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14 ways to get a travel itinerary for visa application

February 4, 2019 by Thirumal 110 Comments

Travel itinerary for visa application
Getting a travel itinerary for visa application is the most difficult and confusing parts of the visa process. Consulates insist on providing with confirmed flight and hotel bookings. But they do not recommend purchasing an actual ticket. They just want an itinerary. Did you see how confusing is that?

Often times the consulates ask for one of these –

  • Flight tickets
  • Flight itinerary
  • Flight confirmation
  • Confirmed flight tickets
  • Confirmed flight itinerary
  • Round trip flight tickets
  • Proof of onward travel

They all mean the same thing. “Flight tickets”. Consulates understand the fact that a visa application does not result in a guaranteed approval. Therefore, they only recommend you to “hold” a flight reservation, not actually “purchase” the flight tickets.

If your visa application is denied or delayed, you will lose the money that you have spent on the flight tickets. Airlines and insurance providers do not consider visa denial as a reason for refund claims. So, do not purchase your flight tickets till your visa application is approved.

If consulates would like to see purchased tickets, they will specifically ask for it. For example, Chile visa application mentions that you may have to show your purchased ticket on visa approval.

BONUS: Click here for an easy-to-use resource list for your visa application travel itinerary

Not every airline service every route. You have to play around with different airlines and different booking sites to avail the hold option. Below are 14 proven ways to get a travel itinerary for visa application.

***

Flight itinerary for visa application

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01. Purchasing a refundable ticket

Travel itinerary for visa application - Aeromexico refundable flight tickets

Refundable flight tickets on Aeromexico

This is the best and foolproof option for your flight itinerary. A refundable ticket is a purchased ticket. No one can question its authenticity.

Most airlines offer this option at a higher price. Usually 5-10 times higher than a non-refundable or sale ticket. Most airlines process refunds fairly quickly within a few days to a few weeks.

One thing to keep in mind is even though it’s a refundable ticket, some booking sites and airlines charge a fee to cancel the tickets. Few examples –

  • Cheapoair (Cancellation fee is $150 USD)
  • Etihad Airways (Cancellation fee is $75 USD on “refundable” tickets. Etihad calls this some kind of “tax”)

Pro tip: Always purchase a refundable ticket directly from the airline website. I suggest you call the airline first inquiring about the cancellation policy of their refundable tickets.

Pros
A refundable ticket is a valid ticket. You do not need to worry about the consulate verifying it’s authenticity.

Cons
You need to pay for the ticket first which usually is about 5-10 times more than a sale price ticket. Refunds take from a few days to a few weeks depending on the airline. You also need to keep the credit card open to receive the refund.

—

02. Using a local travel agent to hold a flight reservation

Travel itinerary for visa application - Travel agent flight ticket hold

Kim Travel, a local travel agent in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

This is the second best method. Travel agents can hold tickets for up to 7 days. They may charge a small fee for this service.

Pros
For just a small fee, you can hold a flight ticket for as long as 7 days.

Cons
This option is good only if the visa processing takes maximum 7 days.

Also Read: What to pack for international travel

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03. Using a visa ticket booking website

Travel itinerary for visa application - Visa ticket booking agent

Travel Visa Bookings, an online travel agent

There are quite a few online travel agents providing this service for a small fee. They can hold the ticket for up to 7 days. They also provide express service if you are in a hurry.

Examples

  • Rent-A-Flight Ticket | Fee $30 / €24
  • Flight Reservation for visa | Fee €25.99
  • Dream Euro Trip | Fee €25.99
  • Travel Visa Guru | Fee $14 USD
  • Visa Reservation | Fee $35 USD
  • Schengen Visa Flight Reservation | Fee $15 USD
  • Booking for Visa | Fee $15 USD
  • Ticket Hotel Visa | Fee $20 USD
  • KeyFlight | Fee $19.90 USD
  • Dummy Ticket | Fee $19 USD

—

04. Using award miles and hold option

Travel itinerary for visa application - American Airlines award miles ticket hold

Award miles flight ticket hold option on American Airlines

Some airlines will let you hold your reservation for up to 5 days if you are purchasing an award ticket or using your airline miles. The held reservation is a printable itinerary that you can use for your visa application. The reservation might say that it needs to be purchased within a given time. But, it is still an acceptable option for visa applications. Few examples –

Examples

  • American Airlines | Free hold up to 5 days using AAdvantage miles

Pros
This option works perfectly fine for visa applications. This service is offered free of charge for the airline award members.

Cons
You must have a frequent flyer account and a few thousand miles to avail this option. It may not be useful for visa applications that take longer than 5 days to approve.

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05. Free ticket hold option by airlines

Travel itinerary for visa application - Copa Airlines free flight ticket hold

Free flight ticket hold option on Copa Airlines

Quite a few airlines have the option to hold a fare for up to 48 hours.

Examples

  • Copa Airlines | Free hold for 48 hours
  • American Airlines | Free hold for 24 hours
  • United Airlines | Free hold for 24 hours with pay-in-person option
  • Turkish Airlines | Free hold for 24 hours or more
  • Aeroflot | Free hold for 24 hours with cash option

Pros
This service is offered for free of charge by the airlines.

Cons
This option may not be used for visa applications that take longer than 2 days to approve.

—

06. Free ticket hold option by online booking sites

Travel itinerary for visa application - Yatra free flight ticket hold

Free flight ticket hold option on Yatra.com

There are some online booking sites that let you hold a reservation for free.

Examples

  • Yatra.com | Free 3 day hold. Yatra is an India based booking website, but anyone can hold and book international tickets

—

07. Ticket hold option for a fee by airlines

Travel itinerary for visa application - United Airlines Farelock

United Airlines Farelock option

Some airlines allow you to hold your ticket for a small fee for a few days. Different airlines have different hold days and different fee. Usually, the fee is $5-20 USD depending on the hold days.

  • United Airlines Farelock | 3 day hold for $6.99 USD and 7 day hold for $8.99 USD
  • Aeroflot Deferred Payment | 2 day hold for about $16 USD
  • Air New Zealand Fare Hold | 3 day hold for $30 USD

—

08. Email price quote or itinerary option from airlines

Travel itinerary for visa application - British Airways price quote email

British Airways price quote email

Some airlines allow you to print an itinerary or email a price quote. These look similar to a reservation which can be used for visa application. Few examples –

  • British Airways | Free email price quote
  • Qatar Airways | Free email price quote

Pros
This option works perfectly fine for United Kingdom visa applications. I have used a British Airways price quote email for my UK visa application and it worked fine. The UK is not asking for flight itineraries anymore for their visa applications. If they do for some reason, you can always use this option.

Cons
You may not be able to use this option for visas other than the UK.

—

09. Free 24 hours ticket cancellation from United, Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline, etc.

Travel itinerary for visa application - United Airlines 24 hr free cancellation

United Airlines free cancellation within 24hrs

A few airlines and online ticket booking websites provide options for free cancellation within 24 hours of booking. These sites allow you to cancel a flight ticket within 24 hours of booking. Few examples –

  • United Airlines | Free cancellation within 24 hours of booking
  • Expedia | Free cancellation within 24 hours of booking
  • Priceline | Free cancellation within 24 hours of booking
  • Orbitz | Free cancellation within 24 hours of booking
  • Travelocity | Free cancellation within 24 hours of booking
  • Yatra | Free cancellation within the same day of booking

Pro tip: Tickets from budget airlines, such as Airasia cannot be cancelled even when booked on Expedia/Priceline/Orbitz. You must read the fine print on the checkout page carefully to make sure that the ticket can be cancelled for free within 24 hours. For more information, check out my step-by-step guide on how to book flight tickets with 24 hour FREE cancellation on Expedia

Pros
This is a great option as a proof of onward travel or return ticket if you are availing Visa on Arrival. You have to time it well so that you are still in the 24 hours period when availing the Visa on Arrival. You can cancel the ticket right after you complete your Visa on Arrival formality.

