Round trip necessary?

[Wanderingfriend]

I have bought a one way ticket to Spain because I am not sure how far I will walk and wanted flexibility. Now, I am wondering if I will have trouble with health QR code’s and entry with only a one way fare. Thoughts? Kind responses only.

 

[Former member 95219]

I would be amazed if you had any issues! I never buy return tickets and cannot say I have had any issues!

 

[Wanderingfriend]

I would be amazed if you had any issues! I never buy return tickets and cannot say I have had any issues!

This is wonderful news.

 

[henrythedog]

I have bought a one way ticket to Spain because I am not sure how far I will walk and wanted flexibility. Now, I am wondering if I will have trouble with health QR code’s and entry with only a one way fare. Thoughts? Kind responses only.

There is no reason why you might not be leaving Spain, or indeed the Schengen zone, by a means other than flying. A return ticket is not necessary.

 

[Wanderingfriend]

Music to my ears!

 

[C clearly]

When you enter a country, the immigration officials can ask you various questions to satisfy themselves that you will be staying only for the time you are allowed. They could ask whether you have a ticket to get out, or access to funds to do this. However, I have never in 50 years of traveling, been asked for evidence of either my exit ticket or my finances.

 

[domigee]

When you enter a country, the immigration officials can ask you various questions to satisfy themselves that you will be staying only for the time you are allowed. They could ask whether you have a ticket to get out, or access to funds to do this. However, I have never in 50 years of traveling, been asked for evidence of either my exit ticket or my finances.

Oh I have, In England before the Eu 😁 Not easily forgotten 😉

 

[C clearly]

Oh I have, In England before the Eu 😁 Not easily forgotten 😉

Yes, I am always aware that they let me into their country at their discretion, and a return ticket and/or credit cards can be important evidence to support my case.

 

[Kathar1na]

I guess this is about the QR codes again?

The French application form that you must fill in to get a French QR code asks you to submit a copy of your return ticket. It is probably a standard request because the majority of foreign tourists fly to France and fly back from France. People have reported that they only submitted a copy of the ticket for flying to France, without any problems. They got their QR code.

The Spanish application form that you must fill in to get a Spanish airport arrival QR code doesn't require copies of your flight tickets and it doesn't even require information about your return from Spain or your leaving Spain. All they want to know is the flight number, date of arrival and seat number for the flight to Spain.

 

[Former member 95219]

Yes Spain is very straightforward. I flew into

I guess this is about the QR codes again?

The French application form that you must fill in to get a French QR code asks you to submit a copy of your return ticket. It is probably a standard request because the majority of foreign tourists fly to France and fly back from France. People have reported that they only submitted a copy of the ticket for flying to France, without any problems. They got their QR code.

The Spanish application form that you must fill in to get a Spanish airport arrival QR code doesn't require copies of your flight tickets and it doesn't even require information about your return from Spain or your leaving Spain. All they want to know is the flight number, date of arrival and seat number for the flight to Spain.

Yes that is right. Flew into Tenerife this morning and very straightforward. Pre fill info as per above, alight plane, get QR code scanned, and then join passport queue!

 

[Kathar1na]

BTW, and unrelated to QR codes, the general Schengen and EU entry rules do not require that non-EU travellers have return tickets, they only must prove the existence of sufficient means of subsistence (i.e. having sufficient means to pay for the intended stay and return travel) should they ever be asked by border control staff to so but this practically never happens.

However, those who do not benefit from the visa waiver program and have to apply for a short-term visitor's visa at a consulate of an EU country are usually required to prove that they have their return itinerary planned and a return ticket is a good way to prove this.

 

[annangulo]

I have bought a one way ticket to Spain because I am not sure how far I will walk and wanted flexibility. Now, I am wondering if I will have trouble with health QR code’s and entry with only a one way fare. Thoughts? Kind responses only.

I'm here right now doing the Camino and only had a one way ticket. They did asked me when I planned to return and I gave them a guesstimate if two months.

 

[Vince Rollason]

I have bought a one way ticket to Spain because I am not sure how far I will walk and wanted flexibility. Now, I am wondering if I will have trouble with health QR code’s and entry with only a one way fare. Thoughts? Kind responses only.

I have never bought return tickets. I have always worked on the assumption that it will take as long as it takes and that if I run into any problems, I will have to return from wherever I am at the time. This did happen to me on my second Camino when I had to return home from Pamplona to get medical treatment. However later I was able to go back and finish off.
Buen Camino
Vince

 

[Wanderingfriend]

I have never bought return tickets. I have always worked on the assumption that it will take as long as it takes and that if I run into any problems, I will have to return from wherever I am at the time. This did happen to me on my second Camino when I had to return home from Pamplona to get medical treatment. However later I was able to go back and finish off.
Buen Camino
Vince

Thank you for this.

