For digital nomads, one-way flights represent freedom. Spontaneously hopping from place to place is a life that many dream about – except, of course, for those pesky onward travel requirements.
Enter onward ticket services, which help travelers fulfill the “proof of onward travel” requirement without actually buying a return flight. Our guide reviews four of the best providers in the industry, covering factors such as pricing, validity, and booking speed.
How We Chose Them
We narrowed down the plethora of onward ticket services into four reputable sites. Our analysis covers both the pros and the cons of each company, covering essential factors like cost, validity, booking speed, and user ratings. Finally, our buying guide goes into further detail about onward travel requirements and how you can get around them as a digital nomad.
Compare the Best Onward Ticket Sites
| Cost | Hotel option | Validity | Booking speed | Trustpilot score | ||
| View plans | Onward Ticket | $16 | ❌ | 48 hours | instant | 4.8 |
| View plans | One Way Fly | $16 | ✅ | 48 hours | instant | 4.3 |
| View plans | Best Onward ticket | $12 | ❌ | 2-14 days | instant | 4.6 |
| View plans | Top Onward Ticket | $10 | ✅ | 48 hours | 0-7 hours | 4.5 |
Onward Ticket
Excellent for speed, customer support
Base Price
Starting at $16
Validity
48 hours
Features
24/7 support, round trip, advance booking, multiple passengers
Editor’s Take
Onward Ticket is the most well-known service in the space. The company features a sleek, easy-to-use website, and provides onward flight reservations that you can show to migration officials. Booking is extremely efficient and takes less than 60 seconds to process. You also have the option to purchase the ticket in advance, with a specified activation date.
We like that Onward Ticket offers 24/7 support and boasts a 4.8 rating on Trustpilot, which is the highest of any provider on our list.
Pros & Cons
✅4.8 rating on Trustpilot for customer service.
✅Get your documents within 60 seconds.
✅Round trip and advance booking options available.
❌No option for hotel itinerary.
❌Onward Ticket is more expensive than competitors.
OneWayFly
Excellent for speed, customization
Base Price
Starting at $16
Validity
48 hours
Features
roundtrip, advance booking, multiple passengers, hotel option
Editor’s Take
We appreciate that OneWayFly features a user-friendly interface, with a booking process that takes less than a minute. The company provides both onward flight and hotel reservations that you can show to migration officials. OneWayFly offers more optionality than some competitors, including an option to book a hotel itinerary and multiple passengers. This is especially useful if your visa requires proof of accommodations that you have not yet booked.
Pros & Cons
✅Hotel booking option available.
✅Get your documents within 60 seconds.
✅Round trip and advance booking options available.
❌Customer service options aren’t as robust as Onward Ticket.
❌OneWayFly is more expensive than competitors.
BestOnwardticket
Excellent for long validity, flight choice
Base Price
Starting at $12
Validity
48 hours, extendable for 14 days
Features
round trip, advance booking, multiple passengers, flight choice
Editor’s Take
BestOnwardticket differs from other providers in that you have the option to actually purchase the flight at the end of the booking window. The service provides proof of onward departure that you can show to migration officials. BestOnwardticket allows you to choose an individual flight rather than assigning one automatically, and you can also extend the validity window to 14 days for an additional fee.
Pros & Cons
✅Tickets extendable for up to two weeks.
✅Purchase option available.
✅You can choose a specific flight and airline.
❌Customer service is by email only.
❌No option for hotel itinerary.
TopOnwardTicket
Excellent for budget
Base Price
Starting at $10
Validity
48 hours
Features
round trip, advance booking, hotel option
Editor’s Take
TopOnwardTicket provides proof of onward departure for just $10, which is lower than other services on our list. The company provides both onward flight and hotel reservations that you can show to migration officials. The catch is that TopOnwardTicket’s office is only open during certain hours, so you must book within this window if you want immediate service.
Pros & Cons
✅Lower prices than competitors.
✅Hotel booking option available.
❌Limited customer service and booking hours.
❌No option for multiple passengers.
Onward Ticket Service Buying Guide
What is an onward ticket service?
For a small fee, onward ticket services provide temporary documentation that you can show to migration officials. Note that this is not a fake ticket. The companies on our list all generate real airline or hotel reservations, complete with confirmation numbers. In other words, if an official was to search for your reservation, they would find that the flight actually exists. After a set period of time, the ticket is automatically canceled, allowing you to continue your journey stress-free.
How to use an onward ticket service
1. Specify your route
Input your “from” and “to” destinations, as well as your date of travel. Enter the names of all travelers that need a ticket. Make sure that the date is set before your visa expires. Some services also allow you to select a specific flight, while others automatically assign you a route. In some cases, you can also purchase your onward ticket in advance and specify an activation date.
2. Access your ticket
Your onward ticket itinerary will arrive in your email inbox as a PDF, typically within minutes. Airline officials may ask for proof of onward travel for countries that require it, so ensure that you buy or activate your ticket before your flight. Migration officials typically won’t ask to see proof of onward departure; much depends on the specific country or border agent.
In most cases, your ticket will expire within 24-48 hours, so don’t purchase or set your activation date too early.
3. Set it and forget it
Your onward ticket will be canceled automatically, usually within 24-48 hours. No further actions are necessary on your part.
Which countries require proof of onward travel?
Over 40 countries mandate that you present proof of onward departure before they will allow you to enter. Requirements may vary depending on your home country’s relationship with your destination, and migration officials don’t always ask to see proof of onward travel. Passports from areas such as the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are considered lower-risk by many countries.
In theory, countries that maintain onward travel requirements include the following:
| Argentina | Malaysia |
| Australia | Malta |
| Austria | Mexico |
| Belgium | Netherlands |
| Brazil | New Zealand |
| Canada | Peru |
| Chile | Philippines |
| China | Poland |
| Colombia | Portugal |
| Croatia | Romania |
| Cyprus | Russia |
| Czechia | Serbia |
| Denmark | Singapore |
| Ecuador | South Africa |
| France | South Korea |
| Germany | Spain |
| Hungary | Sweden |
| Iceland | Switzerland |
| Indonesia | Taiwan |
| Israel | Thailand |
| Italy | United Kingdom |
| Japan | United States |
| Lithuania | Vietnam |
Do you need proof of onward departure for a nomad visa?
Most digital nomad visas require that you present proof of onward departure, as well as active travel medical insurance and proof of accommodation.
Are there any risks to using onward ticket services?
One minor technicality is that onward ticket services create a hold on a flight rather than a reservation. (Similar to how a credit card charge is shown as “pending” before the transaction clears.) In theory, a suspicious official could check if the ticket has actually been issued, although this is unlikely to happen in practice.
What to expect with obtaining proof of onward travel
In practice, onward travel requirements are enforced by the airlines. The gate agent will often require that you present proof of a return flight ticket before allowing you to board the plane. Migration officials may also ask for proof of your return flight.
Your itinerary should last from the time that you show up at the airport until the time that you arrive at your destination and clear customs. The standard onward travel service provides proof that lasts 24-48 hours, although this can sometimes be extended for an additional fee. Most services on our list provide tickets instantly, although others may take up to 8 hours.
Alternatives for providing proof of onward travel
Aside from onward ticket services, many airlines offer fully-refundable tickets. However, you will need to go through the steps of obtaining your refund later on, which can be time-consuming. You might also consider booking a return flight that allows itinerary changes, just in case you change your travel plans down the road.