How To Provide Proof Of Onward Travel: 5 Different Ways
It is becoming increasingly normal for countries to ask for proof of onward travel at the airport before entering the country.
But as a backpacker, having flights booked up in advance can be seriously restricting and inconvenient.
This post will cover 5 totally legit ways to provide proof of onward travel, which won’t restrict your freedom or break the bank.
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It is more common than not for airlines to ask you for proof of onward travel, either before boarding or at immigration. The last thing anyone wants is to be caught off guard in the airport and run into problems.
For most of us, having a departing flight booked way in advance just isn’t convenient. But there is always a worry that you will be refused entry if you don’t come prepared.
Luckily, there are plenty of legitimate ways to provide proof of onward travel without actually having to book an expensive return flight.
Whether you prefer to come fully prepared or can handle a bit of blagging, this post will detail 5 different ways to provide proof of onward travel and recommend the best option.
What is proof of onward travel?
Proof of onward travel is proof that you have a ticket out of the country you are visiting. This does not necessarily need to be a return ticket to your home country. Any departing ticket to another destination will do.
Governments and airlines request this to prevent illegal immigration. They want to be sure that you are not visiting on a tourist visa and overstaying your welcome.
As annoying as it is, legally it makes perfect sense. If a country asks for proof of onward travel and you do not have it, they can refuse you entry at boarding or immigration.
For many backpackers and long-term travellers, this is just not convenient.
If you’re like me, you might arrive at a destination and prefer to get a feel for the country before deciding exactly how long you will stay (always within the tourist visa allowance).
One of the best things about travelling is being spontaneous. Perhaps you really like a destination and you want to stay longer? Maybe you make some friends and decide to travel to a different country with them?
Plans can change at the drop of a hat and being flexible is great. Having everything planned and pre-booked can be seriously restricting and limit your freedom as a backpacker.
Which countries require proof of onward travel?
Only a handful of countries explicitly state in their immigration policy that an onward ticket is required.
These include the UK, USA, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Peru, Philippines, Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand.
However, in my experience, nearly every country I have visited in Central/South America and Asia has asked me for proof of onward travel.
Interestingly, I have never been asked at immigration but only before boarding by the airline. As far as I know, the airlines are basically covering their backs if you are later refused entry at immigration.
In the situation that you are refused entry, the airlines have to pay the fine as well as your flight back to your home country.
Even if a country has not explicitly stated that proof of onward travel is necessary, it is more than likely that the airline will ask for it.
How to provide proof of onward travel?
Rent a ticket
In my experience, renting a ticket is the best way to provide proof of onward travel. Also know as a fake onward ticket, this is the way I would recommend.
This way is completely legal, affordable, and 100% reliable. When you rent an airline ticket, you pay a small fee and they book you onto a real flight.
This booking is then valid for up to 48 hours, after which the provider cancels the ticket for you. Unlike other options in this post, this option is stress-free and means that you do not need to remember to cancel the ticket yourself.
There are many websites to rent an airline ticket for 24 hours but not all of them are legit or trustworthy. The company I use and would recommend is onwardticket.com.
You simply input your departure and arrival destination, pay the $16 fee and they book you onto a real flight. You are sent the ticket to your inbox in a matter of minutes.
Unlike other fake ticket providers, Onward Ticket provides you with a Passenger Name Record (PNR) code. This is verifiable by the airline and proves the ticket is legit. You can see how it looks below.
With Onward Ticket, you can breeze through the airport with peace of mind and you do not even have to worry about cancelling it after. Win-win, right?
Book a 24-hour refundable ticket
Booking a ticket you can cancel for free within 24 hours is another great way to provide proof of onward travel.
If you do not mind paying the money upfront, many airlines offer full refunds on flights if you cancel within 24 hours. This option is then basically free after they process the refund.
Although I have never used them, I have heard good things about Expedia and their 24-hour cancellation refund policy.
It is worth looking around and contacting some airlines to see what their policies are. It is usually stated like below. Free cancellation is not so standard with low-cost or budget airlines.
Personally, this is not my preferred option. You could be waiting a while for a refund, leaving you out of pocket. I also have a brain like a sieve and worry about forgetting to cancel.
However, for those who don’t mind paying the money initially, this is great proof of travel which won’t cost you a penny after the refund has been processed.
Buy a cheap bus or train ticket
Another way to provide proof of onward travel is to book a cheap bus or train ticket across the border to the neighboring country.
The journey from one border town to the next can be pretty short, meaning buses and trains can be very cheap. Try and choose a journey from the nearest border town to make it as cheap as possible.
I do not love this option though. Typically most airlines accept bus or train tickets as proof of onward travel however it is not verifiable on the airline database in the airport.
This means that sometimes an overland ticket can be rejected as proof. It is rare but there is always the slight chance that you catch an employee on a bad day and they decide to make your life difficult.
If I am paying for something, then I want to make sure it is reliable and will work 100%. A cheap bus ticket is great proof of onward travel, but it involves a slight risk.
Book a cheap flight with a budget airline
Another way to provide proof of onward travel is to book a flight with a budget airline.
If you’re lucky and manage to grab a cheap flight, then you can travel through the airport with total peace of mind.
Many budget airlines offer very cheap flights. This is most common in the low season, especially in Europe where short-haul flights are common.
However, I still see this as very wasteful and not really necessary when there are other better options. If the flight were very cheap, let’s say under $20, perhaps I would consider it.
I use Skyscanner to find and compare cheap flights, which is an essential app for budget travel. You can check out my full post about the best money-saving apps when travelling here.
Do nothing and hope for the best
Not the smartest option on the list, but it’s an option nonetheless. Doing nothing and hoping for the best can work a treat if you are confident in your ability to talk yourself out of situations.
You might get lucky and they do not even ask you for proof of onward travel. Or maybe they ask if you’ve sorted onward travel but don’t actually ask for proof.
When I boarded my flight to India, they asked me if I had proof of onward travel. I told them I intended to leave by boat to Sri Lanka but I could not book it in advance (which was true). They accepted this and let me on.
This way is down to pure luck on the day and for most people, it is just not worth the risk.
Final thoughts
As I said earlier in this post, the proof of travel I would recommend is renting an airline ticket. This is the most affordable, hassle-free, and reliable option on this list.
It is totally legit so you can walk through the airport with peace of mind.
However, there is nothing more frustrating than coming prepared with a rented onward ticket and they don’t even ask for it at the airport. To me, this feels like a waste of money.
I try to save money wherever I can, so I tend to mix option 1 with option 5.
I usually turn up at the airport without any onward travel sorted. If they do ask, then I tell them that I am struggling to find my flight in my emails and step to the side ‘to look for it’.
I quickly purchase a rented airline ticket from onwardticket.com and they issue it almost straight away. I show this and it works every time.
This is a great way to provide proof of onward travel for those who want to save money and don’t mind a bit of blagging at the airport.
Whatever you do, make sure you do not forge or create a fake onward ticket using Photoshop. This is completely illegal and can easily get you into lots of trouble. The PNR code would not come up on the airline database, thereby proving it is fake.
This post has covered 5 different ways of providing onward travel, so you never have to worry when arriving at a new destination again.
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