Obtaining a flight itinerary for visa can be the most challenging and confusing aspect of the visa process. Embassies and consulates require confirmed flight tickets, but they do not advise purchasing actual tickets before visa approval.
Consulates often request one of the following:
- Flight itinerary
- Flight reservation
- Travel itinerary
- Confirmed flight tickets
- Round-trip flight tickets
- Round-trip airline tickets
- Proof of onward travel
- Proof of return ticket
All of these terms essentially mean one thing: A Flight Itinerary.
Table of Contents
***
What is a flight itinerary for visa?
A flight itinerary for visa is essentially a flight booking made in your name that can be submitted as a flight ticket for your visa application. This can be a fully paid and confirmed flight ticket or a flight reservation held in your name for a specific duration.
A flight reservation must be verifiable online on the airline’s website using a PNR number. The reservation must have details such as your full name, flight dates, flight numbers and airport codes.
Visa applicants sometimes refer to a flight itinerary as a dummy ticket for visa. However, you will not see the word dummy ticket being used in official visa guidelines from the embassies.
BONUS: FREE eBOOK
Enter your name and email to download the FREE eBOOK: The Secret to VISA-FREE Travel
***
Why do embassies and consulates ask for a flight itinerary?
There are many reasons why embassies or consulates ask for a flight itinerary. They want to see your flight itinerary to determine your visa validity, to understand your travel plans and whether you require visas to other countries en route, etc.
Reason 1: To determine your visa validity
The consulate would like to know how long you plan to stay in the country. You will, of course, mention this information in the visa application. But a flight itinerary will confirm this information.
For example, a Schengen visa is issued for the exact amount of days you request in your first application. If your itinerary is for 12 days, you will get the visa for 12 days.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:
When I applied for my Schengen visa from the Spain consulate, my itinerary was for 21 days. My Schengen visa was issued with a validity of 30 days.
Reason 2: To understand your travel plans
A travel itinerary will help visa officers to understand whether you will be traveling directly from your home country or your country of residence. Or you will be traveling from a third country. This also helps the visa officers request any additional documents.
For example, if you are traveling from a third country, the embassy can ask for proof of residence in the third country or a complete round-trip ticket starting and ending in your home country.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:
For my Malaysia eVisa, I submitted a flight itinerary for India-Malaysia and Malaysia-Vietnam, assuming that flights into and out of Malaysia would be sufficient. The embassy later asked me to upload complete round-trip tickets starting and ending in India (my home country), including any other countries. They wanted to make sure I was not going to remain in a third country and would return to India.
Reason 3: To determine whether you require a visa to third countries
If your travel itinerary includes a third country for which you require a visa, the embassy will ask you to prove that you have a visa to enter the third country. Similarly, if you have a stopover in a third country, the embassy would like to see if you have the proper visa to transit via a third country.
For example, you are traveling from Dubai to France, France to the UK and then back to Dubai. The French Embassy will understand that you will be traveling to the UK from France. If you require a visa for the UK, France will contact you asking to provide a copy of your UK visa.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:
For my Schengen visa from the Spain embassy, my flight was via Mexico. I was planning to attend a friend’s wedding in Mexico before heading to Spain. The Spain consulate asked if I had a visa to enter Mexico. I had to explain to them that I can use my US visa to enter Mexico.
***
Should You Book Flight Tickets Before Visa Approval?
No. You should not purchase your flight tickets before your visa approval. Embassies and consulates acknowledge that a visa application does not guarantee approval. They recommend submitting a “flight reservation” and not a fully paid flight ticket.
If your visa application is denied or delayed, you will lose the money spent on the flight tickets. Airlines and insurance providers do not consider visa refusal as a valid reason for refund claims.
Do not purchase your airline tickets until your visa application is approved. If the embassy requires proof of fully paid tickets, they will explicitly request them.
***
How to Get a Flight Itinerary for Visa Application?
There are paid and free ways to get a flight itinerary for visa application. Some airlines and booking websites offer the option to hold flight reservations for free. However, not all airlines serve every route. You will have to explore different airlines and booking websites to find an option for holding reservations for free.