Cons
These tickets must be canceled within 24 hours. After that, you cannot cancel and cannot get a refund. This option may not be used for visa applications that take longer than 24 hours.

Also Read: How to book flight tickets with 24 hour FREE cancellation on Expedia – A step-by-step guide

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10. Using an onward ticket booking agency

Travel itinerary for visa application - Onward flight ticket booking agent

Best Onward Ticket, an online onward flight ticket booking agent

There are a few onward ticket booking sites that provide this service for a small fee. They cancel the ticket after 24 hours on your behalf.

Examples

  • BestOnwardticket | 48 hours valid ticket for $12 USD
  • OnwardFlights | 24 hours valid ticket for $7 USD
  • OnewayFly | 48 hours or more valid ticket for €20 EUR
  • ReturnFlights | Free service, downloadable dummy/fake tickets *
  • NomadProof | Free service, downloadable dummy/fake tickets *
  • KeyFlight | Free service, downloadable dummy/fake tickets *
  • FakeFlightTickets | Free service, downloadable dummy/fake tickets *

* Use of dummy/fake tickets is illegal and against the law. If caught, you may be fined, prosecuted or jailed. So please use fake tickets at your own risk.

Pros
These are great as a proof of onward travel for visa on arrival. You have to time it properly so the ticket is still valid while going through the visa on arrival formality. For a small fee, you will have a legitimate and verifiable flight ticket.

Cons
This option may not be used for visa applications that take longer than 24 hours.

—

11. Purchasing non-refundable flight ticket

Travel itinerary for visa application - Skyscanner flight ticket booking

Non-refundable flights on Skyscanner.com

Purchase non-refundable flight tickets only if you are 100% certain that your visa will be approved. I have booked non-refundable flight tickets myself a few times. But, I was applying for a visa that I have applied a few times before and approved.

For best non-refundable flight deals, use the booking site listed below.

Examples

  • Skyscanner
  • Google Flights
  • Momondo

Pros
You have the actual ticket. No need to worry if the consulate verifies it’s authenticity. Since you bought it early, it probably was cheaper than purchasing after the visa approval.

Cons
In the case of visa denial, you will lose the money since the ticket is a non-refundable ticket.

***

Hotel itinerary for visa application

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Hotel itinerary is much easier to obtain than a flight itinerary. Many hotels and most hotel booking websites offer refundable or pay-at-check-in options.

12. Refundable or pay-at-the-property option

Travel itinerary for visa application - Expedia refundable hotel booking

Refundable or pay-at-the-property hotels on Expedia.com

These options sometimes do not even require credit card information. Just make a note of when the booking needs to be canceled. Create a calendar reminder to make sure you cancel these bookings right after your visa approval. Few examples –

  • Expedia | Refundable and/or pay-at-the-property
  • Booking.com | Refundable and/or pay-at-the-property
  • Agoda | Refundable and/or pay-at-the-property
  • Orbitz | Refundable and/or pay-at-the-property

Pros
No pre-payment is necessary. Just book refundable hotels/hostels and cancel once your visa is approved.

Cons
You have to remember the date by which the reservation needs to be canceled. Otherwise, you will be charged for the booking.

Note: Not all “pay-at-check-in or pay-at-the-property” bookings are refundable. Read the description carefully when making a hotel booking.

—

13. Pay deposit option

Travel itinerary for visa application - Hostelworld pay deposit

Pay deposit on Hotelworld.com

Some booking sites let you hold a reservation by paying a small deposit upfront. You pay about 20% of the booking as a non-refundable deposit. You can cancel the booking after your visa application is approved. You will lose the deposit, but if you pick a cheap dorm room for a few days, 20% deposit will not be that much.

Examples

  • HostelWorld | 20% non-refundable deposit

Pros
For a small deposit, you can book a hostel dorm bed. You can cancel it right after your visa is approved.

Cons
20% is still a big amount if booking in cities like Paris where a dorm bed costs about €10.00 per night. You must make sure to remember the date by which the reservation need to be canceled.

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14. Non-refundable hotel/hostel

Travel itinerary for visa application - Expedia nonrefundable hotel booking

Non-refundable hotels on Expedia.com

Book a non-refundable hotel/hostel only if you are 100% certain that your visa application will be approved.

If you are re-applying for a visa that was approved previously with the same documentation, then there is a good chance that your visa application will be approved this time as well.

Even in this case, I do not suggest to book a non-refundable hotel. But if you see a really good hotel deal that you can’t pass up, you can probably consider.

Related Posts

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  • Travel Countries VISA-FREE with UK visaHow to travel 25 countries VISA-FREE with UK visa
  • Travel Countries VISA-FREE with US visaHow to travel 37 countries VISA-FREE with US visa

Comments

  1. HABIB ULLAH RAJ says

    September 12, 2017 at 5:02 pm

    Visa Reservation (Fee $50 USD) not $20.

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      September 13, 2017 at 5:27 am

      Thanks for letting me know Habib! I think they keep changing. Now, it’s $30 USD for the basic flight itinerary on their website.

      Reply
      • Volcy says

        November 4, 2017 at 5:36 am

        ITs visa reservation or travel visa booking its safe to use ? itsn´t scam ? i dont want to lose my money

        Reply
        • Thirumal says

          November 4, 2017 at 7:22 am

          No, they are not scams. They are online travel agents. But, make sure to pay using “PayPal”. If you do not receive the ticket or received an invalid ticket for your visa, then you can open a dispute in PayPal. PayPal will then refund your payment. That way, you will be on the safe side. Hope that helps!

          Reply
          • Sandeep says

            November 15, 2017 at 9:29 pm

            How long the flight itineraries will be valid? 2-3 months, till the visa gets approved?

          • Thirumal says

            November 18, 2017 at 12:24 am

            Not all itineraries are valid that long. Usually, itineraries are valid anywhere from 24 hours to 7 days. Turkish Airlines will let you hold a ticket for up to 3 months, but that’s the only airline that I know so far holds a reservation that long.

      • Lucie says

        August 7, 2018 at 10:44 am

        Hey Thirumal,

        Thanks for this great article ! I would recommend you to add https://onewayfly.com/ in the exemple list. They offer as well vouchers for visas 🙂

        Reply
        • Thirumal says

          August 8, 2018 at 1:28 pm

          Thanks Lucie! Great info. I’ll add it to the list.

          Reply
  2. JIKKU says

    January 23, 2018 at 8:35 am

    GOOD INFO. BUT DOESN’T WORKS ON ALL EMBASSIES. THANKS FOR SHARING.

    11. Purchasing non-refundable fight ticket ” FIGHT ” 🙂

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      January 23, 2018 at 8:42 am

      That is true. This is not an exhaustive list and requirements for embassies vary.

      Haha, thanks! Just fixed it.

      Reply
  3. Shravya says

    March 1, 2018 at 6:31 am

    Do I need a flight itinerary / flight ticket for a UK visa ? I m pretty confused …these online visa travel booking say it’s needed !

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      March 1, 2018 at 6:41 am

      UK wasn’t asking for flight itineraries at some point. Not sure if it is still the same case. So, the only way to figure this is to start your online visa application. You will then be asked to upload documents, so you will know if you need flight itinerary or not.

      You can save your online application and come back to it later. So, no need to get a flight/hotel itinerary before you start the application.

