In this article 4 sections
Thailand revised its visa exemption and visa-on-arrival schemes on 15 September 2026. Under the current tourist visa exemption described by the Thai Embassy in London, eligible passport holders can stay for up to 30 days and must present proof of onward travel scheduled within 30 days of arrival. Check whether your passport qualifies; another visa or agreement may have different conditions.
The same embassy says eligible visa-on-arrival applicants need fully paid onward travel tickets within 15 days of entry. A temporary flight reservation is not a fully paid or issued ticket. Follow the conditions for your own entry category rather than assuming that any booking reference will be accepted.
Return ticket or onward ticket?
A return ticket takes you toward your country of departure or residence. An onward ticket shows travel from Thailand to another country, which need not be your home country. A Bangkok–Phuket flight is domestic and does not show an exit from Thailand. The Thai Embassy in Wellington describes confirmed air, train, bus or boat tickets for the tourist visa exemption.
Your exit date must meet the rule for the permission you hold on arrival. Do not count on a future extension before it is granted. If you leave and return, the next entry is assessed separately; check any limits on repeated exempt entries for your passport.
Who may check the document?
Your airline may review your passport, visa and exit document before boarding. Thai immigration may ask for the proof at the port of entry. The fact that a traveler was not checked on a previous trip does not waive the stated rule. See our Thailand flight reservation guide for application documents, which can differ from entry documents.
What to prepare
- confirm your nationality’s exemption, visa-on-arrival or visa conditions on an official source
- carry the confirmed or fully paid ticket that your category requires
- match the passenger name, route and departure date to your passport and travel plan
- keep a readable copy available at check-in and on arrival
If your specific visa application accepts a reservation, verify that it remains active when reviewed. Do not present it as a paid ticket or assume it satisfies an entry rule requiring one. You can review temporary reservation options only after checking the relevant document list.
Final check
Prepare the return or onward document required for your actual entry category. For the revised 30-day tourist visa exemption, confirm an exit within the required period; for visa on arrival, follow the fully paid ticket rule. Recheck official conditions shortly before travel.
Create a temporary flight reservation for visa files, airline checks, or proof of onward travel.