An onward ticket is a proof of purchase of a pre-booked train or airline ticket, out of the country that you are about to enter.^[1]

You have an onward ticket, if you have in your possession:

• a round-trip airline ticket
• an airline or train ticket from the country in question to another country
• a one way airline ticket to the country with the onward ticket requirement, yet only as a stop-over

[edit] When required

An onward ticket can be required, based on the countries' entry requirements (which may or may not include the onward ticket). Many (usually poorer) countries insist that you hold a flight ticket out from their country, which must be presented upon arrival at immigration. They set this requirement, so that if travellers run out of money, the country is still certain that the traveller will leave (and not stick around). In the past, it has already come forward that travellers just take a (illegal) job and remain within the country. If you do not have an onward ticket, you may be turned away in these countries with little choice, but to get back on the next plane home.

However, there are also a great number of (usually richer) countries, that do not have this ticket as an entry requirement or are less strict in the application of the law of the countries' customs. To determine which do and do not, guide books, websites of the own Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the relevant embassies and/or other sources may be used.

[edit] See also

• Passport
• Visa (document)
• Immigration law

[edit] Notes and references

1. ^ Onward tickets