Alternatively, you can get a flight reservation by paying a nominal fee. Some airlines and third-party agents offer this service for a fee.
Here are 10 proven methods (4 free and 6 paid) to obtain a travel itinerary for visa application.
—
01. Purchase a Fully Refundable Ticket [Paid option]
Purchasing a refundable ticket is the most reliable and foolproof option for your flight itinerary for visa. This type of ticket leaves no room for questioning its authenticity.
Most airlines offer fully refundable flight tickets, but at a higher price. Generally, the cost is 5 to 10 times higher compared to non-refundable or regular-priced flight tickets. Most airlines process refunds relatively quickly, typically within a few days to a few weeks.
However, it’s important to note that even with a refundable ticket, certain booking sites and airlines may charge a cancellation fee. For example, Etihad Airways charges $30 and CheapOair charges $150 on cancellations of fully refundable tickets.
PRO TIP
Book fully refundable tickets directly on the airline’s website. Call the airline first to inquire about their cancellation policy on refundable tickets. Ask if they charge an admin fee or tax for cancellations and refunds on fully refundable tickets.
PROS:
- A refundable ticket is a valid, confirmed and fully-paid ticket. It removes any concerns about the consulate verifying its authenticity.
CONS:
- The upfront cost of a refundable ticket is significantly higher, usually 5 to 10 times more than a regular ticket.
- Some airlines and booking websites charge an admin fee to cancel fully refundable tickets
- Refunds can take several days to weeks to process, depending on the airline.
- To receive the refund, you must keep the credit card active that was used for the purchase.
—
02. Use a Visa Ticket Booking Website [Paid option]
There are several online travel agents offering flight reservations for a nominal fee. These agents can hold a reservation for up to 3 weeks. They also provide express service if you are in a rush.
Recommended agents:
- Dummy Ticket | Price 19 USD | Booking valid for 2-3 weeks
- Dummy Ticket 247 | Price 22 USD | Booking valid for 14 days
- Visa Reservation | Price 40 USD | Booking valid for 2 weeks
DummyTicket is one of the oldest agencies in the business of providing flight itineraries for visas. They have a 4.3 rating on Trustpilot. Read my dummyticket.com review for more information.
—
03. Use a Local Travel Agent to Hold a Flight Reservation [Paid option]
Travel agents have the ability to hold flight reservations. They can hold tickets for up to 7 days without payment.
You can visit any local travel agent in your city and request a flight itinerary for your visa application. They will typically charge a small fee for this service.
PROS:
- By paying a nominal fee, you can hold a round-trip flight reservation for a duration of 7 days.
CONS:
- This option is suitable only if the visa processing timeframe does not exceed 7 days.
—
04. Use an Onward Ticket Booking Agency [Paid option]
There are onward ticket booking sites that offer flight reservations valid for 48 hours for a nominal fee. These reservations are commonly used as proof of onward travel, but they can also be used for visa purposes.
Recommended agents:
- Best Onward Ticket | Price 12 USD | Ticket valid for 48 hours | Instant booking
- Onward Ticket | Price 16 USD | Ticket valid for 48 hours | Instant booking
OnwardTicket is my go-to option for proof of onward ticket these days. They have a 4.8 rating on Trustpilot. Read my Onward Ticket review for more information.
PROS:
- These reservations work as proof of onward travel or a return ticket for Visa on Arrival.
- For a small fee, you will have a legitimate and verifiable round-trip flight reservation for your visa.
CONS:
- This option is not suitable for visa applications with processing times longer than 48 hours.
- For Visa on Arrival, you must time it correctly so the ticket remains valid while obtaining the visa at the airport.
—
05. Use Paid Ticket Hold Option by Airlines [Paid option]
Some airlines offer the option to hold a confirmed flight reservation for a nominal fee for a specific duration. The fee and duration vary among different airlines. Typically, the fee ranges from $10 to $45 to hold the ticket for approximately 3 days.
