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Do expats need a return ticket?

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Pombinha
  11/7/2016 04:31 EST

I hope Khol reads this question:
On our next trip to Canada when coming back to Costa Rica we will have a one way ticket.Will we have a problem with the airline in Toronto?
We have Pensionato Residency and of course we have our Costa Rica ID's.
A French Canadian retired teacher who always spends 4-6 months here every year 2 days ago was forbidden
to board a plane in Toronto. Her friend told us that she had a return ticket for 4 months later and even though she always goes to Nicaragua while here, the airline said she had no proof that she intended to leave Costa Rica in 90 days.Even though in our case we are here legally and we don't need to leave the country I'm wondering if the airline understands that.
I would prefer to buy a return ticket and then cancel the trip than being forbidden to board the plane.
Thanks.

shermanwc
  11/7/2016 06:26 EST

If you show your residency card, you should not have a problem without a return ticket. If the airline gate agent resists, asks to speak with their supervisor. However, for nonresidents many airlines do require a return ticket within 90 days. A refundable one way return ticket could be purchased in that case.

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Lisapuravida
  11/7/2016 06:57 EST

Exactly what sherman wrote. If you are a legal resident, show your cedula. Not sure what happened with your friend two days ago. If they are a legal resident here in CR, the agent was wrong. If they are not, then a four month ticket out would not be accepted. If it happens to you, ask for a supervisor!

Kohl
  11/7/2016 07:04 EST

Sherman has explained it perfectly!

Pombinha
  11/7/2016 08:02 EST

Thank you so much everyone!

linlewhammond
  11/7/2016 08:46 EST

I don't know from Canada, but from Florida where we were from, it was cheaper to buy a round trip ticket and not use it, than a one way ticket. You might want to check. Put the other one in the bottom of a bird cage if you never use it.

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shermanwc
  11/7/2016 09:04 EST

linlewhammod, it is true that it is best to compare prices of a non-refundable round trip ticket with a refundable one-way ticket to determine the most cost-effective means, as some airlines jack up the price of a one-way ticket excessively. That applies if you are flying to CR without a related scheduled flight to/from CR and are not a resident.

When flying back to USA/CAN for a relatively short period while living in CR, one can buy a non-refundable round trip ticket from CR and a one-way refundable ticket back to the USA/CAN within 90 days of your return (if you do not yet have residency) - we did this a couple of times while waiting for residency. Check with your airlines if there are any extra fees - we have done it with two airlines with no added cost for the refund.

pebbalita
  11/7/2016 10:41 EST

DITTO ! LOL

escapefromnyc004
  11/7/2016 16:22 EST

I've often wondered about this requirement because I fly into LIR monthly and i have never had anyone is Customs ask me about my return ticket. So it's the airline that has the return ticket requirement?

shermanwc
  11/7/2016 16:44 EST

escapefromnyc004, yes it is primarily the airlines that ask for a return air ticket when flying to CR. I've never been asked for my return ticket at airport customs on arrival in CR. But when doing a land crossing at the border, I have been asked for proof of travel out of the country within 90 days. (I am now a resident, so that is no longer a problem.)

Kohl
  11/7/2016 17:05 EST

The airlines will be heavily fined if it is found that a return ticket was not produced at time of boarding.
We were 'required' to purchase an 'return ticket' while still waiting for our cedula, although we had the required paperwork...

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georgene
  11/7/2016 18:48 EST

My recent situation was a little different, but it might be worthwhile to share it. I had a one-way flight on United from Denver C0 USA to Costa Rica and showed that I had a hotel reservation in Nicaragua within 90 days. That wasn't accepted. United wanted a receipt from a tour co taking me to Nicaragua, or a flight out of CR. (A friend is taking me to Nic.) I booked a flight to Managua, which I can change later, just to get on the plane. The change fee is $200. I barely made my flight. Live and learn!

shermanwc
  11/7/2016 20:02 EST

georgene, the airlines only want to see travel arrangements that show you leaving CR - and often they will only accept an airline ticket (but it can be on another airline). Some people have been able to use a prepaid bus ticket to Nicaragua, but not all airlines will accept that. Your experience is helpful in that it confirms the need to have travel arrangements out of the country (not just a hotel room in another country).

