Countries require proof of tickets for two reasons. For one, a return flight “proves” you won’t stay past your visa date’s expiration. On top of that, buying tickets forces you to have some skin in the game, which theoretically ensures that you aren’t just applying for a visa without intending to visit. For some countries, the reservation alone is enough to demonstrate that you’re serious. This is where a “dummy ticket” will work. If the requirements mention a “reservation,” this should be a good way to go. [3] X Research source
You must understand that if a visa application specifically indicates that you have to buy your tickets ahead of time, you will 100% be denied a visa if you do not do this. There are no ways to do this for free if they ask for tickets.
The cost of a reservation depends on where you’re going, when you’re flying, and how far in advance you book. It can range anywhere from slightly cheaper than a normal ticket to thousands of dollars. Remember, this will only work if the visa application explicitly states that reservation is acceptable. The fees for this depend on where you’re going and who you’re flying with. Unfortunately, it’s not going to be free.
These tickets may be slightly more expensive than their non-refundable alternatives, but you’ll be able to get your money back if you can’t use them, which you may not be able to do otherwise.
There’s rarely a fee for this, but there are often time restrictions. Book with an airline that gives you enough time to move the tickets for the second trip. For example, Spirit Airlines only gives you 60 days to use your transferred tickets, while Virgin Airlines will give you a full year.
You don’t need to buy “full” travel insurance. Just contact a travel insurance agency and explain that you’re looking for insurance for the tickets alone.
Do not trust any non-government site when it comes to explicit visa rules. There are a lot of shady websites that promise to get you visas for cheap, but they aren’t all 100% trustworthy. Make sure you’re following the steps for the correct visa, since there are multiple options. For example, you usually need a student visa to study abroad, while conducting business requires a business visa. If you’re just going on vacation, you need a tourist visa. [10] X Research source
It may cost up to $500 for a full itinerary, but you may be able to get help with the application for less if you want to book the tickets and plan the core of your trip on your own. [12] X Research source
If a visa requirement mentions a “confirmed travel itinerary” in their requirements, they’re basically saying that they won’t take your word for it; you’ll need to provide proof of some kind that you have tickets.
This is a riskier option in most cases. You can go this route if you really want to save some money, but it may not fulfill the visa requirement depending on where you’re going.
The reason people occasionally use dummy tickets instead of doing it themselves is that the dummy ticket companies can get a better rate than you would going directly to the airline. However, there’s a higher risk of getting scammed if you use an unreputable dummy ticket company. Just keep that in mind! It might be illegal if you lie about the ticket or you doctor up a template to make it look like you have a real ticket. People have tried this before—it won’t work.
Depending on who you book your flight with, you may be able to get a partial refund so long as you pay a fee to get the tickets cancelled.
Outside of the application fee and the tickets, the rest of this process should be free. It can be a little time consuming to check all of this stuff off of your to-do list, but it should be fairly straightforward. Once you have everything you need, submit everything you need to the destination country’s online portal. [20] X Research source You can always contact that country’s embassy where you live if you have any questions or concerns. You may need to complete an in-person interview with a consulate to answer questions about your visa application.
When you’re narrowing down dates, make sure that you’re not travelling or visiting during any major holidays where it’s either going to be incredibly crowded or totally empty. Visiting New York on New Year’s Eve might be a messy nightmare, and there might not be anything to do on Christmas when things are closed.
Nobody says you have to visit the most popular sights, but the people you’re traveling with might be bummed if they go all the way to London and don’t see Big Ben, for example. Even if you’ve been tasked with planning the trip, ask others for their input.
As an example, imagine you’re spending two weeks in Europe. Commutes would be shorter if you go from Paris to Berlin to Warsaw than they would be if you went from Paris to Warsaw to Berlin. The same applies to the sights and activities in individual cities you’re visiting.
Remember, you need downtime and periods of rest. It’s best to choose 1-3 things to do for each day that you’re visiting. It’s a little unrealistic to plan on visiting 10 different tourist sights over 2 days if they aren’t super close to one another.
There are tons of free itinerary templates and apps that you can use to put the plan into an easy-to-read format. An itinerary is really just a schedule. However, you shouldn’t feel locked into following it perfectly. If you and your other travelers stumble across something you want to explore, you should do it!
It’s especially important to give everyone a copy if your group ever plans on splitting up and meeting somewhere in the future.