Airlines for destinations in Europe
- Aegean Air Hold My Booking | 4-day hold for €6
- TAP Portugal Time to Think | 2-day hold for €8, 5-day hold for €12 and 10-day hold for €15
- British Airways Hold Flight | 3-day hold for $5
- Iberia Pre-booking | 3-day hold for $5
- Wizz Air Fare Lock | 2-day hold for €3
- Air France Time to Think | 3-day hold for $36
- KLM Airlines Time to Think | 3-day hold for $36
- Turkish Airways Hold the Price | 3-day hold for $45 and 7-day hold for $65
Airlines for destinations in North or South America
- United Airlines Farelock | 3-day hold for $5.99, 7-day hold for $8.99 and 14-day hold for $12.99
- Copa Airlines PriceLock | 3-day hold for $8.99 and $7-day hold for $13.99
Airlines for destinations in Asia
- Singapore Airlines Secure My Fare | 3-day hold for $11
- Qatar Airways Hold Flight | 1-day hold for FREE, 2-day hold for $15 and 3-day hold for $20
- Emirates Hold My Fare | 3-day hold for $30
Airlines for destinations in Oceania
- Air New Zealand Fare Hold | 3-day hold for $45
PROS:
- These reservations are verifiable bookings, so they can work as flight itineraries for visa applications.
- For a small fee, you will have a verifiable and confirmed flight reservation for your visa.
CONS:
- It can be time-consuming to search for airlines that offer ticket hold options for your desired destination.
Note from Thirumal
I’m compiling a list of such airlines, I will publish an article with the list soon. Stay tuned!
—
06. Purchase a Non-refundable Flight Ticket [Paid option]
Only purchase non-refundable flight tickets if you are one hundred percent confident that your visa will be approved. I have personally booked non-refundable flight tickets on multiple occasions, but it was for a visa that I had applied for and received approval for in the past.
You can use any flight search engine to find the best deals on non-refundable flights, but below are my recommended ones.
Recommend flight search engines:
- Skyscanner | Great search engine to find the cheapest flight tickets
- Momondo | Also a great search engine with great discounts
PROS:
- A non-refundable flight ticket is a confirmed and fully paid airline ticket. There is no need to worry about the consulate verifying its authenticity.
- If you book a non-refundable ticket in advance, you will get it at a much lower price compared to buying it after visa approval.
CONS:
- In the event of visa refusal, you will lose the money spent on the non-refundable ticket.
- Airlines, embassies and insurance providers do not consider visa refusal as a valid reason for ticket cancellations and refund claims.
—
07. Use Free 24-Hour Ticket Cancellation by Airlines and Booking Sites [Free option]
Certain US-based 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.
Examples:
- 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
- United Airlines | Free cancellation within 24 hours of booking
- American Airlines | Free cancellation within 24 hours of booking
PRO TIP
It’s important to note that tickets from budget airlines, such as AirAsia, Ryanair, etc., cannot be canceled even when booked through online booking websites. To ensure that a ticket can be canceled for free within 24 hours of booking, review the fine print carefully on the checkout page.
PROS:
- This option serves as excellent proof of onward travel or a return ticket when obtaining a Visa on Arrival.
NOTE
It’s important to time it properly so that you are still within the 24-hour period when obtaining the Visa on Arrival. After completing your Visa on Arrival process, you can cancel the ticket for a full refund.
CONS:
- These tickets must be canceled within 24 hours; otherwise, cancellation and refunds are not possible.
- This option may not be suitable for visa applications with processing times longer than 24 hours.
—
08. Use Free Ticket Hold Option by Airlines [Free option]
Some airlines provide the option to hold a fare for a certain duration. When booking a ticket, you are given a specific period of time to make the payment. This booking can serve as a printable itinerary for your visa application. Although the booking indicates a specific time frame for payment, it is still acceptable for visa applications.
Examples:
- Copa Airlines Price Lock | Free hold for 24 hours
- Qatar Airways Hold My Booking | Free hold for 24 hours
PROS:
- There is no need to keep track of the hold duration. If unpaid within the specified duration, the booking is canceled automatically.
CONS:
- This option is not suitable for visa applications that take longer than 2 days for processing.
