Cambodia is a favourite on the Bangkok to Siem Reap to Phnom Penh route, and the onward-ticket question trips up a lot of backpackers. A dummy ticket, also called an onward ticket, is a real PNR booked for visa or border-check purposes without paying for the flight. These are the questions travellers ask us most, answered plainly.

The basics

Do I really need an onward ticket for Cambodia?

It depends on your passport and on who's asking. There's no one answer that fits everyone. Start with your own government's guidance: British passport holders can read the UK government's Cambodia entry requirements, and other countries publish their own versions.

If the page doesn't mention onward travel, you still might get asked. Airlines make their own calls.

Who asks first, the airline or immigration?

Usually the airline. Check-in agents often look up entry rules in the IATA Timatic database, and they don't want to carry someone who gets turned away. So the desk in your departure city is your first test, and immigration in Cambodia is the second.

Plenty of travellers ask this after hearing different stories in a hostel. Treat those stories as colour, not rules. What happened to someone else, on another passport and another day, tells you little about your own flight.

Is it the same for flying in and crossing by land?

Not always. Flying in, the airline desk gets a say before you board. Crossing from Thailand, Vietnam or Laos by road, there's no airline in the picture, so the border officer is the only checkpoint. Many travellers still carry a booking either way, just in case.

Choosing and using the booking

What should the ticket actually show?

Keep it simple and believable:

  • Your name exactly as in your passport
  • A departure from Cambodia (or a route that leaves the region)
  • A date inside the stay you expect
  • A booking reference the agent can look up

If your trip is overland, a flight out of Phnom Penh or Siem Reap still works as proof that you're leaving, even if you end up leaving another way.

Can a bus ticket do the job?

Sometimes people try it. Airline agents mostly want something they can check in a booking system, and a bus slip isn't one. If you're flying into Cambodia, ask your airline what it accepts before you get to the airport.

Will one booking cover my whole trip around the region?

Only the leg it shows. If you're hopping between several countries, each border can have its own expectations. Think about the next border you'll cross, not just the first one, and check each country's official guidance as you plan.

How far ahead should the date be?

Pick a date that fits your plan, not the maximum you could dream up. A flight two days after arrival looks strange next to a month of hostel bookings. A flight far beyond a normal tourist stay can raise eyebrows too. Match what you actually intend, give or take a little room.

The honest bit

Is a dummy ticket a fake?

No. The booking is real and the reference is verifiable. What you haven't done is pay for the flight. That's the difference between a dummy ticket and a fully purchased fare. You're showing a plan to leave, and that plan should be genuine. If you'd like the legal background, our post on whether a dummy ticket is legal goes through the common worries, though it's general guidance rather than legal advice.

What if my plans change?

It happens all the time. If you decide to stay longer, check what your entry permission allows and extend through the official route. Don't just lean on the old booking. If you leave sooner or by a different route, that's fine too, as long as you can explain it plainly.

Can I check the PNR myself?

Yes, and you should. Look at it on the airline's own site before you travel. Our guide to how to verify your own onward ticket PNR shows what to look for, so you aren't surprised at the desk.

What do I carry?

Three copies: a PDF on your phone, a printed page and an email to yourself. Batteries die, so paper wins. And know your answers. If someone asks where you're headed next, say the city that's on the booking, and stop there.

Everything above is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules change, so check your own government's page and your airline's current terms before you go.

One last thing

Keep your cool. Desk agents and officers see hundreds of travellers a day, and polite, short answers get you through fastest. If something doesn't match, ask what they'd accept, fix it and carry on.

If you're ready to get a verifiable booking, reserve your onward ticket here.