 

[KSterndahl]

I am very happy to hear this. I plan to fly to Portugal in early May, do the Camino from Porto, and then decide what else I want to do. Maybe another Camino, or travel around Spain, or France or Italy. Maybe even England after my 90 days in Europe are used up. I hated the idea of buying a round trip ticket with no idea of where I will be when my time runs out.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I am very happy to hear this. I plan to fly to Portugal in early May, do the Camino from Porto, and then decide what else I want to do. Maybe another Camino, or travel around Spain, or France or Italy. Maybe even England after my 90 days in Europe are used up. I hated the idea of buying a round trip ticket with no idea of where I will be when my time runs out.

Welcome to the forum, @KSterndahl!
Lucky you to be able to spend 90 days in Europe plus extra time in the UK. Sounds like it will be a dream come true.

 

[KSterndahl]

Welcome to the forum, @KSterndahl!
Lucky you to be able to spend 90 days in Europe plus extra time in the UK. Sounds like it will be a dream come true.

Thank you. I’m retired and VERY tired of hiding in my house from Covid. I also live on the west coast of Mexico and prefer to be elsewhere during the hot and humid hurricane season. But, yes. I’ve traveled quite a bit but never just took off without definite plans. I’m looking forward to just going and then doing whatever feels good or interesting or exciting.

 

[rogerone]

Hi. The best thing to do is to think of a day to come back, but you don't need a return ticket. Last year I did the Camino del Norte with a specialized agency in Spain: https://asantiagovoy.travel/en and they changed my return ticket for the day I needed. I always recommend using this type of system to avoid problems in another country.

 

[Wanderingfriend]

I just came back from Europe. I went with a one way ticket. In Germany upon entry, I told them I was walking the Camino and wasn’t sure how long it would take. They asked how much money I had with me and if I had a credit card. That’s all.

 

[Kathar1na]

I just came back from Europe. I went with a one way ticket. In Germany upon entry, I told them I was walking the Camino and wasn’t sure how long it would take. They asked how much money I had with me and if I had a credit card. That’s all.

Interesting.

I think that this is the first time that I read on this forum that someone has actually been asked this question upon entering an EU country from outside of the EU.

 

[Wanderingfriend]

Well, I was.

 

[alexwalker]

I have walked many Caminos. Only once have I had a return ticket. Had to throw it away bc. circumstances. Will never happen again. I leave when I am finished.

As others say, many things can happen. And the freedom of not having a spesific return date is liberating and refreshing.

 

[Kathar1na]

Well, I was.

I didn't doubt it.

Border control at the external EU/Schengen borders have every right to ask this of every foreign traveller without a return ticket. I guess they do random checks. It is good to see it confirmed that having a credit card is enough to prove the existence of sufficient means of subsistence, i.e. enough money to pay for stay and for the trip back home and out of EU/Schengen.

 

[dougfitz]

However, I have never in 50 years of traveling, been asked for evidence of either my exit ticket or my finances.

This used to happen to me regularly enough. The last time I can recall was about six years ago when my wife and I had a slightly more complex itinerary that crossed Schengen borders several times. A similar thing happened about a decade before that when travelling in southern Africa, where I had crossed several land borders, and then flown back to Johannesburg.

As a matter of practice, we now always book return flights when travelling overseas from Australia, so it has never been an issue providing that evidence.

Thus far, it has never happened when I have been travelling to do a pilgrimage, but that isn't evidence that it won't, just a personal anecdote. To reflect @Kathar1na's most recent post, you should be prepared to provide some evidence that you are either leaving or can support yourself while you are in the country you are travelling to.

 

[C clearly]

As a matter of practice, we now always book return flights when travelling overseas from Australia, so it has never been an issue providing that evidence.

Thus far, it has never happened when I have been travelling to do a pilgrimage, but that isn't evidence that it won't, just a personal anecdote.

Absolutely true. I wasn't suggesting otherwise.

 

[Wanderingfriend]

I have walked many Caminos. Only once have I had a return ticket. Had to throw it away bc. circumstances. Will never happen again. I leave when I am finished.

As others say, many things can happen. And the freedom of not having a spesific return date is liberating and refreshing.

I have this philosophy as well, but I can also appreciate that many do have time constraints.

 

[Kattracks]

I have bought a one way ticket to Spain because I am not sure how far I will walk and wanted flexibility. Now, I am wondering if I will have trouble with health QR code’s and entry with only a one way fare. Thoughts? Kind responses only.

i did same. Then i did some research and discovered that the EU rules changed in OCTOBER 2022. A return ticket is required (unless you meet specific exceptions) and without one you may be refused entry into the EU country you are trying to visit. Better safe then sorry. Buying a ticket you can change appears to be best option now. Also, heads up for November 2023 - Visas will be required to enter the EU from the US after the rules change again.