—
09. Use Award Miles and Hold Option [Free option]
Certain airlines provide the option to hold a flight reservation for up to 5 days when purchasing an award ticket or using airline miles. The held reservation can be used as a printable itinerary for your visa application. Though the reservation indicates a specific time frame for purchase, it is still acceptable for visa applications.
Examples:
- American Airlines | Free hold for up to 5 days using AAdvantage miles
- Turkish Airways | Free hold for up to 7 days for Miles&Smiles members
- Singapore Airlines | Free hold for up to 7 days
- Cathay Pacific | Free hold for up to 7 days
PROS:
- This option works perfectly fine for visa applications that take less than a week to process.
- This service is offered free of charge to members of airline award programs.
CONS:
- To utilize this option, you must have a frequent flyer account and a certain number of miles.
- Not all airline websites provide the online option to hold award tickets. In such cases, you may need to contact the airline directly and request them to hold your award ticket.
- This option is not useful for visa applications that take longer than 5-7 days for processing.
—
10. Print non-Verifiable Itineraries from Airline Websites [Free option]
Some airlines allow you to print or email a flight itinerary from their website. These flight itineraries look similar to a reservation that can be used for visa applications.
Examples:
- Print Trip Summary from Qatar Airways website
- Email a Price Quote from British Airways website (* does not work anymore as this feature has been removed from BA website)
PROS:
- This option is suitable for visa applications that do not require verifiable itineraries such as the UK visa.
CONS:
- This option is not applicable for visas that require verifiable itineraries such as Schengen visa.
—
BONUS: Use a Fake Ticket Generator [Risky option]
There are online tools available for generating fake airline tickets. These tools can create a fake flight itinerary that closely resembles a genuine booking. However, it’s important to note that these bookings are fake and cannot be verified.
Using a fake flight itinerary for visa application is an extremely risky option. Such fake itineraries must be used at your own discretion.
Available fake ticket generators:
- FakeFlightTickets | Price $5 USD | Downloadable fake ticket
- KeyFlight | Free service | Downloadable fake ticket
WARNING
It is important to understand that submitting a fake flight itinerary for visa application is illegal and against the law. If found, you may face visa refusal or a permanent ban. Please be aware of the potential risks involved when using fake flight itineraries.
PROS:
- It’s convenient to generate fake flight itineraries whenever needed.
CONS:
- These tickets are fake, and their usage for visas is illegal.
***
Conclusion
Embassies and consulates do not recommend purchasing flight tickets before visa approval. Instead, they ask you to submit a flight itinerary for visa application.
A flight itinerary is essentially a flight booking made in your name. Such a flight reservation must be verifiable online on the airline’s website using a PNR number.
Though many countries are doing away with flight itineraries for visa applications, it is still a common practice for embassies to ask for them. There are many ways to obtain a confirmed flight itinerary for visa, but not all options are free. Some options require a nominal fee or claiming a refund.
How to Use IATA Travel Centre to Check Visa Requirements
Onward Ticket Review: Fastest Way to Get an Onward Ticket in 2023?
How to Book Flight Tickets with FREE Cancellation within 24 Hours on Orbitz: A Step-by-Step Guide
vedant Kadian says
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
Thirumal says
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.
Azagba says
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?
Thirumal says
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.
somin says
Is travel insurance mandatory for UK visa?
Also, how do i go back to my saved application? I am not able to find.
Thirumal says
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.
Paul says
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
Thirumal says
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.
Paul says
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.
Thirumal says
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.
kamaljeet singh says
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.
Thirumal says
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!
Anonymous says
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.
Thirumal says
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.
Syl says
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.
Thirumal says
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.
Sakshi Jain says
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?
Thirumal says
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.
Sakshi Jain says
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”?
Thirumal says
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.
Sakshi Jain says
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?
Thirumal says
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?
Sakshi Jain says
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
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.
NILESH PATEL says
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’
Thirumal says
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.
Irina says
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!
Thirumal says
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.
Stedelwhi says
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?
Thirumal says
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.