      Reply
      • Shravya says

        March 1, 2018 at 6:45 am

        Thanks for the reply…online application is done..and it did not ask for flight bookings..jus asked bout hotel bookings,which is done …

        So that means v need not have a flight itinerary na..?

        Reply
        • Thirumal says

          March 1, 2018 at 7:56 am

          That’s correct. You were not requested for a flight itinerary. Therefore, you DO NOT need a flight itinerary for your visa application.

          Reply
  4. Raina says

    March 2, 2018 at 4:35 pm

    Hi Thirumal ,

    Thanks for all the details mentioned, really a great site including all the info.
    After hunting lot many websites for UK visa processing found your blog very helpful.

    I just need to know , I am actually applying for 3 visitors visa for UK.
    2 adults and 1 child. So is the return journey tickets needed now also. As it would be, costlier to book the tickets. Can you suggest a option which is feasible, as UK visa process takes 15 working days. Does any airline provide flight reservation options so long.

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      March 4, 2018 at 10:08 am

      Hi Raina! Thanks for the kind words! First of all, NEVER purchase actual flight tickets before applying for any visa for any country. Even consulates make it clear not to actually purchase the tickets, instead will ask you to just book/reserve/hold the tickets.

      That being said, UK has stopped asking for flight tickets. It’s only in rare cases they ask you to send the flight tickets (again just book/reserve/hold) along with other supporting documents.

      If, for some reason, you were asked to upload or send flight tickets for your UK visa, try British Airways’s email price quote. UK immigration accepts that as a proof of flight tickets. I have actually used BA’s email price quote when I applied for my UK visa 2 years ago.

      You don’t need to hold the tickets for 15 working days. So, you can try the hold option on airlines such as Turkish Airways, Qatar Airways, American Airlines, etc.

      Reply
      • Rai says

        April 10, 2018 at 4:12 pm

        Hi,
        How can I the price quote? Can you please share the steps?

        I did not have to submit anything for online form but have to carry flight itinerary for interview for UK.
        The best option I’ve found till date only allows 24 hr itinerary which will be useless to me.
        Thanks

        Reply
        • Thirumal says

          April 11, 2018 at 6:52 am

          You can get the price quote from British Airways. It worked fine for my UK visa. The steps to get a price quote from British Airways is below –

          – Go to the URL https://www.britishairways.com/en-us/flights-and-holidays/flights
          – In the “Create Trip” screen, enter your source and destination airports, dates, etc and click on “Find Flights”
          – In the next screen, select your flights and click on “Continue”
          – In the next screen, under “Check your flight details”, on the right side, you will see a link “Email price quote”.
          – Click on the “Email price quote” link and follow the instructions

          Reply
  5. Madhumita says

    March 5, 2018 at 8:31 am

    Hello Thirumal,

    Very useful information indeed! I am about to apply for a Schengen visa and knowing about the complexities/strict rules applied to it, I just want to be completely sure of the documents I submit. The visa center is asking for a Travel itinerary
    (travel reservation to and from Schengen area in your name, not a ticket), so does this mean I have to show the itinerary only to port of entry and departure country, or also for all the other countries I will be visiting in the Schengen area? My itinerary looks like this Budapest-Vienna-Prague-Paris-Amsterdam, and I plan to use road/rail transport for a few of the places, so please let me know how should my air itinerary look.

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      March 5, 2018 at 12:37 pm

      Hi Madhumita! To give you a more specific answer, I would need some extra information. Here are a couple questions –

      – How long is your trip?
      – Are you planning to enter from Budapest and leave from Amsterdam?

      I can give you a more specific answer based on your information for the above 2 questions. But meanwhile, there are a couple ways to go about it.

      Option 1: Pick just one country
      Since you are only showing an itinerary or booking (not actual purchased tickets), just pick one country. Say Hungary. Get a flight itinerary in and out of Hungary. Show hotel reservations in 2 or 3 different places in Hungary. After your visa approval, you can purchase your actual tickets to fly into Budapest and fly out from Amsterdam.

      Option 2: Pick any two countries
      Pick any two countries. Say Hungary and Netherlands. Show a flight itinerary to fly into Budapest and out from Amsterdam, but also another itinerary for Budapest to Amsterdam. You will basically provide two flight itineraries. Plus provide hotel reservations in 2 or 3 cities in Hungary and Netherlands. After your visa approval, you can purchase your actual tickets to fly into Budapest and fly out from Amsterdam.

      Option 3: Do not provide any road/rail itinerary for now
      Provide your flight itinerary as is (into Budapest and out from Amsterdam) and provide hotel reservations in all the cities you are planning to visit (Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Paris, Amsterdam). When submitting your application, just let the visa officer know that you will purchase rail/road tickets later since you are still researching cheaper options.

      Reply
      • Madhumita says

        March 9, 2018 at 8:58 am

        Hello Thirumal,

        Thank you for your detailed response. I plan to apply for visa for Czech republic as Prague will be my port of entry. The checklist says that I need to submit the flight reservation of return ticket. Does this mean confirmed ticket reservation? Websites like travelvisabookings.com are offering confirmed travel itinerary for a fee. How genuine is this and will this be accepted for visa processing?

        Thanks in advance,
        Madhumita

        Reply
        • Thirumal says

          March 12, 2018 at 5:08 am

          Hi Madhumita! Yes, travelvisabookings and other websites I have mentioned are all genuine. They are just online travel agents who will hold flight tickets for you. The reservation will be held for certain days depending on the airline. The reservation becomes void after that.

          Itineraries from them are perfectly acceptable for Schengen visa applications. Just make sure to verify the reservation on the airline’s website using the booking/PNR number right after you receive the itinerary from them.

          Reply
          • Lydia Johnson says

            January 11, 2019 at 7:19 pm

            Hi Thirumal,

            Very useful article. I am planning to apply for Schengen and plan to visit Netherlands ion my way to from Canada to India and Malta on the way back. I am not sure on the Malta plan yet so can I just get my visa based on my Netherlands stay and because the visa lasts for 90 days, I come back to Malta ?

            Also, with these airlines/agents holding the reservations, will I be obligated to buy the ticket with the 24 hrs-3 days or do I just print it and let it go void and then get a cheaper ticket later ? Does it matter to the embassy that the PNR is active etc ? I am very confused.

            Thanks,
            Lydia

          • Thirumal says

            January 11, 2019 at 10:17 pm

            Hi Lydia! Thanks! It’s difficult to predict if you will be issued a 90-day visa. Mine was valid for only 30 days. Whereas, many of my readers secured 90-day visas successfully. Therefore, it all depends on the country, consulate, location and itinerary.

            You will just let these flight itineraries go void. These itineraries are only for visa application and the PNR status will not affect your visa process. You will book better and cheaper tickets after your visa approval.

  6. Marie-Laure says

    March 6, 2018 at 8:16 am

    Hello,

    Many thanks for this page.

    Do you think the embassies are checking the validity of the plane tickets?

    Reply
    • Marie-Laure says

      March 6, 2018 at 8:22 am

      I mean when they issue a VISA

      Reply
      • Thirumal says

        March 6, 2018 at 1:50 pm

        They sometimes do. That’s why you cannot submit photoshopped/fake flight tickets. They want you to hold the tickets for now and purchase them when your visa is approved. This works if the visa processing takes just a few days (say 2-5 days). Consulates that take longer know that you will eventually get different tickets altogether since your hold/reservation will not be valid for that long.

