Chile is a popular first stop for backpackers heading down the Andes, and the UK government's travel advice has an entry requirements page for it. So does anyone ask for proof that you're leaving? Maybe. Here are the questions you're probably asking, answered in plain English.

A dummy ticket, also called an onward ticket, is a real PNR booked for visa or border-check purposes without paying for the flight. Think of it as a way to show a plan without paying for a flight you might not take.

Does Chile actually require an onward ticket?

It depends on your passport, and the rules change, so I won't give you a flat yes or no. Check the official source for your own nationality. British travellers can read the gov.uk entry requirements for Chile. Everyone else should look at their own foreign ministry.

Here's the useful bit. Even when a country doesn't insist, an airline might. Carriers get penalised for carrying people who're refused entry, so some agents ask for proof of onward travel just to be safe. That's the check that catches most travellers out.

If the guidance is unclear, prepare for the question. It's cheap insurance.

Who asks first, the airline or the border?

The airline. Always.

Agents at your departure airport use IATA's Timatic database to see what your destination expects. If it says onward travel, they ask. No proof can mean no boarding pass, and that conversation happens before you reach Chile at all.

The border officer might ask too, usually alongside "where are you staying?" and "how long?" Keep your answers short and consistent. If your plan is hostel for four nights then a bus to Argentina, say that.

Does a bus ticket to Argentina count?

Good question, because many people cross Chile's land borders. A bus ticket can be reasonable evidence of onward travel to a human officer. An airline desk agent, though, often wants something they can look up in a system, and a bus receipt doesn't always fit that.

That's why a lot of travellers hold an onward flight booking as well, even when they plan to go overland. Our post on what counts as proof of onward travel goes through the options.

What makes an onward ticket "real" enough?

Agents don't read PDFs for fun. They look up bookings. Your ticket should have:

  1. A record locator that exists in an airline or GDS system.
  2. A name that matches your passport exactly.
  3. A route that leaves Chile for somewhere sensible.
  4. A date that sits inside the stay you've declared.

Test it yourself. Open the airline's manage-booking page, type in the reference and your surname, and see if it loads. If it doesn't, don't fly on it.

Will the reservation still be there when I check in?

Not always. Some reservations are held rather than ticketed, and holds expire. If yours lapses before your flight, the desk sees nothing.

Ask how long yours stays live and pick a booking that covers your travel day with room to spare. Our write-up on how GDS holds and PNRs work explains why this matters.

A word on timing: with a land border you might not know your exact crossing date. That's fine. Pick a date that sits comfortably inside your declared stay, and treat the booking as proof of intent, not a promise. Agents know plans shift.

Also think about the direction. If you're travelling south through Chile and will leave via Argentina, a flight out of Santiago or another Chilean airport to a regional neighbour looks natural. A route that doubles back to where you started looks like a ticket bought just to tick a box.

Do I need a hotel booking too?

Sometimes you're asked for it, sometimes not. Hotels answer a different question: where will you sleep? An onward ticket answers: when will you leave? They support each other. Treat accommodation as a backup, not a swap.

Here's a quick way to remember it. Hotel equals "where I'll be". Onward ticket equals "when I'll go". Return flight equals "where I'm going home". Different questions, different documents. Some countries and some airlines want more than one, and it's cheaper to carry all three than to be asked for one you don't have.

Backpackers often skip the hotel because they plan to book on the road. If that's you, make a first-night reservation you can cancel. It gives the officer something concrete to read and costs you nothing if plans change.

What if the agent still says no?

Stay polite and ask what they couldn't verify. It's usually a name mismatch or a lapsed hold. Fix that one thing, and show the corrected booking. Don't buy a pricey full-fare flight in a panic, because a purpose-built onward booking costs far less.

Last tip: ask the agent to try the booking again before you give up. Systems time out, and a second lookup often works. Stay friendly, because the person at the desk is the one who can fix it.

Check the rules for your passport, test the booking, and carry it offline. When you want one that checks out, book your onward ticket here.