What is an onward ticket?

Why countries ask for proof of onward travel

Visa-free entry almost always comes with a time limit — for example 30 days in the Philippines for most nationalities, 90 days under the US Visa Waiver Program, or 90 days in New Zealand for most visa-waiver travellers. Proof of onward travel shows that you plan to leave within that limit.

Some countries write it into their rules. The Philippines lets visa-free visitors in with a return ticket home or an onward ticket to their next destination (Philippines rules). US law requires Visa Waiver Program visitors to hold a round-trip ticket (8 U.S.C. §1187).

Who checks it

Airlines check before you board. Many use IATA’s Timatic database, which IATA says is used to check over 700 million passengers’ travel documents a year and helps airlines avoid immigration fines.

Immigration officers can ask on arrival how and when you’ll leave. In New Zealand, for example, you must be able to show a paid ticket out at check-in for your flight, and officers can ask again when you land (New Zealand rules).

What counts as proof

Anything that shows you’ll leave the country in time, in your name:

• A return ticket to your home country
• A ticket to another country — a flight, or a bus, train or ferry ticket where you can leave overland or by sea
• A cruise itinerary, if you’re leaving by sea
• A confirmed flight reservation in your name with an airline booking reference (PNR) that can be checked with the airline

Does every country require it?

No. Some countries make it a condition of entry, some may ask for it, and some don’t list it at all — Vietnam’s entry law, for example, doesn’t include it, although carrying proof still helps if an airline or officer asks. Our free checker shows what the official rules say for your passport and destination.