escapefromnyc004
  11/8/2016 09:44 EST

Does this happen when you check in?

shermanwc
  11/8/2016 09:57 EST

escapefromnyc004, yes when you check in at the airline you are typically asked to show your passport and proof of travel within 90 days or show your residency card. I flew on Delta from NYC to Liberia with a connection in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago and was asked for these documents when boarding the flight in NYC (i.e., the connecting domestic flight rather than the flight to CR). I tried to do online check-in before going to the airport but it said I could not check-in early due to required documents to show at check-in.

georgene
  11/8/2016 10:10 EST

A bus ticket would have been a less expensive alternative, but I had 15 minutes at DIA with a United rep making these demands, was panicking, and could not quickly find a site where I could buy a bus ticket out of CR. Expensive mistake. Yes, they want to see a receipt for the actual travel out of the country.

pebbalita
  11/8/2016 20:12 EST

YES it has happened to MANY of my B&B guests over a perios of about 22 years,,(guests who disregarded my advice ) but they were TOURISTS and not PR's and were not allowed to board their olanes from both Canada and USA and many other countries YOU NEED to SHOW PROOF OF LEAVING THE COUNTRY within the 90 day Maximum TOURIST VISA..The key is Permenant RESIDENTS..we have no problems..and whoever wrote that book of "Advice" on the other thread regarding lots of MISinformation syaing our Perm res are nnot for 5 years WRONG it is for 5 years and renewable with a quick trip to the Migation office..Lots of other Wrong stuff on his advice also.I think his name is Richard ,,BUT cannot find his thread...I did it for the first few months here and it did not take TWO years as he quotes AND it is for FIVE yaers not 2
I have read on this site ALSO only took a matter of MONTHS..I guess some Lawyers must see the NAIVE GRINGO arriving then POUNCE.. What a shame!
!Nor did it cost $1,000 to $3000 to get..Jeez I wonder from where these people get their "Knowledge"

guestuser
  11/8/2016 20:47 EST

I got my renewed residency done at the local post office--piece of cake now. Isn't it silly--saying you don't need to be in a country to give in depth info on it?? SURE does not work for Costa Rica. So listen to people who live here and have the experience.

Gill Phelan
www.gvecr.com

Kohl
  11/8/2016 20:57 EST

There is almost $1000 that goes into the government coffers when applying for residency, regardless of whether or not you use a lawyer. A lawyer could/will add another $1000 or more.

Here is a price breakdown: http://outlierlegal.com/services/immigration/legal-fees-government-fees-and-expenses/

CdnRugger
  11/8/2016 21:01 EST

The "old guy" is the definition of narcissistic personality....any attempts to defend as instinctually shallow and misguided.

OldPro
  11/9/2016 11:13 EST

"So it's the airline that has the return ticket requirement?"

Bingo escapefromnyc004.

The issue of 'proof of onward travel' being required to ENTER a country NEVER applies to anyone who can prove they are a legal resident of the country they are travelling to. NO country's Immigration Department requires it for a legal Resident.

However, what an airline chooses to do and what a country legally requires are sometimes two different things. An airline can choose to impose any requirement they want on a passenger before issuing a boarding pass for a flight.

It would be extremely rare (but not impossible) for an airline check-in clerk to insist on it even if someone can show legal residency. In that case, as noted, you ask to see a 'higher authority'.

The people who are really affected by this issue are people who want to travel to a country and are NOT legal residents of that country. As in the case referred to here in the OP.

In other words, the ordinary traveller. In particular, anyone who has travel plans that do not include a return or onward ticket.

For example, someone travelling without a fixed itinerary would not normally have any 'proof of onward travel'. A return ticket is only ONE example of such 'proof'. A bus ticket or train ticket out of the country is another. But again, the airline can insist on anything they want. Some will accept a bus ticket, some will not. In fact, NONE of them are actually PROOF of onward travel. As noted, people can quite easily throw away a return or onward ticket of any kind.

So in fact it isn't even 'proof' that the airline insists on, it is only a 'cover our butt' requirement that they insist on. If they can reasonably say that they were shown a MEANS of onward travel, they are no longer subject to the potential for a large fine and having to return the traveller to the departure point.

