Paraguay has no coastline, so travellers leave by air from Asunción or by road into Argentina, Brazil or Bolivia. That shapes what proof of onward travel you need. A dummy ticket, also called an onward ticket, is a real PNR booked for visa or border-check purposes without paying for the flight. Here are five steps to work out whether Paraguay needs one from you.

Step 1: Confirm the entry rule for your passport

Start with the rule itself, not a forum thread. Entry conditions for Paraguay depend on your nationality, and they change. The "Entry requirements" section of the UK government's travel advice for Paraguay is a sensible first read, and your own government's travel pages are the next.

Look for two things. Does your passport need a visa? And does the page mention proof of onward or return travel? If it's silent, that isn't a guarantee. It simply means you haven't found the answer yet.

Write down the date you checked. Rules shift, and you'll want to know how stale your notes are when you fly.

Step 2: Decide how you'll actually leave

This is the step most people skip. Because Paraguay is landlocked, your exit is either a flight out of Asunción's Silvio Pettirossi International Airport or a road crossing into a neighbouring country.

If you plan to fly out, the proof is straightforward: a booking that leaves Paraguay on a date after you arrive. If you plan to leave overland, there's no flight number to show anyone, which is why a bus plan alone rarely satisfies an airline desk. Our guide to onward ticket proof for an overland departure walks through that gap in more detail.

Be honest with yourself here. The right document is the one that matches your real route, because you may be asked about it.

Step 3: Work out who checks first

The first person to look at your documents is usually not a Paraguayan officer. It's the airline agent at your departure airport.

Airlines use IATA's Timatic database, described on the IATA Timatic page, to check what a passenger needs for the destination. If the system flags a requirement for onward travel, the desk agent will ask you for it before issuing a boarding pass. Airlines have a strong reason to be careful, since a carrier is generally expected to take back a passenger refused entry.

So the practical question is not "what does Paraguay want?" but "what will my airline's system say on the day?" Those usually match, but not always.

Step 4: Build proof that matches the route

Once you know you need something, make it easy to read. A good onward booking has:

  • Your name spelled exactly as in your passport.
  • A confirmed status, not a pending request.
  • A departure from Paraguay (or from a point that fits your route) to another country.
  • A date that sits sensibly after your arrival.

Then test it the way an agent would. Open the airline's "Manage booking" page, enter your surname and booking reference, and check that the itinerary appears. If it doesn't, find out why before you leave home. A reservation that can't be pulled up is not much use at a desk.

Ask your provider how long the booking stays active, too. Holds can lapse, so time the booking to your travel date rather than booking weeks early.

Step 5: Keep it handy and answer plainly

Carry the confirmation as a PDF on your phone and a printed copy in your bag. Phones die at the worst moments.

If an officer or agent asks about your plans, tell them what they are. A dummy ticket is paperwork that satisfies a document check, and it doesn't replace a straight answer. Nothing here is legal or immigration advice, only general guidance, so rely on the official sources from step 1 for your own case.

A note on timing and changes of plan

Travel plans move, and onward proof has to move with them. If you extend your stay or swap an exit route, the booking you made earlier may no longer describe your trip. That can cause trouble if an officer compares your story with the paperwork.

So treat the onward booking as a living document. If your route changes before you fly, update it or replace it. If your route changes after you've arrived, you're no longer dealing with the departure desk but with whoever checks you at your next border, and the same logic applies there.

It also helps to keep a short note of your own for the trip: arrival date, planned exit, where you're staying for the first night. Border staff in many countries ask for an address and a rough plan. Having those details ready is more useful than any extra document, and it keeps your answers consistent from the airline desk to the border.

Finally, remember who sets the rules. Paraguay's entry conditions are set by Paraguay, your airline's checks are set by the airline, and neither one has to follow what a blog or a friend told you. When the sources disagree, the official page and the airline's own guidance win. If you're unsure, ask the airline before you travel, in writing if you can, so you have a record of what you were told.

Frequently asked questions

Can I just show a bus ticket instead?

Sometimes, for land exits, but the airline at your departure airport decides what it accepts, not the bus company. Ask the airline before you travel.

Does having an onward ticket guarantee I'll be admitted?

No. Border officers make the final decision, and the ticket is one document among several.

How late can I book it?

Before check-in, in principle. Booking a day or two ahead leaves time to verify the reservation and fix a typo.

If you need proof for Paraguay, you can book a dummy ticket with Get Onward Ticket and verify it on the airline's site before you fly.