner through Chong Chom/ O Smash border crossing.

 

Nobody was asked on our return to Thailand through the land border anything relating to flight tickets or onward travel.

Great.  That border crossing is known to be more relaxed than the mess at Poi Pet  thanks for the report 

[genobkk]

26 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

On my last crossing into Thailand via Poipet/Aranyaphrathet (US Passport, 30 plus years of entries and exits, prior retirement visa in Thailand, present retirement extension in Cambodia) I was not asked.

 

On my 2 or 3 Aranyaphrathet entries last year, I was not asked.

 

In fact in my entire life I have never been asked for an outward ticket by anyone other than Airline staff in the USA, and once on Air Asia when I was operating on Visa exempts. Long term Visas satisfy the airlines.

 

My kid was asked once at DMK Immigration on her first trip in and she looked like a bum. She had an outward ticket though

 

My friend from SA with a Cambodian Tourist Visa  expiring that day was not asked in Aranyaphrathet, but she had at outward ticket back to Cambodia. She had one older Tourist Visa entry and exit.

 

When I was operating Visa exempt and needed a ticket (other than a real return), I would drop $50 on a ticket for something like Hat Yai to KL.

 

Thank you for the report. My friend is in the exact same category as you having a 1 year  retirement visa in Cambodia and  had the same for Thailand    

[Yagoda]

16 minutes ago, genobkk said:

Thank you for the report. My friend is in the exact same category as you having a 1 year  retirement visa in Cambodia and  had the same for Thailand    

Poipet is fine and more convenient to go to BKK

[Burma Bill]

On 3/26/2025 at 2:16 PM, genobkk said:

On 3/26/2025 at 2:11 PM, DrJack54 said:

OP, in recent times that has been requested. 

To be clear you are asking about border  bounce. 

Where? Laos or Cambodia. 

  Bounce from where? Location in Thailand. 

Advisable to use agent border run company. 

Best to post name of crossing

From Cambodia. Poipet.   Not a border bounce  he is living  in Cambodia   .   

 

I live in Siem Reap in Cambodia and I try to avoid the crossing from Poipet as it can be horrendous. Cambodian Immigration is usually easy BUT Thai Immigration in Aranyaphratet is dreadful. I had to queue for almost 4 hours at my last visit.

If travelling by car, I now use two convenient, easy and quick land border crossings in the north of Cambodia:-

 

O Smach, Samraong Municipality, Cambodia to Chong Chom, Surin Province, Thailand.

 

Choam, Anlong Veng District Cambodia to Chong Sa- Ngam, Sisaket Province, Thailand

 

Please note, at both of these crossings you have to complete a Form T6 to enter Thailand and an Arrival/Departure card to enter Cambodia.

 

 

 

 

[Scouse123]

14 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

 

I live in Siem Reap in Cambodia and I try to avoid the crossing from Poipet as it can be horrendous. Cambodian Immigration is usually easy BUT Thai Immigration in Aranyaphratet is dreadful. I had to queue for almost 4 hours at my last visit.

If travelling by car, I now use two convenient, easy and quick land border crossings in the north of Cambodia:-

 

O Smach, Samraong Municipality, Cambodia to Chong Chom, Surin Province, Thailand.

 

Choam, Anlong Veng District Cambodia to Chong Sa- Ngam, Sisaket Province, Thailand

 

Please note, at both of these crossings you have to complete a Form T6 to enter Thailand and an Arrival/Departure card to enter Cambodia.

 

 

 

 

 

I would do ten arrival cards to avoid Poipet, I hate the WAY OFFICIALS OPERATE in the place.

 

I once booked a cab to take me to Siem Reap from Poipet.

 

This smart ass pretending he was helping to try to direct and show me how to obtain a visa, and I duly informed him I had one.

 

He then asked about transport, I foolishly told him I had booked it already.

 

Then a desk with women dressed as nurses pretending to check for fever and charging us a fee.

 

This guy with some kind of tourist assistant badge then went over and whispered in this Cambodian immigration guy's ear and all hell broke loose.

 

  I was told that I must take a bus to a pickup point some twenty minutes away and get a car from ' their  official ' pick up point, where taxis were scandalously high in price.

 

We eventually had to pay a bribe of $20 to use the taxi we had booked.

 

Coming back was no better on the Thai side, it was nearly 2.5 hours in the immigration queue at Aranyaprathet with surly, rude Thai Immigration staff.

 

NEVER AGAIN.

[zzzzz]

On 3/26/2025 at 4:19 PM, DrJack54 said:

I didn't get anything like that. 

Anyway he can sort it out. 

Depending where he is located in Cambodia personally wouldn't even consider holiday using land travel. 

why not?  I love road trips thru SE Asia
living in SR its less than 2 hours to the Osmach thai border  < ( makes no sense if ur in PP )
living in Vientiane , crossing for shopping
living in northern Malaysia , same 

[Yagoda]

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

 

I would do ten arrival cards to avoid Poipet, I hate the WAY OFFICIALS OPERATE in the place.

 

I once booked a cab to take me to Siem Reap from Poipet.

 

This smart ass pretending he was helping to try to direct and show me how to obtain a visa, and I duly informed him I had one.

 

He then asked about transport, I foolishly told him I had booked it already.

 

Then a desk with women dressed as nurses pretending to check for fever and charging us a fee.

 

This guy with some kind of tourist assistant badge then went over and whispered in this Cambodian immigration guy's ear and all hell broke loose.

 

  I was told that I must take a bus to a pickup point some twenty minutes away and get a car from ' their  official ' pick up point, where taxis were scandalously high in price.

 

We eventually had to pay a bribe of $20 to use the taxi we had booked.

 

Coming back was no better on the Thai side, it was nearly 2.5 hours in the immigration queue at Aranyaprathet with surly, rude Thai Immigration staff.

 

NEVER AGAIN.

Sounds like the touts got you LOL

 

They are annoying