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Flight Reservation Requirements

A Flight Reservation is required by embassies to show proof of onward travel from the country by a specific date.  These documents should show the complete travel plan that the individual applying for the visa application is intending on taking.  The purpose of these documents is to ensure that the intended travel dates align with the visa application dates being requested and that the dates are not longer than what is legally allowed by that individual.  It is important to note that these documents are not to be actual tickets that you need to purchase, all embassies discourage the purchase of an actual ticket until the visa has been approved as there is no guarantee that the visa will be approved.

 

Flight Reservation Requirements

The Flight Reservation or Travel Itinerary that is provided to the embassy must contain some key pieces of information so the visa officer can ensure that the information aligns with the other visa application documents that have been provided.  Those items include the following:

  • The full name of the individual reserved for the flight clearly visible on the document and it must match the name as presented on the visa application forms.

  • The dates of travel that indicate the dates arriving and leaving the country.

  • The details of all flight segments including the origin and destination cities as well as flight and plane details.

  • The reservation or booking number of the Airline or Travel Agency.

  • Any other details of the Hotel or accommodation that further prove the accommodation is legitimate.

Unless you're only transiting through a country, the Flight Reservation is typically accompanied by an Accommodation Reservation that is collectively known as the Travel Itinerary and is required for most visa applications.

 

Best Way to Get a Flight Reservation

Below are a few methods to acquire a proper Flight Reservation document that can be used for a visa application. 

  1. Contact your preferred travel agent and have them provide you a reservation for your Flight booking and Hotel booking based on your trip criteria.  Some travel agencies will require a deposit for the trip and a surcharge fee in some instances for the itinerary documentation that you can use for a visa application.  In some circumstances, they may require full payment to reserve your trip properly.  We do not recommend ever paying for your entire trip before getting through the visa application process and securing your visa for your trip first.  

  2. Utilize an online travel site or directly through an airline that provides a free cancellation service. There are a few things to be careful of if you plan on using this method.  Unless you are also paying to book your Hotel Reservation through the same site, you'll need to be careful that the information and name match the rest of your visa application documentation.  The format of the itinerary may not be well suited for a visa application, and you may have to rely on a screenshot, this can sometimes cause problems if you're missing important information.  Also, you will need to remember to cancel your reservation before you are charged and possibly lose some or all of your money if that is not the flight you want to take.

  3. Use an online service that specializes in visa Flight and Hotel Reservation Itineraries to provide you the necessary documentation you need for your visa application.  You'll likely find many options on the internet for this service, all with varying degrees of assurances, prices, and customer testimonials.  In our experience, these sites are all very similar when it comes to a Flight Reservation document for a visa application. However, the price and service can fluctuate quite a bit.  Since these services are designed for the sole task of providing a travel itinerary for a visa application, we recommend this as your best option.  Of the multiple services available on the internet, we've found that getitinerary.com is the best value and fastest at providing a proper Flight and Hotel Itinerary for a visa application.  They also provide integration with their travel agency brand so your itineraries can be verified online or converted into actual tickets if you so choose.