Flight reservation for a Schengen visa

A Schengen short-stay visa covers up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the 29 Schengen countries. Almost every consulate's checklist includes a flight itinerary showing when you enter the area and when you leave it.

Consulates generally don't expect you to have bought that ticket. The European Commission's handbook for visa officers says applicants should not normally be required to buy a ticket before the visa is issued, and that a reservation is enough. A held reservation is built for exactly that.

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What the consulate checks

The officer reads your itinerary alongside the rest of the file: the dates on your application form, your travel medical insurance, your hotel bookings or invitation letter, and your proof of funds. What they look for is consistency. An itinerary whose dates don't match the insurance period or the accommodation is one of the most common reasons a file gets questioned.

They also want to see that you leave before your permitted stay ends. The return date on the reservation is that evidence, so make sure it falls inside the number of days you are applying for.

Which consulate, and when to apply

You apply to the country where you will spend the most time. If the time is split evenly, you apply to the country you enter first. Your flight reservation should show arrival in, or near, that country, since the officer will expect the itinerary to support the main destination you declared.

You can apply up to six months before you travel and no later than 15 days before. Decisions are usually made within 15 calendar days, but can take up to 45 in busy periods or when more documents are requested.

Travelling to several Schengen countries

Your flight reservation only has to cover how you enter and leave the Schengen area. Internal border checks are generally not in place between Schengen countries, so a train from Paris to Rome or a bus from Vienna to Prague doesn't need a flight booking.

List the overland legs in your day-by-day plan instead, so the officer can follow your route from the arrival flight to the departure flight.

Timing the reservation

The airline sets how long a reservation is held, and it can be anything from a few hours to several days. Book it shortly before your appointment, or before you submit an online application, rather than weeks ahead, so it is still active when the consulate looks at it.

Each flight in the search results shows roughly how long it holds. If your appointment is a few days away, pick a fare with a longer hold.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to buy a flight ticket for a Schengen visa?+

Generally not. The EU's guidance for consulates says applicants shouldn't normally be asked to buy a ticket before the visa is issued, and that a reservation is enough. Check the checklist of the consulate you are applying to, since a few ask for more.

Should the flight dates match my travel insurance?+

Yes. The insurance must cover the whole stay, so it should start on or before your arrival date and end on or after your departure date. Mismatched dates are a common reason a file gets questioned.

I'm visiting three Schengen countries. Do I need three flights?+

No. You only need to show how you enter and leave the Schengen area. Travel between Schengen countries by train, bus or car goes in your day-by-day plan instead.

What if my visa is approved for fewer days than I asked for?+

Book your real flights within the dates on the visa sticker. The reservation you submitted was never ticketed, so it simply lapses and there is nothing to cancel.

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