        Reply
  7. GQ says

    March 12, 2018 at 6:03 pm

    Hello Thirumal,
    I just found your site. Thanks for all the helpful information! We are trying to get Schegen visas. We have booked a cruise trip for end of May through early June (roundtrip from Rome, Italy), already paid in full. Now the question is if we still need an airline ticket for the visa since we have paid in full for the cruise? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      March 13, 2018 at 4:00 am

      Hi GQ! Thanks for the kind words! I understand that your cruise will start and end in Italy. But, are you flying into Italy to catch your cruise? If so, you would need to show the round trip tickets to and from Italy for Schengen visa application. For example, say you reside in India. In that case, you would need show roundtrip ticket from India-Italy and Italy-India.

      Also, make sure your Schengen visa is multiple entries as you enter Italy to catch your cruise is considered as entry 1 and when you return from the cruise to Italy again, it’s considered as entry 2.

      Reply
  8. chris says

    March 23, 2018 at 3:58 pm

    Hello sir, please, i wish to make a reservation for iceland and new zealand visa application for purpose of summer studies, please which airline do you recommend to book reserve for visa application? i think this is just reservation right? so no payment is needed upfront? but please, since some can only reserve for few days, what do you suggest about some application that takes month to get granted? wont the short days reservation be a problem?

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      March 24, 2018 at 4:58 am

      Hi Chris! Yes, just reservation. No payment is needed upfront. You should NOT purchase tickets before your visa is approved.

      I understand that some visa applications take a month to grant, but they still accept flight reservations that are valid for just a few days. Consulates and visa officers know this already. So, there is no problem with it.

      Reply
      • Aswin says

        May 28, 2018 at 3:05 am

        Hi Thirumal,

        Thanks for one of the most exhaustive post on getting travel itinerary. I also admire your prompt reply to all queries. True selfless service indeed. Hopes you can help me with my problem regarding getting NZ visa.

        Would you know any airlines that offer fully refundable tickets, flying from Singapore to NZ. If there are none, then any insurance scheme that would cover Visa rejection scenario.

        I would really appreciate any help you can provide.

        Cheers

        Aswin

        Reply
        • Thirumal says

          May 28, 2018 at 5:07 am

          Hi Aswin! You’re welcome! Thanks for the kind words!

          It’s hard to find airlines that offer fully refundable tickets without any fee in this route. But, check Quantas Airlines’ “Flex” fare. It is fully refundable but they may charge a small service fee when you cancel. Check the “Flex” tickets availability on Quantas first. Then call them to find out the exact service fee that they charge for cancellation. If that service fee is negligible, then go for it. Here is more info -> https://www.qantas.com/regions/amadeus/minirules/SGAUFLEXI_SUMMARY/index.html

          I’m not aware of any insurances that cover visa denials. Your best bet is to go for a (1) fully refundable ticket or (2) hold reservation.

          Reply
        • Sheryl says

          January 27, 2019 at 1:27 am

          Hi Aswin,

          May I know what site or travel agency did you use to get a flight reservation to apply visa to New Zealand. I am also here in Singapore and wish to visa to New Zealand. Thank you.

          Reply
  9. chris says

    March 23, 2018 at 4:15 pm

    is this site genuine for reserving flight itinerary?

    https://www.booking.com
    https://travelvisabookings.com

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      March 24, 2018 at 4:59 am

      Yes, those sites are genuine. But booking.com is only for hotel reservations. Whereas, travelvisabookings.com is good for flight reservations.

      Reply
  10. chris says

    March 25, 2018 at 11:52 am

    since this site (https://travelvisabookings.com) looks genuine, i will use it, please how much to reserve flight ticket, and please , do you have idea how i can get travel medical certificate?

    you know, i saw this under the requirement of iceland visa application

    Travel Medical Insurance: photocopy; valid in all Schengen states; valid for entire duration of stay; minimum coverage of at least EUR 30,000/USD 50,000/PHP 2.5M

    please, do you know where i can get this medical insurance, does travelvisabookings.com offer it too? this site ok http://www.visitorscoverage.com?

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      March 26, 2018 at 4:41 am

      Chris, you can use travelvisabookings. You can send them your itinerary and the number of days, then they will send you the reservation which usually is valid for up to a week.

      Travel medical insurance is mandatory for Schengen visa. You can use vistorscoverage if you can find an inexpensive plan. But using a local provider may get you a good deal. Are you from the Philippines? If so, check out https://www.bpims.com/.

      Reply
      • chris says

        March 26, 2018 at 7:47 am

        thank you for the site, yes am situated in the Philippines sir, so i can use this https://www.bpims.com/. for travel medical insurance?

        but http://www.visitorscoverage.com seems cheaper, so is genuine site right?

        Reply
        • Thirumal says

          March 26, 2018 at 8:16 am

          Yes Chris, you can use bpims.com for your travel medical insurance. Also, check this article from Aileen (https://iamaileen.com/how-to-apply-schengen-visa-embassy-belgium/) on how to apply for Schengen visa from the Philippines.

          Reply
          • chris says

            March 26, 2018 at 9:02 am

            ok thank you again sir

            Please, am going to iceland for a short course, i wish to know, what can i tie would immigration wish to see, am only a student going for a short term program in iceland

            chris

  11. Prithvi says

    March 26, 2018 at 10:54 am

    Thanks for everything you shared here. It was the most exhaustive post on the internet I could find and that too from an Indian.

    Thanks again.

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      March 26, 2018 at 12:16 pm

      Thanks a lot, Prithvi! I’m just a traveler helping fellow travelers.

      Reply
      • chris says

        March 27, 2018 at 2:57 am

        sir, it does not matter if i use foreign travel medical insurance company right? i think i prefer it than the philippines companies ones

        Please get back

        Reply
        • Thirumal says

          March 27, 2018 at 4:04 am

          Yeah Chris, it does not matter if you use a foreign travel medical insurance company.

          Reply
  12. moien says

    March 28, 2018 at 11:18 am

    want to book a hotel for 90 days , please suggest website for booking

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      April 1, 2018 at 4:44 am

      Moien, 90 days is too long for a booking. It can also raise questions from the visa officer on why you want to stay in one place for 90 days. I suggest to break down that 90 days into 5-6 different bookings in different cities. You can use Expedia or Booking.com for your hotel bookings.

      Reply
  13. Hamit says

    April 10, 2018 at 2:35 am

    Hello Thirumal,

    Can I use flight itinerary from yattra.com for German Schengen Visa. Website provided me free reservation with no time limitation as if it is a fake:))

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      April 10, 2018 at 6:42 am

      Yes, you can use your flight itinerary from Yatra. But it’s not a fake reservation. The tickets are held for a certain number of days after which they are released. The German consulate can verify the reservation if they need to.

      Reply
  14. Nala says

    April 12, 2018 at 5:42 pm

    Hello,

    Thanks for this article. It is very informative! I have an Indian passport (‘powerless passport- this made me chuckle) but I am currently residing in the United States(work visa). I am planning a trip to the Schengen area – fly in and out of Amsterdam and probably visit Belgium and Germany while there. The documents specify bank statements – do you think online print outs will do fine? I am glad that these online sites that book the flight/hotel/insurance for you are genuine and I plan to use ‘travelvisabookings’. The question I have for you is that Indian passports or maybe it’s just my passport has my whole name listed under ‘given name’ and ‘surname’ is blank. Do you have any suggestions regarding this when it comes to filling out visa applications where they ask for first and last name? Thanks a lot for your time!

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      April 13, 2018 at 5:29 am

      Hi Nala! Haha yes, indeed our passports are weak and powerless. It’s not fair to go through so much struggle to secure visas.

      For bank statements, just the printouts are sufficient. You can download the PDFs from your bank website and then just print them out.

      TravelVisaBookings, of course, provide you with genuine reservation. All you have to do is just print them out. Or, you can also use the PNR number on the airline website and print the itinerary from there as well.

