At some point, every person who travels a lot experiences a situation of being required proof of onward travel. Proof of onward travel is necessary to enter a number of countries and is sometimes part of visa application.
If the concept of onward travel is new to you, read on. In this guide, we’re providing the onward travel meaning, explaining why you might need it, and giving advice on how you can get proof of onward travel, so let’s dive in.
Onward travel meaning and example
Onward travel refers to a passenger’s continued journey beyond the current destination, whether back to the origin country or another one. Onward travel is closely connected with the concept of an onward ticket that validates a passenger’s intention to leave a country.
For example, if you have a ticket from Buenos Aires to Singapore and another one from Singapore to London, your journey to London is regarded as onward travel when you land in Singapore.
Can you buy a one-way ticket to another country?
Not always. There are many countries that require proof of onward/return travel to permit you entry or as part of visa application.
What is proof of onward travel?
Proof of onward travel is a travel document, usually a plane ticket, which proves your intention to leave the destination country at a specified date.
What is proof of return travel?
While the concepts of proof of onward travel and proof of return travel overlap, there’s a slight difference between them. The proof of return travel, as its name suggests, is a ticket back to your home country. While proof of return travel can serve as proof of onward travel, the latter is useless when proof of return is required. When you need to get a visa for some countries (e.g., China), you must provide proof of return to your home country, not for onward travel.
Do you need a return flight to enter Europe?
To be more accurate, you need proof of onward travel, not necessarily a ticket back to your home country.
What is proof of onward travel used for?
There are four major scenarios when travelers are required to provide proof of onward travel. The good news is that, in most cases, you don’t need to buy a ticket — a formal reservation is usually enough.
1. Visa applications
Certain countries require proof of onward travel as part of visa application, usually for short-term visas, such as tourist visas or business visas. This helps them ensure that travelers have plans to leave the country before their visa expires and don’t intend to overstay illegally. Luckily, you can easily get an onward ticket for your visa application without paying.
2. Entering a country
Having proof of onward travel is required to enter many countries, including Brazil, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Colombia, India, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Peru, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, United States, United Kingdom, and others. Onward travel rules enable these countries to ensure that visitors won’t exceed the permitted duration of stay, thus preventing illegal immigration.
3. Airline check-in
Passengers traveling to certain countries are asked to provide proof of onward travel at the check-in desk. If the airline lets you on the flight with a one-way ticket, but you’re denied entry by immigration officials, the airline will have to cover the costs of flying you back. That’s why they’re usually strict about proof of onward travel and can refuse to board you if you don’t have it.
4. Travel insurance and accommodation
Lastly, some travel insurance policies require proof of onward travel to ensure coverage. The same concerns accommodation providers, which may require proof of onward travel to guarantee that you don’t intend to overstay and break immigration rules.
How to provide proof of travel?
So now that you know onward travel rules, let’s explore how to provide proof of travel (with free methods included!).
1. Obtain a dummy ticket from a reliable provider
Cost: ★☆☆☆☆
Difficulty:☆☆☆☆☆
You can buy a dummy ticket to use as proof of onward travel. It’s the most affordable and easiest way to get proof of onward travel — you pay a nominal fee instead of spending hours looking for freehold or cancellation options, saving time and stress.
Fastonwardtickets.com is one of the best ways to buy a dummy ticket quickly and securely. You need to complete a simple form providing details such as your departure city, arrival city, travel date, and personal information, wait for the system to generate your ticket, and make the payment. In less than a minute, your dummy ticket with a valid PNR/booking code will be ready!
2. Get a regular plane ticket
Cost: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
Purchasing a plane ticket is the most obvious way to get proof of onward travel. However, you’ll waste the money if you don’t know when exactly you’re going to leave the destination country.
3. Consider a refundable ticket
Cost: ★ ★ ☆☆☆
Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
You can use a refundable ticket to show as proof of onward travel, and once you receive your visa or are permitted entry, you can cancel it for a refund. If you forget to cancel your ticket, you won’t get a refund, and this method will immediately turn from free to the most expensive one.
Also, make sure you carefully read all the terms and conditions: some airlines charge cancellation fees, while others refund tickets using flight vouchers, not cash.
4. Buy a budget airline ticket
Cost: ★★★☆☆
Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
This is practically the same as buying a regular ticket, but here you buy a ticket somewhere you aren’t actually going — your goal is to save money. So, it’s as straightforward as it sounds: browse for the cheapest one-way ticket to a next-door country, pay $50-100 for it, show it at the consulate, check-in desk, or customs, and forget it.
5. Purchase a flexible date ticket
Cost: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
You can also go for a flexible date ticket, i.e., one that allows you to change the flight dates and use it when you decide to leave your destination country. The downside of flexible date tickets is that they’re way more expensive than regular ones.
6. Leverage a free ticket cancellation service
Cost: ★☆☆☆☆
Difficulty: ★★★★☆
One of the common ways to get proof of onward travel is by using booking platforms or airlines that offer free cancellation. However, the free cancellation is typically valid only within 24 hours, so you need to book a flight close to the time you arrive at the airport.
Also, don’t forget to cancel your reservation once you arrive at your destination country or get your visa. If you need proof of onward travel for visa application, this method is suitable only when you’re traveling to a country that offers a visa on arrival. In addition, not all airlines offer the free cancellation option.
7. Make use of a hold service
Cost: ☆☆☆☆☆
Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
A hold service refers to airlines allowing passengers to book a flight without paying upfront. When booking your flight, you are given a certain amount of time to make the payment. Even unpaid, this reservation can be used as proof of onward travel.
Unlike with the free cancellation method, you don’t have to monitor the hold duration — if not paid within the specified period, the booking is canceled automatically. Still, you can have a limited amount of time, so make sure you make a reservation no later than 2 days before the arrival at your destination country.
Conclusion
There’s nothing more disappointing than being denied entry or visa due to not providing proof of onward travel. Costly refundable and flexible tickets aside, your peace of mind can cost you a bit extra effort browsing free cancellations and holds.
Or you can choose a win-win option — buying valid proof of onward travel from fastonwardtickets.com takes just a couple of dollars and a few minutes of your time.