Looking to get a visa to the EU or some other country where you will need an itinerary but don’t know how to start? A travel itinerary has two main components for a visa application: proof of flight and hotel reservations. It’s not always easy to work out how to get flight and hotel information when planning your trip — for instance, if you have a visa application rejected, you don’t have to pay for the travel expenses yourself. Well, luckily, we’ve got you covered as far as sending the details of your flight and accommodation for your visa, and even writing the itinerary itself. Let’s see how to make a travel itinerary for your visa application in this article.
How to Receive Flight Data for Your Plane?
Get a flight reservation to avoid paying the full ticket fare
On most visa applications, you’ll probably need to demonstrate that you have both an inbound and outbound flight reservation, though it doesn’t necessarily have to be a fully booked ticket. Some airlines make flight reservations for less than a regular fare, check their websites to see if they do this.
- Tickets, also known as dummy tickets, are accepted for various visas, including the Schengen visa. Airlines book these tickets and keep a record of your transaction.
- You can also research online a reliable third-party service for legitimate flight reservations. Dummy tickets are fraudulent so take care when you’re booking through a third party. It’s not hard for authorities to check whether a dummy ticket is a real one and, if they do, they’ll reject your application.
Get a refundable ticket if you want to pay more upfront.
The tickets can be refunded, they’re generally much more expensive than the tickets you can’t but if you are denied a visa you can always get your money back. Legally airlines should refund you within 7 days after cancelling your flight.
The fee you have to pay for a refunded ticket can be enormous. Sometimes a redeemed ticket is twice as expensive as a normal one.
If you can return your ticket once your visa is issued, and then get a regular ticket, that might not work out so well. So if your flight sells out you won’t get to board the same plane that you gave the visa consulate for which is sometimes troubling to officials when you get there.
Have a ticket with an airline if you can get your visa done in a quick time.
Most airlines will not allow you to hold a ticket without paying for it for 24 hours, but there are some such as United that let you pay a fee to hold it for up to 14 days. Holding a ticket for a few days if you can get your visa quickly is a nice compromise.
Remember that for some countries, such as the EU, it can take up to 15 days (and sometimes more) for the decision to be made. If the country you are trying to visit can get visas quicker than this, then holding the ticket at the airline is okay.
You might have the flexibility to hold your ticket longer for awards points tickets than if you paid in cash. Check your airline’s policy.
Ticket in hand at a travel agent for a private seat.
Agents can often hold tickets for you longer than for regular customers. By including the details of your held tickets in your visa application, you can avoid paying in full for a potentially canceled trip.
Check with other travel agents to make sure you get one that provides the most effective solution. Ask if they regularly hold tickets for visa applications and what services they offer to assist you with the process.
Getting Lodging Information for Your Itinerary
Make a refundable hotel reservation to save your pocketbook.
You pretty much always have hotels or hostels where you can cancel a booking for a full refund so if you miss out on your visa application you can easily book a room at one of these places.
Check any hotel you are booking thoroughly. Some hotel booking sites third-party will state that a room is refundable but it is not.
Call a friend for their number if they’re staying with you.
You will need to write this down in your itinerary if you’re not in a hotel but are staying with friends or family. Prepare to specify your host’s complete address for your app.
Other visa applications, such as the Schengen visa, also ask you to provide a letter from your friend or family member where they officially allow you to live with them. It should also state the connection you have with the host and who is going to pay for your accommodation.
Take out a no-show booking if you’re in a good spot.
There are some hotels and hostels which are cheaper if you are not able to cancel your reservation. Although it is still always better to have a refunded reservation just in case your application goes through, if it’s a great deal too good to pass up, you might want to give it a shot.
Putting Together Your Itinerary
Get your flight and hotel details
You’ll need to provide photocopies of your flight confirmation and hotel booking details with your application and also include them in your travel itinerary. Write out, in a Word or Excel spreadsheet, when you’ll be here and going, and where you’ll be staying each night.
Get any train or ferry tickets out if you’re leaving on one
If you are coming in/out via train or some other transport option — not a plane — a printed pre-paid ticket for departure will allow you to fulfill one of the most vital aspects of the visa application process, the return or onward travel document.
You can create a day plan with things you are going to do every day
While the most important information about your trip and accommodations will be the dates, jotting down a bit of itinerary on what you are doing during your trip is a good idea for your application. Your ideas are kind of dry. You can write: June 6th: Getting to Berlin in the morning, visiting the Reichstag in the afternoon, going back to AirBnB at night. 7th June: Markthalle morning tour to Tiergarten afternoon tour to Berghain evening tour.
Add your travel itinerary to your application
Include with your visa application copies of your flight ticket/dummy ticket, hotel receipts (or letter from a host to whom you are staying), and your daily itinerary of activities with your local consulate.
Wait for a callback on your application
Visa processing times vary by consulate based on consulate volume. For instance, the average time taken for a Schengen area visa is 15 days. If the consulate wants to look into your documents in more detail, it might take 30 or 60 days to get back to you.
And if they turn you down for a visa, most countries, even those in the Schengen zone, will tell you why. Then you’ll have the opportunity to make an appeal and try to reverse the ruling.
How Law and Visas Can Help?
Law and Visas have a strong record of helping clients write their travel itinerary they need for International travel. Contact our team of skilled immigration lawyers to discuss your visa and immigration needs. Call us at +234 812 5505 986 for immediate assistance with your situation. We are available to assist you in person, over the phone, or online.
Our Immigration Consultants and Lawyers ensure that your application meets the highest standards, with no details missed. We’ll also keep you informed throughout the process and coordinate with the immigration office or embassy on your behalf.