      It’s not uncommon to have “surname” left blank in Indian passports. First thing I would suggest is to get that fixed the next time you renew your passport. And for visa applications, fill your actual surname in the “surname” field and actual given name in “given name” field in any visa application. I know it would be different from what you have in your passport. But, most visa applications would need “surname” field to be complete and it cannot be left blank. For example:

      Your Passport
      =============
      Surname:
      Given Name: John Doe Smith

      Visa Application
      ===============
      Surname: Smith
      Given Name: John Doe

      Reply
      • chris says

        April 13, 2018 at 9:28 am

        sir, Turkey airline good to reserve ticket for 24 days for purpose of visa application?

        Reply
        • Thirumal says

          April 13, 2018 at 10:10 am

          Yes, you can hold tickets on Turkish airlines. Also, try United airlines and Expedia. Which routes and what dates are you flying? Let me check and see if I can find something for you.

          Reply
          • chris says

            April 13, 2018 at 11:06 am

            Origin and destination: manila, Philippines to Norðurárdalur, Iceland (NB: sorry, but trying to locate for the nearest airport where this university is located, Bifröst University, that is the exact place am going for a short term program)

            date of travel: FROM JULY 18 TO AUGUST 12

          • chris says

            April 13, 2018 at 11:21 am

            Hi bro, please can i have your email for an important question

  15. chris says

    April 13, 2018 at 8:58 am

    My experience with https://travelvisabookings.com

    Ok guys, despite the good things said about the above mentioned site, i think my experience with them was not a good one

    before i paid them for itinerary reservation, they said i could use my one account for 5 bookings

    i have already booked one itinerary for visa application, now wanting to book for the second itinerary but was told i will pay, fill fresh application

    to me, this is dishonesty and failure in keeping their promise

    a deal is a deal, travelvisabookings should maintain their promises and keep their customers happy

    I don’t just like it when people or companies don’t live up to their expectations and promises

    to me, this is fishy

    Reply
    • chris says

      April 13, 2018 at 9:04 am

      dont want to continue using them, please poster, any other good source or site an applicant could reserve ticket itinerant please?

      Reply
      • chris says

        April 13, 2018 at 9:05 am

        like ticket reservation for 24 days/, please get back

        Reply
    • Thirumal says

      April 13, 2018 at 10:07 am

      Thanks for letting me know, Chris! If they are dishonest and don’t keep up their word, they do not deserve to be on this list. I will take them off this list. Sorry for the inconvenience!

      Reply
      • chris says

        April 13, 2018 at 11:25 am

        sir, i tried the turkish airline but there is no reserve this ticket and pay later button

        only Express checkout, Credit card/Debit card, and the UnionPay

        does it mean the turkish airline does not offer ticket resersation anymore sir?

        Reply
        • Thirumal says

          April 13, 2018 at 12:21 pm

          Chris! I just emailed you. Let me know your questions.

          Reply
          • Samir Alamaary says

            April 16, 2018 at 11:57 am

            Can you also send me info about Turkish Airlines hold option. I also cannot find it anywhere in their booking/checkout process.

          • Thirumal says

            April 16, 2018 at 3:57 pm

            The hold option for Turkish Airlines is on the payment page (which is the last step). On the payment page, you will see 4 options – Express Checkout, Credit/Debit Card, Union Pay and the last option – “Reserve this flight and pay later”.

  16. Harshada says

    April 14, 2018 at 5:42 pm

    HI Sir,

    I wanted to book itenary for Canada visit visa. please suggest me the sitesin which I can do itenary ticket

    Reply
    • Harshada says

      April 14, 2018 at 6:33 pm

      As it takes 2-4 weeks for Visa processing. Can I hold the flight ticket for 30 days. Is there any flight booking site which holds ticket for 30 days . If I say I am travelling on May 20 . Do I need to I apply for Visa on April 20 as I have to hold ticket for minimum 30 days?.

      Reply
      • Thirumal says

        April 15, 2018 at 7:29 am

        Hi Harshada! You don’t have to hold your tickets for 30 days. Canadian Consulates know this clearly and they won’t insist you on holding tickets for that long. Anywhere from 1-2 weeks should be fine.

        I have applied for Canada visa twice and in both cases, my flight reservations were valid for 1 week only. I didn’t have any issues at all and both times my visas were approved.

        I have used a local travel agent for my first time. For the second time, I have used the FareLock feature on United Airlines to hold my ticket for 7 days.

        Reply
  17. Hazel says

    April 16, 2018 at 8:24 pm

    Hi Thirumal
    Do you have any idea if the website “Flight Reservations for Visa” is legit?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      April 17, 2018 at 5:09 am

      Yes, they are legit but I suggest to explore the FREE options first. If you want to go with “Flight Reservations for visa”, chat with them first to inquire about the fee, turn around time, how long the tickets will be valid, etc.

      Reply
  18. Stedelwhi says

    April 18, 2018 at 5:01 pm

    Hi Thirumal,

    Have you ever heard of Tripmasters.com? They provide an itinerary at no cost but I’m not sure if this will work for a Schengen Visa application because it doesn’t have my name. It’s basically just a quote but it shows specific flights, hotels and train info. Do you think this would work?

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      April 19, 2018 at 6:31 am

      Yes, I have heard about Tripmasters. But, the itinerary must have your name on it. Otherwise, the visa officers will not accept it as a valid flight itinerary.

      Reply
  19. Irina says

    May 2, 2018 at 12:48 am

    Do NOT use https://travelvisabookings.com

    My husband ordered for me Flight,Hotel & Insurance Package and wrote the wrong last name (I still have my travel passport under my maiden name). I contacted them RIGHT AWAY in live chat, via website contact form and via customersupport email to let them know about the correction.

    I told them that I have a visa appointment soon and I need the papers ASAP. So 3 hours of delivery (as they promise on website) was exactly what I needed and could only wait for.

    I contacted them again 2 hours after my purchase and correction to remind about me. Both times they said they would take care of it and deliver everything on time.

    It’s been more than 4 hours since my order and correction. I contacted them again saying that they didn’t deliver as promised and I either need the papers right now or the refund.

    This time nobody even responded me via live chat – they just ignored me, just like they apparently have been ignoring my order all along!

    Now I’m going to miss my visa appointment because of them and not even sure if I can get another one in time to still make it to my June trip.

    HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE SCAM! Don’t fall for it, stay away!

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      May 2, 2018 at 4:47 am

      Hi Irina! I’m really sorry that you had to go through this. I’m hearing complaints about travelvisabookings.com. I don’t want others facing the same problem as you. I have removed them from the list.

      Let me know if travelvisabookings do not get back to you in time. I can try to see if someone else can help you with your itinerary.

      Reply
  20. NILESH PATEL says

    May 11, 2018 at 4:44 pm

    Hi , read your blog and it is really helpful for visa process. Emirates airlines is providing 72 hours flight reservation blocking facility with nominal charge. Is it good enough hold period for getting visa for Denmark , the consulate takes 2 weeks of processing time. or should i use services from ‘ visa reservation.com’ or ‘travelvisabookings.com’

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      May 11, 2018 at 4:49 pm

      Nilesh, 3-day hold is perfectly fine for Schengen visa application. Consulates very well know that you cannot hold tickets for 2 weeks. So, my recommendation – go for Emirates. Regarding visareservation.com and other services, I recommend using the airlines’ services first if available. If none of those are available or don’t work for you, then go for visareservation.com, etc.

