Requirement to show onwards travel.

In the last month there has been reports that certain immigration checkpoints have made it a requirement that anyone wishing to enter Thailand under the visa exemption must show travel documents proving onward travel from Thailand within 30 days.

Immigration at these checkpoints have placed signs, and notes in passports advising -

THE ALIENS ENTERING KINGDOM WITH NO VISA MUST PRESENT TICKET OR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PAID ALREADY OR CONFIRMED TO EXIT THE KINGDOM AND MUST NOT EXCEED 30 DAYS UPON THE DATE OF ENTRANCE TO THE KINGDOM

So far this only seems to be a requirement at checkpoints on the Cambodian border, with travellers reporting no such signs or notes at other popular checkpoints such as Mae Sai and Ranong.

However, there are signs that this could become policy throughout all checkpoints.  The Thai embassy in the UK has the following conditions with regards to tourist visa exemptions listed on it's website -

• Their purpose of visit is only for tourism
• They have the nationality of the countries issuing their passports or travel documents in lieu of passports which must be authentic and valid (this excludes all certificates of identity)
• They arrive in and depart Thailand by any means of transport (air, land or sea) through immigration checkpoints, any confirmed tickets to leave Thailand within 30 days from the arrival date at the port of entry in Thailand must be obtained.
• Confirmed tickets to leave Thailand within 30 days from the arrival date at the port of entry in Thailand must be obtained.

In addition to that the Delta Airlines website has recently been updated, and states clearly that " Return/onward ticket is required" when entering Thailand for touristic purposes (using the visa exemption ).

Recently a well known tour company that provides a "visa run" tour has announced on their website that their customers will have to show an air ticket outbound from Thailand when attending their visa run to Ban Laem (Thai/Cambodian border).

This regulation, which only seems to be enforced at Thai/Cambodian checkpoints , only affects those entering Thailand using the Visa Exemption , and not to those who already have tourist visas or Non Immigrant visas .

Our best advice for anyone wishing to stay in Thailand for longer than 30 days is to get the appropriate visa before travelling.

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