Going from Cambodia to Europe via Thailand and back. Do I need proof of onward travel for the return flight?

Question

I have made Sihanoukville, Cambodia, my travel-around-Asia operations-base for some time now. Now I need to travel to Europe and back... To save some cash on tickets, I will be going to the Thai border by bus, get a visa and fly with Finnair, then return back to Bangkok, catching a bus back to Sihanoukville.

It suddenly hit me that when returning I will be landing in Bangkok and it's my final destination. And I might be asked by Finnair when boarding for proof of onward travel even if I started my journey with them in Thailand. And usually bus tickets do not 'cut it'.

I have Lithuanian passport.

Do I need to get proof of onward travel for my return flight to Thailand, even though I am using the same company (Finnair) to do the round trip to my original destination?

Answer 1

The fact that you're using Finnair both ways doesn't matter. What flights you flew before don't concern them. What does concern them is that they run the risk of being fined and having to carry you back to the EU if your visa is denied. While Thai Immigration is a bit lax about such things, they're not entirely brain-dead. And Thai Immigration officers are some of the least nice people you can meet in Thailand.

Considering the cost of the VoA (60$, times 2, since you'll enter Thailand twice), you might want to look into going to Phnom Penh and buy a cheap AirAsia flight to DMK (~150$ but you'd need a VoA, so around 210$), or slightly pricier flight with Bangkok Airways to BKK (~220$). That would make your life much easier. Just transfer in BKK with PG, no visa, no hassle, and similar costs.

Answer 2

Do you need POOT?

The answer is you might. When you dont have a visa already prior to boarding, (VoA and VE) entry, then you are at higher risk of not being able to enter the country. And the airline is technically burdened with having to return you and/or get fined. This is why some airlines check sometimes.

In practice, it is rare to get denied entry on VE or VoA. If you have entered 6+ times with VE within 1 year period, Thai immigration computer might shoot up an alert. They may wonder if you are working illegally.

The solution is fairly simple: _{FlyOnward.com a very cheap insurance policy so to speak for your return leg.}

Or buy the cheapest ticket to neighbor country via other means. edit: pay more for a changeable ticket or add travel insurance to give you option to reuse ticket or cancel and get money back or credit towards new ticket :)

Or get a visa ahead of going.

Or just go for it. But from memory 7 years ago, they did ask for it at the gate desk when flying from USA to Thailand on Delta I think. After seeing a non-immigrant visa and thinking for a few min, no problem.

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POOT = Proof of Onward Travel
VOA = Visa on Arrival
VE = Visa Exempt [entry]

Answer 3

Do I need to get proof of onward travel for return flight to Thailand even though I am using same flight company (Finnair) to do the round trip to my original destination?

So long as you get a multi-entry visa for Thailand (that allows you to enter via air as well as land - not all visas everywhere allow you to swap methods of entry) when you cross the border via bus, or can show that you are eligible for a visa at the border, you can show that to Finnair and that will suffice that you have permission to enter Thailand and thus do not have to show onward travel.

Airlines simply have to satisfy themselves that they will be conveying someone that can either enter the destination country (in this case Thailand) or can show onward travel that does not require entry into the destination country (eg visa-free transit).

In your case you say you will be getting a visa on entry into Thailand - so long as this covers a second entry via air or that you are a visa-at-the-border nationality, you will satisfy the airlines requirements for eligibility for entry into Thailand.