      Reply
  21. Sakshi Jain says

    May 19, 2018 at 5:13 am

    Hi

    Read through the entire thing but still have a question regarding holding flight tickets for UK visa.
    As you know UK visa may take up to 2 weeks for processing, so when do you think is the right time to book the “hold ticket”. Is it during filling the application or just before the biometrics appointment considering we can hold ticket up to 2 days and biometrics appointment is dependent on slot availability.
    I am planning to schedule an appointment a week post paying visa fee so when is it a good time for me to book “hold tickets”?

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      May 19, 2018 at 6:23 am

      Hi Sakshi! I suggest getting your “hold ticket” right before you submit or mail your documents. That way the ticket would be still valid when the consulate receives your application.

      Reply
      • Sakshi Jain says

        May 20, 2018 at 8:58 pm

        Thank you Thiru.
        Had another question regarding the residence proof.
        My passport is issued by a different city to the one i am currently residing in.
        Will a notarized rent agreement suffice as a valid and legal proof of residence?
        Will an airtel telephone bill be counted as a valid residential proof?

        Reply
        • Thirumal says

          May 21, 2018 at 5:44 am

          Sakshi, Yes, rent agreement and airtel bill should work fine as a residence proof. But, is the UK visa application asking for a residence proof?

          Reply
          • Sakshi Jain says

            May 21, 2018 at 4:33 pm

            Yes. There is a section which asks for proof of accommodation. It can be either property deed / tenancy agreement / letter from accountant / land registration document.
            The lease agreement i have is only notarized but not registered. Will that suffice as a tenancy agreement?

          • Thirumal says

            May 21, 2018 at 4:42 pm

            Proof of accommodation usually means your accommodation details in the UK during your trip. Which is basically your hotel booking. I think there is some kind of confusion here. Can you send a screenshot or link to that page to my email thirumal@visatraveler.com? I would like to take a look and do some research.

  22. Sakshi Jain says

    May 26, 2018 at 2:30 pm

    Whom should we address the noc from company to? British High Commission or Consulate
    And is it advisable to carry travel or general medical insurance of travelling with parents who are 60+ in age? Will that make any difference?

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      May 26, 2018 at 2:34 pm

      You can address the NOC letter to something like below.

      The Visa Officer,
      UK Visas and Immigration

      Travel medical insurance is NOT required for UK visa application. But, when you are actually traveling to the UK, you may want to consider getting some kind of travel medical insurance. It’s a good practice to get medical insurance while traveling as it can be extremely useful in case of emergency health issues.

      Reply
  23. Syl says

    June 1, 2018 at 6:46 am

    Good morning. Thanks for the post. Please, I’m applying for a schengen visa at the German Consulate. My appointment date is exactly 14 days from my flight itinerary’s departure date. I understand the visa processing time is minimum of 14days. Would this be an issue for me? If yes, please what should I do? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      June 1, 2018 at 8:39 am

      Hi Syl! 14 days should be enough for the German consulate to process your visa. Did you already purchase your flight tickets? If not, just allow at least 3 weeks between the visa application and travel date.

      Reply
  24. Anonymous says

    June 21, 2018 at 10:11 am

    Hey!
    I am planning to go to Denmark. I need to book an itinerary ticket from Pakistan. Please suggest the best and cheapest available website for booking the ticket. Plus also guide regarding the travel and medical insurance policy.

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      June 22, 2018 at 5:45 am

      For travel itinerary, I suggest getting a flight itinerary directly from an airline over using an online travel agent. You can use any of the options I have suggested in this article. But if you must use an online travel agent, any agent is fine. Their services range from $20-$30.

      Regarding travel insurance for your Schengen visa, you can purchase a cheap insurance from any insurance provider. If you plan to purchase from an online travel agent, you can simply purchase a package that includes flight tickets, hotel reservations, and insurance.

      Note: DO NOT purchase actual flight tickets before your visa is approved.

      Reply
  25. kamaljeet singh says

    June 22, 2018 at 6:13 pm

    Hello sir, I want to visit Canada on a tourist visa and one of the required document is flight itinerary. But I don’t want to take risk of that money. Please suggest me an alternate.

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      June 23, 2018 at 2:04 am

      Hi Kamaljeet! Consulates know that the visa results are hard to predict. Therefore they DO NOT ask for purchased flight tickets. They only ask for an itinerary, which means just “holding” your flight tickets. You will buy them after your visa is approved.

      For your Canada visa application, you can use United Airlines’ Farelock where you can hold tickets for 7 days for $8.99. You can also use Yatra.com to hold tickets for 3 days for free. Check steps 6 and 7 in this article.

      Canada visa process takes about 30 days and the consulate knows that it’s not possible to hold tickets that long. So, holding tickets for 3 or 7 days is perfectly fine for your Canada visa application. Good luck!

      Reply
  26. Paul says

    June 27, 2018 at 10:10 am

    Sir, thanks for kind word and help. I plan to use travelvisabookings.com to provide an itinerary for my traveling document b/cos flight, hotel reservation, insurance including Free Personal covering letter but what am hearing them brought doubt about them. Please, do you know any genuine site that offers the same service? I think they charge $70 for flight, hotel reservation, insurance including Free Personal covering letter.

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      June 29, 2018 at 3:06 am

      Paul, it’s difficult to say which are genuine and which are not. It depends on personal experience. Some had a good experience and some had a bad experience with them. Just talk to them up front and make sure there no hidden charges. Another site you can try is https://visareservation.com/. Talk to them as well before you pay.

      My personal advice is to get flight, hotel, and insurance all by yourself. It takes a bit of work but completely free.

      Reply
  27. Paul says

    June 29, 2018 at 10:19 am

    Thanks for your response and its content.This is my first time to hear that i can do all the booking for free but the procedure and the links is my major concern now and i will be glad you could give me more information on that.Thanks for your candid

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      June 29, 2018 at 10:31 am

      Paul, just look up these below options in this article. They are all free or costs very little or completely refundable. Just pick the option that works for you and your visa needs.

      01. Purchasing a refundable ticket
      04. Using award miles and hold option
      05. Free ticket hold option by airlines
      06. Free ticket hold option by online booking sites
      07. Ticket hold option for a fee by airlines
      08. Email price quote or itinerary option from airlines
      09. Free 24 hours ticket cancellation from United, Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline, etc.

      Reply
  28. somin says

    July 9, 2018 at 9:37 am

    Is travel insurance mandatory for UK visa?

    Also, how do i go back to my saved application? I am not able to find.

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      July 10, 2018 at 12:42 pm

      Hi Somin! Travel insurance is not needed for UK visa. You should be able to go back to the application. Did you save the URL somewhere? If not, try starting from here -> https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/alt-language-selection-skip-visa.

      Reply
  29. Azagba says

    July 11, 2018 at 9:44 am

    The contents of the site are superb and thanks for your good advice! However, I would like you to put me thru in this area. I don’t have an invitation letter to support my documents for the tourist visa and secondly how much money should I have in my bank account? Since there is no sponsor, will I have more chances to get the visa approved for Europe and USA Visa, though my company promises to give me employment letter and payslip?

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      July 13, 2018 at 10:10 am

      Azagba, Thanks! Invitation letters and sponsorships are not really necessary. Just apply as a tourist and you will have more chances of approval. Regarding funds in the bank, you should have enough for your trip. What really helps is your travel history. So, firstly try to travel to as many countries as you can.

      Reply
  30. vedant Kadian says

    October 27, 2018 at 10:07 am

    hi Thirumal, actually am gonna apply for US visa and Schengen visa both for my conference, seminar, events, and workshops trip, as am from India my visa takes a long time to process, so which travel site should I use to get an itinerary for the long process

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      October 30, 2018 at 10:41 pm

      Hi Vedant! You don’t need to show flight bookings for US visa. For Schengen, you can use yatra.com’s “hold” feature to hold tickets for 3+ days. If you hold Air India flights, they are usually held up to 7 days. Many Indian readers have used Yatra for their Schengen applications and it was perfectly fine.