Hazel says
Hi Thirumal
Do you have any idea if the website “Flight Reservations for Visa” is legit?
Thanks
Thirumal says
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.
Harshada says
HI Sir,
I wanted to book itenary for Canada visit visa. please suggest me the sitesin which I can do itenary ticket
Harshada says
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?.
Thirumal says
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.
chris says
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
chris says
dont want to continue using them, please poster, any other good source or site an applicant could reserve ticket itinerant please?
chris says
like ticket reservation for 24 days/, please get back
Thirumal says
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!
chris says
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?
Thirumal says
Chris! I just emailed you. Let me know your questions.
Samir Alamaary says
Can you also send me info about Turkish Airlines hold option. I also cannot find it anywhere in their booking/checkout process.
Thirumal says
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”.
Nala says
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!
Thirumal says
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
chris says
sir, Turkey airline good to reserve ticket for 24 days for purpose of visa application?
Thirumal says
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.
chris says
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
Hi bro, please can i have your email for an important question
Hamit says
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:))
Thirumal says
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.
moien says
want to book a hotel for 90 days , please suggest website for booking
Thirumal says
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.
Prithvi says
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.
Thirumal says
Thanks a lot, Prithvi! I’m just a traveler helping fellow travelers.
chris says
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
Thirumal says
Yeah Chris, it does not matter if you use a foreign travel medical insurance company.
chris says
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?
Thirumal says
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/.
chris says
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?
Thirumal says
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.
chris says
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
chris says
is this site genuine for reserving flight itinerary?
https://www.booking.com
https://travelvisabookings.com
Thirumal says
Yes, those sites are genuine. But booking.com is only for hotel reservations. Whereas, travelvisabookings.com is good for flight reservations.
chris says
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?
Thirumal says
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.
Aswin says
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
Thirumal says
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.
Joy says
I want to apply for Turkey visa and they requested for flight reservation. I think Turkey visa processing will take up to 8 working days. If my ticket hold is not more than 2 days can I use it?
Thirumal says
Hi Joy! 2 days hold is too less and it can cause issues with your Turkey visa processing. I suggest a ticket hold of at least 3 days or more.
Sheryl says
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.
GQ says
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.
Thirumal says
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.
Marie-Laure says
Hello,
Many thanks for this page.
Do you think the embassies are checking the validity of the plane tickets?
Marie-Laure says
I mean when they issue a VISA
Thirumal says
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.
Madhumita says
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.
Thirumal says
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.
Madhumita says
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
Thirumal says
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.
Lydia Johnson says
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
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.
Raina says
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.
Thirumal says
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.
Rai says
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
Thirumal says
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 British Airways website
– 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
Shravya says
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 !
Thirumal says
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.
Shravya says
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..?
Thirumal says
That’s correct. You were not requested for a flight itinerary. Therefore, you DO NOT need a flight itinerary for your visa application.
JIKKU says
GOOD INFO. BUT DOESN’T WORKS ON ALL EMBASSIES. THANKS FOR SHARING.
11. Purchasing non-refundable fight ticket ” FIGHT ” :)
Thirumal says
That is true. This is not an exhaustive list and requirements for embassies vary.
Haha, thanks! Just fixed it.
HABIB ULLAH RAJ says
Visa Reservation (Fee $50 USD) not $20.
Thirumal says
Thanks for letting me know Habib! I think they keep changing. Now, it’s $30 USD for the basic flight itinerary on their website.
Volcy says
ITs visa reservation or travel visa booking its safe to use ? itsn´t scam ? i dont want to lose my money
Thirumal says
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!
Sandeep says
How long the flight itineraries will be valid? 2-3 months, till the visa gets approved?
Thirumal says
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
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 :)
Thirumal says
Thanks Lucie! Great info. I’ll add it to the list.
Danish says
I’m Danish Imran from Pakistan. I’m applying for Malaysia eVisa. Can I use hold flight booking? Visa officers check my flight?
Thirumal says
Hi Danish! Yes, visa officers check your flight booking. But hold tickets are real flight reservations and you won’t have a problem using them for Malaysia eVisa.