Exit ticket required: purchase an Onward Ticket

You enter a country, stand at customs and are asked for an exit ticket. But you don't yet know exactly how long you want to stay or whether you want to extend your visa. Still, customs wants to see your exit ticket... That is a situation you do not want to find yourself in. Fortunately, there are options to avoid this situation, such as using a Onward Ticket.

What is an exit ticket or exit certificate?

Many countries require an exit ticket when you enter a country. They want to check whether you will leave the country within the specified time of your visa. This is often a plane ticket, but it can sometimes also be a bus or train ticket. When you go on holiday to a country for a few weeks and you have a return ticket, you always have your exit ticket with you. But sometimes you travel longer, you don't know exactly when you will continue your journey or you are not yet sure whether you want to extend your visa. Then you travel with a single ticket and therefore do not have an exit ticket.

IMPORTANT: Not every country accepts bus or train tickets as valid exit tickets.

Is an exit ticket mandatory?

Not always. This varies per country and it is therefore useful to find out before you leave. This rule does apply to many countries, for example it almost entirely applies to countries in Asia. Does this mean that customs will always ask for this? No, definitely not. However, there is always a chance that you will be asked for an exit ticket, in which case you are obliged to show it. Don't you do this? Then they may give you time to book it immediately at the airport, but it may also be that they immediately refuse your entry and you have to leave the country again. 

IMPORTANT: In some countries, when extending your visa, you are also required to show an exit certificate for the period that you will be staying in the country for a longer period. You will therefore need an exit ticket upon entry and when extending your visa.

What is an Onward Ticket?

To ensure that you have a valid exit ticket with you if you do not book a return ticket, it is best to purchase an Onward Ticket. An Onward Ticket is a temporarily valid airline ticket, which you can buy online at www.onwardticket.com. You indicate from and where you are flying to, after which an official flight ticket will be booked for you. You can then use this ticket as a valid exit ticket and it has an existing flight number. The Onward Ticket agency will cancel the flight ticket for you within 48 hours.

How long is an Onward Ticket valid?

An Onward Ticket is valid for 48 hours, so 2 full days. You usually buy your ticket a day or a few hours before you leave by plane, bus or train. This way you can be sure that the ticket is valid when you enter the country. So don't buy the ticket much earlier, because it will expire before you arrive at your destination. Or choose to receive the ticket later. You will then receive a link with which you can activate your ticket up to 5 days before the departure date of your ticket.

TIP: Make sure the departure date on your Onward Ticket falls within the number of days you are allowed to stay in the country.

How does an Onward Ticket work?

You go to www.onwardticket.com. Here you click on 'book now' and then start filling in all the details. This is actually the same as when you book a normal ticket. You start by indicating where you are leaving from, what your destination is, when you are leaving and whether you want a one-way or return ticket. Then enter the email address where you want to receive the ticket and the names of the passengers. You then only indicate whether you want to receive the tickets immediately or later and whether you want to pay in euros or USD. After payment you will receive the tickets in your email.

PRICE: The ticket costs €16 or €17 if you want to receive it later.

Is Onward Ticket reliable and legal?

Flight tickets from Onward Ticket are official flight tickets with an existing flight number. Because they book a real plane ticket for you and then cancel it on time, you temporarily have a valid and legal plane ticket. So you will not receive a fake ticket that later turns out to be unreliable. This way you can be sure that you're going to be okay.

TIP: Remember the information on your Onward Ticket carefully for when you are asked about it at Customs. It is important that your ticket and answers match.

Other ways to obtain an exit ticket

Of course, a one-way or return ticket, which you will actually use, is the easiest way to obtain an exit ticket. But if this is not the case, you can also choose other options in addition to an Onward Ticket.

Book and cancel a ticket yourself

Booking a plane ticket yourself that you can cancel within 24 hours is also an option in order to have a valid exit ticket. You must ensure that there are no high cancellation costs and make sure that you cancel your flight ticket on time, otherwise you will still pay the full amount for a normal flight ticket. Quite a big risk if you ask us.

Don't make a fake ticket

Some choose to make a fake ticket themselves. You can find these on several websites and then download and edit them. However, we do not recommend this, you may be able to enter the country with this. But if this doesn't work, the situation can only get worse if they find out that your plane ticket is fake.

To save yourself the time, effort and risk, it is better to buy an Onward Ticket This way you can be sure that you can enter the country of your destination and enjoy a wonderful trip or holiday.