      Reply
  31. Rakhi says

    December 16, 2018 at 7:16 am

    Hi Thirumal,

    Thanks for your post. It was really helpful.
    However, have few queries below.

    For applying a tourist UK Visa, do we also need a letter from employer too as a proof of leave consent if I am working.
    Also, could you please share the list of documents which is required for getting a tourist visa for UK.

    Waiting to hear from you soon.

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      December 17, 2018 at 5:12 am

      Hi Rakhi! UK visa application doesn’t ask specifically for a leave approval letter. But I have seen quite a few cases approved/denied based on that particular document. I’m assuming that leave approval letter works as a reaffirmation of strong ties to one’s home country. If you want to have higher chances of approval, I suggest including a leave approval letter from your employer.

      For documents required for UK visa application, refer to my UK visa guide. I have listed out all the documents needed in that article.

      Reply
  32. Sajju says

    January 14, 2019 at 2:24 pm

    Hi Thirumal, thanks a lot for such nice and detailed article!

    Please allow me to ask you for your help solving my queries regarding budget travel without confirmed flight tickets and it’s because this is gonna my first ever visit abroad. My itinerary is something like this -> INDIA-LAOS-VIETNAM-CAMBODIA-THAILAND-INDIA or may be in reverse order. Hence, below are the concerning things for which I need your hep –

    1. How many days in advance I can apply for Visa, because advance visa is suppose to help me better preparation and flight booking(earliest is best).

    2. Do I need to upload the complete itinerary each time I apply Visa in Embassies for each country?

    3. Is VOA best option for me as Indian and a budget traveller(yes I will not tell them that).

    4. Does VOA option also requires to show complete itinerary?

    5. My actual plan is to use flight only for ENTRY and EXITING time from starting to end of the total trip as I am travelling on budget. Therefore, HOW THE CHEAP AND BEST WAY I should show confirmed RETURN TICKET to each country without really booking a confirmed ticket? Can REFUNDABLE TICKET with VOA be the only good option OR there may be other better ways to do that(I am not a frequent flier though)?

    6. Are HOSTEL BOOKINGS accepted in Visa approval?

    Your early reply will be appreciated.

    Regards.

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      January 14, 2019 at 5:28 pm

      Hi Sajju! That’s a very good itinerary. You will have a great time.

      1. You can apply for most visas up to 3 months in advance. In your case, you can get VoA at all of those countries (Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand). You get 1 month entry in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia and 15 days entry in Thailand.
      2. You don’t have to upload/submit a complete itinerary. You just have to submit your inbound flight, outbound flight and hostel bookings.
      3. Yes. VOA may cost you slightly more. But compared to all the leg work you need to do for consulate visas, it comes down to the same price. Most consulates are in New Delhi and if don’t live in New Delhi, you would be spending a lot more on traveling to Delhi for visas.
      4. It depends on the country. You don’t need a visa for Laos. For Cambodia and Vietnam, do documentation is needed. You need a hostel booking and outbound flight for Thailand.
      5. I have outlined a few ways to get RETURN/ONWARD ticket for VoA in this article. Check it out. The cheapest option for you is to take buses from country to country.
      6. Yes, hostel bookings are accepted.

      Here is the visa information on each country –

      Laos – India passport holders DO NOT NEED a visa for 30 days
      Vietnam – India passport holders can get eVisa for 30 days for $25 USD. No documentation needed. Processing takes 2 working days. India passport holders can also get VoA for 30 days or 3 months. You must get an approval letter prior to arriving in Vietnam. Approval letter costs about $10 USD. Plus, VoA fee at the airport is $25 USD. Approval letter takes 2 working days. More info at Vietnam Visa Guide.
      Cambodia – India passport holders can get VoA for 30 days for $30 USD. More info at Cambodia Visa Guide.
      Thailand – India passport holders can get VoA for 15 days for 2000 THB. Thailand is waiving the VoA fee until the end of Jan. So, if you go before the end of Jan, the fee is 0. After that, it’s 2000 THB. You can also apply for a pre-approved visa from Thai consulate or VFS. It’s free of charge through Thai consulate and VFS changes some fee. More info at Thailand Visa Guide.

      Reply
  33. Anonymous says

    February 8, 2019 at 9:47 am

    Greatly appreciate the advice you are providing here to fellow travellers!

    I have a few questions on my imminent trip to UK and Europe (traveling on Indian passport). I would be traveling with my parents, both retired and live in India. They are not dependents and have their own source of income. My plan is to first visit UK for 4 days, then travel to France, Switzerland and return to India from Italy. I am currently working as a freelance business consultant, so no ’employer’ as such. In the past I have lived in France for 3 years and have traveled to UK from France on a visitor visa.

    My questions.
    1. My trip will be total 20-22 days, split between UK-4, France-7, Swiss-4, Italy-7. I am going as a tourist but will be also attending an university reunion one full day in France, which is the main motivation for the trip. I want to apply for the Schengen visa first (at the French Consulate), then for the UK visa. Is this a good strategy, considering France is my main reason for the trip. or do you advise to apply the UK one first, then France? My reasoning being, the Schengen visa would increase my chance for the UK one.

    2. I read in one of your earlier responses to show travel itinerary just for only 1 country for the visa (using hotel bookings and flight reservation for 3-4 places in that country) instead of showing many countries. Is this a good option in my case i.e. to show only French hotel bookings and flight reservations. In that case, would there be incentive for requesting multiple entries.

    3. Do I need internal train/bus bookings in France and from UK to France while applying for both UK and Schengen visa.

    4. As a self-employed person, I have bank statements, last tax return and invoices for my income. I do not have any leave approval or salary slips. What else can I provide to strengthen our application and prove ties to India (It might be worthwhile to mention here that I am not going for any professional reason, although my primary client now is a French one). I was thinking of showing my family’s property ownership in India, Aadhaar card for all family members (my brother and his family who are not traveling with us, niece’s school ID etc).

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      February 13, 2019 at 7:41 pm

      Hi! I apologize for such a late response!

      1. It doesn’t matter much. I have known readers who have applied for the UK visa first and Schengen later. They had similar itineraries comprising a trip to UK and Europe. In my opinion, going for the UK visa first is better since your passport will be away at the UK consulate for almost 30 days. You can neither track your visa status nor talk to someone at the consulate. It can be annoying if you already had your Schengen visa and the travel dates are approaching.

      But, if you like to go with Schengen visa first, I suggest applying for Schengen well in advance so you will not panic while your passport is away at the UK consulate for over 30 days. Apply for Schengen at least 3 months before your travel dates. Even if Schengen takes 30 days, you will still have about 60 days to sort out your UK situation.

      2. Showing an itinerary for just one country makes it simple and manageable. You don’t need train tickets or make too many hotel reservations. Since this is not your first Schengen visa, (a) you will get a multiple-entry visa and (b) the visa validity would be 90 days or more.

      3. Internal train/bus bookings depend on whether you would like to show the entire itinerary or just France. If entire itinerary, then yes, you will have to show internal train/bus bookings as well. Easiest would be to show refundable flight tickets between countries.

      If you are applying for Schengen visa first, I suggest providing flight tickets in and out of Schengen region. Otherwise, the Schengen visa officials would like to see if you already have a UK visa.

      If you are applying for a UK visa first, I suggest providing flight tickets in and out of the UK. This removes the necessity to provide a copy of your Schengen visa with your UK visa application.

      4. Being employed is definitely a strong tie with one’s home country. But, you are strong in other areas such as travel history, which will compensate for you being self-employed. Bank statements, tax returns and invoices are sufficient in your case. Provide any client contracts if you have.

