Onward Ticket Requirements by Country 2026
Complete guide to which countries require onward tickets, what format they accept, and how to get them.
📌 Quick Reference:
Most countries that require onward tickets accept real flight reservations. You do NOT need to purchase the flight—just hold a confirmed booking that you can show to immigration.
Southeast Asia (Highest Requirement Rate)
🇹🇭 Thailand
Required: Yes, for visa-on-arrival and tourist visas
What they accept: Real flight reservation with PNR, booking confirmation, or printed airline email. Does not need to be purchased.
How checked: Immigration officers often ask to see the booking at the airport. They may verify it's real by checking the airline reference number.
Cost if booking yourself: $15-$50 for a budget flight reservation
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Required: Yes, for visa-free entry and on-arrival visas
What they accept: Onward or return flight booking. Must have real PNR that's verifiable on airline website.
How checked: Sometimes requested at immigration desk. Less frequently verified than Thailand.
Popular route: Many book Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore for onward proof.
🇵🇭 Philippines
Required: Often requested (not always mandatory but required to be safe)
What they accept: Return flight to home country or onward flight to another destination.
How checked: May be asked at immigration. Having one prevents issues.
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Required: Increasingly required for visa-free entry
What they accept: Real flight booking with confirmation number and itinerary.
How checked: Immigration computers now reference onward travel requirements more frequently.
🇰🇭 Cambodia
Required: Yes, for tourist visa
What they accept: Flight booking confirmation with departure date from Cambodia.
Tip: Siem Reap and Phnom Penh immigration typically ask for this.
🇱🇦 Laos
Required: Yes, at most border crossings
What they accept: Return flight or onward flight confirmation.
How checked: Border agents check more carefully here than in some other Southeast Asian countries.
Latin America (Growing Requirement)
🇧🇷 Brazil
Required: Yes, for most tourists
What they accept: Return flight to home country or onward flight to another destination.
How checked: Brazilian immigration regularly requests this. Plan to have it ready.
Verification: They will check the airline system to verify the booking exists.
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Required: Yes, for tourist entry
What they accept: Onward flight or return flight to home country.
How checked: Border agents ask for this regularly. Having a booking prevents entry denial.
🇵🇪 Peru
Required: Sometimes requested
What they accept: Return flight or onward booking. Less strict than Brazil.
🇲🇽 Mexico
Required: Occasionally requested
What they accept: Return flight booking.
Note: Not required as often as other countries but good to have anyway.
Europe & Middle East
🇪🇸 Spain
Visa applicants: Required before visa approval
What they accept: Two-way airline ticket reservation (NOT purchased)
Official guidance: Spanish embassy strongly recommends NOT purchasing the ticket until visa is approved.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Visa applicants: Required for visitor visa
What they accept: Return flight reservation
How checked: UK Visas and Immigration verifies bookings during application review.
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Required: Yes, for tourist visa
What they accept: Return flight or onward flight.
Africa & Caribbean
🇿🇦 South Africa
Required: Sometimes requested
What they accept: Return flight booking.
🇯🇲 Jamaica
Required: For certain nationalities
What they accept: Return flight.
Countries That DON'T Usually Require Onward Tickets
- 🇺🇸 United States (for eligible nationalities)
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇦🇺 Australia (though strongly recommended)
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇸🇬 Singapore
- 🇭🇰 Hong Kong
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
Key Tips for Different Countries
Print or Have Digital Copies
Always have your flight reservation confirmation accessible. Keep a printed copy and digital copy on your phone.
Know Your PNR
The PNR (booking reference) is usually 6 characters. Memorize it. Immigration may ask you to recite it.
Time Your Booking
Book your onward ticket 2-7 days before arrival. Booking it months in advance looks less natural.
Use Major Airlines
Book with well-known carriers that are easy to verify (Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, etc.)
Check Official Sources
Always verify requirements on the official embassy website for your specific destination before traveling.
What SkyOnward Recommends
If you're traveling to any Southeast Asian country, Brazil, Costa Rica, or applying for European visas, get an onward ticket. It takes 30 minutes, costs $14.99, and prevents entry denial or visa application rejection.
Get a real onward ticket for any destination in minutes.
Book Your Onward Ticket — $14.99