Thai visa

[smooler1]

Hi just after some information,if i come to thailand from the uk on a 60 day tourist visa then extend it by 30 days while in thailand do i have to show a return flight ticket and date ? How does this work because if so my original return date would be after the 60 days,do i just change the date when i extend by the extra 30 days ? Thanks....

[urleft]

That is an iffy question.  I have twice traveled to Thailand with no return flight obtaining a tourist visa upon my arrival.  However, I have heard (hearsay) of people being denied travel (usually by an airline) to Thailand because they had no return flight. 

[davureborn]

Good question. You don't need a return ticket, you need proof of further travel after expiration of your permission to stay. I have seen that just a confirmation of booking (not proof of payment) is accepted by the airlines, who are theoretically subject to a fine and paying for your immediate return flight after being refused entry. I'm pretty sure that Thai immigration would be willing to allow you to buy a ticket online to a place like Vientiane or Phnom Pen, maybe a bus ticket would do it if you can manage to find a site in English that would do that for you.
https://m.traveloka.com/en-th/flight/search/origin/single.BKKA.VTE.2016-9-3.null.1.0.0/null/null for instance.

[smoooth2]

Previously, I used to travel to Thailand a lot using 60 day Tourist Visas issued by Thai Consulate in Perth (Oz). The Consulate would not give me a Tourist Visa unless I had a confirmed return flight out of Thailand. I once watched the Consulate girl log onto Thai Airways website with my booking number, to verify my return flight was indeed genuine, confirmed and fully paid.

I used to always wish to stay in Thailand 90 days, therefore my return flight was always booked at the 90 day date after arrival. The Consulate picked up on this one time, saying the Visa was only good for 60 days. I explained that once inside Thailand, it was my intention to apply for the 30 day extension, thereby giving me 90 days.

The Consulate was happy with this explanation, but required a hand written short note explaining this. I did this same scenario many times, and never had any problem getting my Tourist Visas, but for sure, I certainly had to show them proof of how, and when, I intended to exit Thailand within a 90 day period.

Upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi, I've never been asked by Thai immigration for proof of my exit plan from Thailand, but had they asked, I would have told them the same story. Presumeably they would see the logic of this, and let me into Thailand. There must be bucketloads of expats and tourists doing the same thing ie. with a 90 day return flight booked.

I strongly recommend you ask the Consulate in UK, or wherever you get your Tourist Visa, if booking a 90 day return flight is acceptable for them to issue you a Tourist Visa.

Also, when booking your return flight, make sure you can easily and cheaply change the travel date with the Airline if you so desire.

This may be handy if you want to extend your stay in Thailand beyond 90 days, either by upgrading to a Non O visa, or doing a quickie trip to Laos for a 2nd Tourist Visa.





 

[Freddy]

I think Smooth2s suggestion is the simplest. Book a flexi ticket. You pay a bit extra for the return flight but it will allow you to change your return flight at no additional cost. Solves any consulate or border control issues as when you obtain your visa and enter Thailand you will have the return flight all booked within the 60 days. Once you get your 30 day extension you can change the return flight accordingly.

[Sofa_King]

I have come to Thailand a few time on a one way ticket and never had a problem
Just say..... after Thailand you will be crossing the land boarder to Cambodia then Laos and then Vietnam and will book a ticket  to fly home once you are ready to leave Asia.
But i would get a 60 Day Tourist visa before you leave though, which should be quite easy and painless

[smooler1]

Thank you great answers by everyone 

[Starman]

That is an iffy question.  I have twice traveled to Thailand with no return flight obtaining a tourist visa upon my arrival.  However, I have heard (hearsay) of people being denied travel (usually by an airline) to Thailand because they had no return flight. 

Tourist visa on arrival? Really? Very interesting.

[Sofa_King]

That is an iffy question.  I have twice traveled to Thailand with no return flight obtaining a tourist visa upon my arrival.  However, I have heard (hearsay) of people being denied travel (usually by an airline) to Thailand because they had no return flight. 

Tourist visa on arrival? Really? Very interesting.

I'm sure urleft means Visa on Arrival 

http://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/visa-on-arrival.php

BTW,,,it does say on that site ...... 2 They must have a confirmed return ticket to show that they are flying out of Thailand within 30 or 15 days of entry, as appropriate. Open tickets do not qualify. Travelling overland out of Thailand by train, bus, etc to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia (including en route to Singapore), Myanmar, etc is not accepted as proof of exiting Thailand.


I have never being asked to show this but I;m sure some have,,,,I must have a honest face

[Starman]

Being an American, it would be a visa exempt entry that got.

[Sofa_King]

Being an American, it would be a visa exempt entry that got.

visa exempt entry stamps have similar rules to Visa on Arrival

http://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/changes-visa-exempt.php

[Freddy]

A flexi ticket isn't the same  an open ticket. At time of purchasing you book the outward and return dates. You pay Xtra at time of booking so you then have the option to change dates with no penalty. Upon arrival at the Thailand border you would be able to evidence a booked and confirmed return flight. After extending stay simply change the return date.

[urleft]

A flexi ticket isn't the same  an open ticket. At time of purchasing you book the outward and return dates. You pay Xtra at time of booking so you then have the option to change dates with no penalty. Upon arrival at the Thailand border you would be able to evidence a booked and confirmed return flight. After extending stay simply change the return date.

Or you can buy a full fare refundable ticket and cancel it once you are past Thailand immigration. 

[Freddy]

on one trip out here I decided to stay for a few extra days. I just had an economy ticket and was pleasantly surprised when Thai Airways only charged £70 to change my return flight date. Admittedly about 5 years ago.

[Sofa_King]

My Advice for smooler1 FWIW 

The difference between a single and a return ticket from the UK isn't that great
You plan to come to Thailand and get a Job teaching English with only a TEFL certificate when you have already been told that a bachelor degree of some sort will be needed to find a teaching job.
You may hate it here after a few months ,the heat may be to great for you and finding a jobs could be difficult.
At least  with a return ticket you will have a flight to go home on and with no possible hassle from the Thai Immigration when entering Thailand as you have an onward ticket . If you do find employment and everything works out then the minimal extra cost you would have paid for a return ticket wont be a great loss.

I hope it all works out for you smooler1 what ever you decide