There are actually very few countries that absolutely insist on 'proof of onward travel'. Even countries whose immigration laws do require it often don't enforce it. Interestingly, one of the countries most likely to enforce it is the USA.

The Immigration Laws of most countries tend to follow the phrase, 'satisfy the Immigration Officer of your intent'. Meaning intent to leave and not overstay your welcome. Obviously, that phrase gives the Immigration Officer a lot of leeway to deny someone entry IF they so CHOOSE.

But because Airlines CAN be fined, the airlines try to 'cover their butt' by insisting on return tickets. For example, if you ask an airline whether Canada requires 'proof of onward travel' for travellers entering the country, almost every airline will tell you they do. In fact, they do NOT. The applicable immigration law for Canada uses the phrase, 'satisfy an Immigration Officer'. A return or onward ticket is NOT proof of anything and an Immigration Officer can refuse anyone entry whether they have such a ticket or not. They do so every day. But the AIRLINE isn't liable if they do have a return/onward ticket. So the AIRLINE insists on it to cover THEIR butt.

You can find all kinds of information on this subject quite easily. It happens to be a well covered subject among travellers. Especially those who travel without itineraries a lot and/or for extended periods of time.

I have travelled many times with and without any proof of onward travel and have only once in my life been asked for proof of onward travel. I simply went to another airline who was willing to sell me a one way ticket without proof of onward travel. It is an individual decision every time by the airline and often depends on the individual standing in front of the airline check-in agent.

https://www.google.ca/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=list%20of%20countries%20that%20require%20proof%20of%20onward%20travel

As you will see from that link if you want to check it out, this topic is an ongoing and largely misunderstood issue. Primarily, because the airlines LIE about it being a requirement for many countries and people believe them.

There's the Immigration laws that may be arbitrarily enforced; the airline's arbitrary requirements; the individual standing in front of a check-in agent or Immigration Agent who makes an abritrary decision..

What people who are denied boarding by an airline or entry by Immigration never tell us is what really got them denied. It is rarely as simple as they didn't have 'proof of onward travel'.

Look right, sound right and chances are no one will ask about 'proof of onward travel'. Look wrong, sound wrong and they'll all ask. LOL

Oh and for my 'groupies', no you don't have to live in CR to know if proof of onward travel is required. ROTFLMAO

escapefromnyc004
  11/9/2016 23:52 EST

I've never been asked and 100 percent of of my tickets are 1 way. I think it's because I normally have over 10 tickets booked at once so maybe the airline system doesn't need to check.

RogerKB
  9/6/2017 18:18 EST

So there's really no way around it? My wife, Gail and I, will have to purchase 2 one-way airline tickets? Just double-checking.

Kohl
  9/7/2017 08:10 EST

Yes. We were once refused boarding until we had purchased our return tickets.

lindyluvsCR
  9/7/2017 10:26 EST

This stemmed from a blog last year. And do not see your name on here previous. You do not say if you are just visiting or are in process of residency and took a trip back to US and are returning.???

RogerKB
  9/7/2017 13:51 EST

Sorry, I just recently joined the forum. My wife & will be retiring & moving to Costa Rica mid to late Oct. we plan to apply for residency.

lindyluvsCR
  9/7/2017 15:10 EST

When we moved here, our travel agent pointed out that it is cheaper to get a round trip ticket than a one way, and then just don't use it. A LOT cheaper. So that is what we did. I did end up using mine though, as had problems with a bank code, and even though they knew my voice on the phone, and had all the ID I needed,could not receive other than in person. So I had to go back a couple of days but my husband did not use his.

But read here, that you can get the more expensive refundable ticket for a return ticket, and then cancel when here, and shortly will receive credit for it.

Have you decided where you are going to live?

RogerKB
  9/7/2017 15:23 EST

Thanks for letting me know about the cost of a round-trip (vs. one-way tickets). My wife and I are planning to live in the Dominical area, but will probably live higher up in altitude to avoid some of the heat and humidity.

Kohl
  9/7/2017 17:00 EST

Make sure to check the noise level when the 'Big Rig's' are using their 'Jake Brakes' on hill heading to town. Don't sign any leases until you HAVE checked, especially at night....as they can get VERY loud.

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