Solutions for obtaining visas and traveling with a one-way ticket

Over the years I’ve been getting a lot of questions about traveling with a one-way ticket.

Here’s the thing: technically, many countries require proof that you’re gonna leave the country at some point (called proof of onward travel), either when you apply for a visa or when you arrive. But let’s be honest, most travelers don’t have a day-by-day itinerary or a return flight planned out.

So, what are your options?

Well, I’ll be sharing some possible solutions to this whole one-way ticket dilemma.  First, though, let’s talk about the reality for most travelers who like to keep things flexible.

My experience over the years

I’ve traveled extensively throughout South America, Central America and Southeast Asia, passing through immigration in at least forty countries, many of which officially require proof of onward travel. Surprisingly, no immigration officer has ever asked me any of that.

While not statistically proven, my personal experience and the accounts of many other travelers suggest that requests for proof of onward travel are rare. One notorious exception is the Panama-Costa Rica border crossing, where immigration officials have reportedly pressured travelers into purchasing bus tickets out of the country. This appears more a scheme for personal gain than a legitimate enforcement of immigration rules.

Airlines, in contrast, tend to be stricter about enforcing entry requirements. They want to avoid the headache of passengers being denied entry, as they’re legally on the hook for making sure everyone has the right documents. While I haven’t personally had major problems on flights, I did once get questioned at check-in for a one-way trip from Rio de Janeiro to Panama City. A brief explanation of my itinerary was enough to clear things up, though.

When applying for visas, some countries may require details about your planned exit point. In such cases, I’ve usually just indicated my intentions without providing an actual reservation. This approach has worked fine for me thus far.

To sum up, the chances of being asked for proof of onward travel at land borders are very slim. While there is a slightly higher risk of scrutiny when traveling by air, even then, it’s uncommon in my experience. In case of any questioning, I’ve found that a clear explanation of my travel plans and proof of sufficient funds usually suffices. However, if you prefer to play it safe, I understand, and I’ll list some solutions below.

Book a ticket with free cancellation

Almost all flights offer free cancellation within 24 hours on Expedia.com.

Undoubtedly, one of the cheapest, if not entirely free, legitimate options is to take advantage of airlines’ free ticket cancellation policies, typically within 24 hours of booking. Many airlines offer this service, allowing travelers to cancel their reservation without any charges, as long as the cancellation is made more than seven days before the flight’s departure.

In the United States, there’s even a law known as the “24-hour rule,” mandated by the Department of Transportation. This rule requires all airlines operating flights to or from the United States to offer a full refund at no cost if the cancellation is made within 24 hours of booking, or at the very least, keep the reservation locked in for free for at least 24 hours until payment is made.

For anyone needing to prove they have a flight out of the country, having a cancellable or pending reservation from an airline is sufficient. Below, I’ve provided a link to the cancellation policies of some airlines that offer this service. It’s worth noting that some airlines, like American Airlines, allow cancellations up to two days before departure (always within 24 hours of booking), so I recommend reviewing their policies carefully before making a booking.

Another solution is to use expedia.com.

While this solution is cost-free, it’s crucial to note that besides having to cover the upfront cost of the ticket, which can often be significant, it only provides a 24-hour window to cancel the reservation. For a ticket refund, check terms and conditions. Be patient, as the process may take days.

Blocking a reservation

“hold booking” with Qatar Airways.

This is an alternative that some companies offer either instead of free cancellation or in addition to it. It allows a ticket to be reserved for a specified period, typically 24 to 72 hours, for a fee. The cost of this service varies by duration and airline. As mentioned earlier, some airlines provide this service free of charge as an alternative to offering 24-hour refund policies for flights to and from the United States. 

This service is often called “hold booking” in English.

I recommend reading terms and conditions carefully, as some companies, such as Swiss Air, automatically charge for the entire ticket once the reservation period has expired. Additionally, in most cases, you still have to pay at least 10€ for the service. It’s crucial to find a company that allows you to block the reservation with departures from the country in question. If you’re willing to pay, I think it’s more practical to use the next solution.

Proof of onward travel service

There are many online services that allow you to basically rent a ticket, but not all companies have good reviews. Among those that seem reliable (according to the reviews) is OnwardTicket

Onward Ticket offers a reservation valid for a minimum of 48 hours for $12. Unlike the others, the service is instant, which means that once you make payment, you immediately receive a printable PDF of a reservation in your name via email.This confirmed reservation has a legitimate PNR and is valid for a minimum of two days, often longer. You can verify the reservation on the airline’s website in case of any checks. Also, for convenience, for an extra dollar, it is possible to buy a ticket that can be “activated” at any time via an emailed link; from the time of activation, the 48-hour rule applies.

In summary, if you’re comfortable spending a reasonable sum to ensure your peace of mind, I firmly believe that using one of these services to rent a ticket is the quickest and most practical way to travel with a one-way ticket. This approach eliminates the hassle of dealing with things like cancellation policies and upfront payments.

Creating a fake ticket

KeyFlight ticket example.

Some online services, like KeyFlight, allow you to create a mock flight reservation. By inputting details like departure and arrival airports, date, and passenger name, you can choose a flight from those scheduled. The resulting ticket can appear legitimate at first glance. However, if the reservation code (PNR) is verified, it won’t be found in the airline’s system.

While it’s unlikely someone will scrutinize your ticket beyond a cursory look, further checks could reveal the reservation’s inauthenticity. This could lead to serious consequences, especially with immigration officials.  It’s important to be aware of the potential risks involved before deciding to use such a service.

My One-Way Ticket Strategy

It may be that I have been lucky so far, it may be that these regulations seem like nonsense to me, but as mentioned in the introduction, this is the option I have always used and will continue to use. I have never had any problems. In case the immigration officer on duty or the person at the check-in counter proves immovable, I would use OnwardTicket. These days, accessing the internet is easy, and having the ticket instantly processed should take no more than 5 minutes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these listed are pretty much all the possible options for traveling on a one-way ticket. Some may feel uncomfortable renting a ticket or even forging one. Still, the reality of the situation is that in case of an inspection, you may have no other options unless you are willing to plan a flight to some other country well in advance or buy a (possibly cheap) ticket that you are never going to use for the sole purpose of having something to show in case of an inspection.

Do you have any questions? Updated information? Feel free to leave a comment or message me on Instagram!

If you found this article helpful, please consider purchasing your travel insurance through one of the links on this site, doing so supports my work at no additional cost to you. For EU & UK Residents, i recommend True Traveller. For everyone else i recommend HeyMondo (5% discount). Thanks!

For donations/pizzas and virtual beers 🙂 

Did you like the post? Pin it!

 



4 Comments
  • Josepa

    When travelling by plane, I wonder if it would be valid to show a bus ticket to leave the destination country. This worked well years ago. Would it work today?

    • ilbackpacker

      Yes, it should work.

  • Josepa

    Thank you; I´ll try it soon

    • ilbackpacker

      You’re welcome. Safe travels! 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

*

*