      Yes, those documents for your family ties will help definitely help.

      Reply
      • Anonymous says

        February 14, 2019 at 5:46 am

        For the sake of confidentiality, can you please change my name to ‘Anonymous’

        That is some great advice there. Thank you!

        So basically you are saying keep things simple for the first visa. If applying for UK first, show in and out flight tickets for UK only. If Schengen visa first, then show in and out tickets from there only. My travel dates are end of May; so I plan to apply in the beginning of March for the first visa.

        2 questions about UK visa.
        1. I understand medical insurance is mandatory for Schengen visa. Is it mandatory for UK visa too?
        2. The bank statements and income tax returns are needed for 3 months and 3 years respectively?

        Reply
        • Thirumal says

          February 14, 2019 at 5:30 pm

          For sure.

          1. Medical insurance is NOT REQUIRED for the UK visa.
          2. I know that you would need 3 months of bank statements. But, I’m not very sure about tax returns. In my opinion, there is no harm in providing more tax returns. Go for 3 years if you have.

          Reply
  34. bakul thummar says

    February 16, 2019 at 5:50 pm

    Hi Thirumal, thanks for the article!
    I purchased flight itinerary from “Schengen visa reservation” website and booked a hotel with booking.com and applied for Schengen visa for 15 days in France for our family of (couple + 2 children)

    I got just refusal latter on 15 Feb 19 with reason no. 8 The information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and condition of the intended stay was not reliable.

    Last year, Feb 18 I was refused by Netherlands embassy reason 2. justification for the purpose and condition of intended stay was not provided and reason no 9. your intention to leave territory could not be ascertained. Because during the telephonic interview I could not answer the hotel name and address. at that time also not submitted my business license. Applied as freelancer, also no travel history, so refused. Then in a week reapply in Czech republic again refused with the same reason 2 and 9.

    Then immediately we went to Singapore, Malaysia, Srilanka

    This time doing a lot of research. All thing makes perfect, bank balance, my property paper, mutual fund, CA certificate, my business license, there is no fault in the paper.

    1. Is it a problem with the ticket or any?
    2. Should I try with package tour? Is that can improve my chance? ( which I dislike, I like to travel on my own)
    3. Should I try in any other Schengen country or should I wait for next year?
    4. This three refusal impact on other county application, like Australia?
    5. Is there any option to physically go direct embassy for visa application?

    Please help me to take the decision.

    Reply
    • Thirumal says

      February 16, 2019 at 7:42 pm

      Hi Bakul! Before I answer your questions, let me clarify the reasons of your visa refusal and offer some suggestions first.

      Refusal Reason 8 – “The information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and condition of the intended stay was not reliable.”

      Reasons –
      1. Your purpose of travel is not clear. Visa officers couldn’t clearly understand whether your travel was tourism, business, or both
      2. Your itinerary was not clear and detailed. Visa officers couldn’t understand what all places you will be touring, how you will be going from place to place, where will you be staying, how long you will stay in each place, etc.
      3. Your purpose is “tourism” but you submitted your business funds and bank statements (which are for business purpose only)

      Suggestions –
      1. Indicate your purpose of travel clearly in your cover letter
      2. Indicate your day-by-day itinerary clearly in your cover letter
      3. Show internal flight/train/bus tickets
      4. Show hotel reservations in all places that you will be visiting

      Refusal Reason 2 – “Your intention to leave territory could not be ascertained”

      Reasons –
      1. This could be due to the lack of strong ties with your home country
      2. You do not have any family obligations that would make you return back to your home country after the trip
      3. You do not have any business obligations that would make you return back to your country after the trip

      Suggestions –
      1. Submit employment letter and leave approval letter from your wife (if she is working)
      2. Submit your children school fee receipts (if in school)
      3. Submit client contracts stating your obligation for future work and commitments
      4. Submit NOC documents from your business partners that you will return to business activities at the end of the trip
      5. Indicate in the cover letter clearly that you intend to return back to your country after the trip as you are responsible for carrying on company activities, sending kids to school, etc

      Here are the answers to your questions –

      1. Is it a problem with the ticket or any?
      It could be. Did you verify the authenticity of the tickets after you got them from Schengen Visa Reservation? Also, did you provide internal flight/train/bus tickets?

      2. Should I try with package tour? Is that can improve my chance? ( which I dislike, I like to travel on my own)
      Package tour will not improve your chances either. You have several rejections already and if keep trying, the consulates sense desperation and assume that it could be an illegal immigration attempt.

      3. Should I try in any other Schengen country or should I wait for next year?
      All Schengen countries can see your previous visa denials. So, it doesn’t really matter which embassy you apply from. You would need to figure what you are lacking and must fix that before. Embassy or country doesn’t really affect your result.

      4. This three refusal impact on other county application, like Australia?
      I think so. I don’t have evidence to prove, but most countries have access to visas and traveler information. I found out recently that UK can now check anyone’s US visa attempts, US can check for any Canada visa attempts, and so on. So, I’m certain that most countries now have access to visas and travel information.

      5. Is there any option to physically go direct embassy for visa application?
      Yes. Not all Schengen countries use VFS for visa processing. I think Spain, Belgium, Sweden, etc are still consulate based. Check the websites of other Schengen country consulates for details.

      Reply
      • bakul thummar says

        February 18, 2019 at 2:08 pm

        Many many thanks Thirumal for your wide reply! I’m a big fan of you as one is for a film star.

        How can I verify Air reservation/ticket (15 days blocked fight itinerary) that I got from Schengen visa flight reservation?

        I submitted my wife’s salary certificate and leave approval latter, children’s school NOC letter, four savings account (16 lac balance), two current account with proper transactions, my wife’s rented income proof (rent agreement), I am doing property dealing business with proprietorship, submitted firm registration, shop establishment license (office), which is only one year old, submitted various 8 property paper with translation, not submitted internal travel tickets (is it mandatory?)

        Is the whole family visa I demanded is the problem? Should I apply for couple only? I live with my mother father but not submitted ration card.

        Now with your suggestion decided to postpone Europe trip, and want to go elsewhere, to develop travel history, I completed Singapore, Malaysia, Srilanka.

        My new travel history is will helpful for my future plan for Europe trip?
        Europe trip is my big aim in my life, where should I go to improve travel history?

        Reply
        • Thirumal says

          February 18, 2019 at 5:47 pm

          Thanks, Bakul for the kind words! “Big fan of you as one is for a film star” makes be chukle, thanks a lot!!

          How can I verify Air reservation/ticket (15 days blocked fight itinerary) that I got from Schengen visa flight reservation?
          You can verify the reservation/ticket on that particular airline website. There are also third-party websites/apps such as CheckMyTrip where you can verify your reservation.

          Is the whole family visa I demanded is the problem? Should I apply for couple only? I live with my mother father but not submitted ration card.
          Applying for the entire family is not a problem if you have really strong ties with your country. If you don’t have strong ties with your country, I suggest traveling as a couple rather than the entire family.

          My new travel history will be helpful for my future plan for Europe trip?
          Yes. That will definitely help you in your future Schengen visas.

          Europe trip is my big aim in my life, where should I go to improve travel history?
          Travel to countries that issue visa stickers in your passport. VOA countries that issue visa stickers are Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, etc. Visa required countries that issue visa stickers are UAE, South Korea, Japan, etc.

          Reply

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About Thirumal Motati, founder and travel writer at visa traveler
Hi! I’m Thirumal Motati. I have been exploring the world on my “powerless” Indian passport. 4 years, 4 continents and 23 countries. Want to travel like me? Start here.

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