My Dummy Ticket
Writer
Full-time backpacker / digital nomad. 9 years across SE Asia & LatAm.
Priya has been on the road since 2017, mostly in Southeast Asia and Latin America. She's done the Bali-Singapore visa run more times than she can count, and the dummy ticket is part of her go-bag. She writes about it from the traveller side of the counter.
The UK and US governments both tell visa applicants not to buy flights before a decision. Here's what embassies really expect from a dummy ticket, and five myths to drop.
Some passports skip Japan's visa entirely, others need a full application with a flight itinerary attached. Real backpacker questions on when a dummy ticket actually covers it.
One-way digital nomads need a repeatable onward-ticket kit, not a one-time booking, since airlines and visa applications check for it differently at every border.
An approved India e-Visa is not the last checkpoint. Airline check-in asks a separate question, and here is exactly what to have ready for both.
The Dominican Republic requires proof of onward or return travel, and expects you to carry it throughout your trip, not just at the airport. Here's what airlines and immigration actually check.
A backpacker's Q&A on what actually separates a dummy ticket from a real one, and when a refundable fare is worth the extra cost instead.
L'ETA australien (sous-catégorie 601) est ouvert à plusieurs passeports européens, mais Border Force peut toujours demander une preuve de départ crédible.
Depuis 2025, les Français doivent aussi obtenir une ETA britannique avant d'embarquer, en plus du Standard Visitor visa. Voici où un billet de continuation entre en jeu.
Un PNR non émis expire dès que la limite fixée par la compagnie est dépassée, dans Amadeus, Sabre ou Travelport. Voici comment protéger ton billet fictif avant de voyager.
Bahrain issues eVisas to most visitors, but immigration and airline check-in can still ask for proof you are leaving. Here is what a dummy or onward ticket needs to cover.
Backpackers passing through Dubai and Abu Dhabi often assume the UAE border desk checks for a return flight, but the real gatekeeper is usually the airline at check-in.
Taiwan's visa-free entry comes with an onward ticket expectation many travellers miss. Here's what immigration and airlines actually check.