Proof of Onward Travel

Proof of onward travel is evidence that you will leave a country within the time you are allowed to stay. It is asked for in three places, and people usually only find out about the second one at the airport.

Where it comes up

• At the visa stage, as part of the application file
• At check-in, before you are allowed to board
• At the border, occasionally, by the immigration officer

Why airlines care

Under carrier liability rules an airline that brings a passenger who is refused entry pays the cost of taking them back, and often a fine on top. That is why a check-in agent may refuse boarding on a one-way ticket even when the destination’s rules are ambiguous. The agent is protecting the airline, not interpreting immigration law.

What is normally accepted

A reservation showing a departure from the country within the permitted period, with a PNR that can be verified. A bus or train booking out of the country is accepted in some places. What is not accepted anywhere is a document that fails a lookup.

Countries that ask most often

Requirements change, so the reliable move is to read the destination’s current entry rules and your airline’s conditions of carriage before you travel rather than relying on what was true last year.

A held reservation covers the visa file and the check-in desk at a fraction of the cost of a refundable fare, provided the PNR is real and still live on the day you need it.