Introduction
A flight booking and travel itinerary are key documentary
requirements for a Schengen visa. In this article, we discuss the relevance of
these documents in an application for a Schengen visa. Depending on the purpose
of your visit, your visa may be refused if you fail to submit either of these
documents.
What is a Travel Itinerary?
Anitinerary is simply a document that details your travel plans. It
usually provides details of hotel bookings, flight arrangements, and daily
activities or schedules for the duration of your stay. An itinerary is only
required for journeys undertaken for tourism or private purposes. It must
usually specify the places you intend to visit by way of schedule of
activities.
Article 14(1)(a) of the Visa Code states an applicant
for a Schengen visa shall present documents indicating the purpose of the
journey. Further, Annex II (A)(3)(b) of the Code states that for journeys
undertaken for tourism or personal reasons, the applicant must submit
documentation relating to their itinerary. The Visa Code describes itinerary to
include “confirmation of the booking of an organised trip or any other
appropriate document indicating the envisaged travel plans.” Bookings on
organised trip or tour guides, and tickets for entry into tourist sites could
be submitted as evidence of itinerary.
A key requirement of an itinerary is that it must be
plausible. The schedule of activities must be arranged in a manner as to make
your plans credible. For example, it may be more reasonable to visit tourist
sites that are in close proximity to one another on a particular day, rather
than a disjointed schedule of visits that are miles apart from each another and
lacks coherence. If your itinerary is implausible or disjointed, this may raise
doubts on the credibility of the purpose of your visit and may cause your visa
to be refused.
Another requirement is that the duration of the
itinerary must be consistent with your travel dates. Specifically, it must be consistent with thetravel dates as shown on the visa application form, flight booking, hotelreservation, and travel medical insurance. If your itinerary shows
discrepancies with travel dates shown on other documentation, your visa may be
refused.
What is a Flight Booking?
A flight booking is a document that shows that you
have booked a place on an airline to travel at a future date. It specifies your
departure and return dates, and any connecting flights, if applicable. You must
submit a flight booking regardless of the purpose of the visit. You can make a flight reservationeither by yourself or through an agent.
Article 14(d) of the Visa Code states that an
applicant shall present information enabling an assessment of their intention
to leave the territory of the Member States before the expiry of the visa. And
Annex II B (1) of the Visa Code lists “reservation of or return or round
ticket” as one of the documentations that may be submitted in proof of
intention to return. A flight booking is therefore a key documentary
requirement for a Schengen visa. You must consider this information when making
a flight reservation either by yourself or through an agent:
o The
document must specify your name;
o It
must clearly show your arrival and departure dates and times;
o It
must show the flight name and a valid reservation number;
o It
must show details of any connecting flights;
o It is
must show a return reservation. A one-way reservation will not meet the
requirement.
o Your
travel dates must be consistent with the dates on your visa application form or
other supporting document. If there are discrepancies, this may lead to a
refusal;
o Do not
buy a ticket unless the Embassy specifically requests you to do so.
Conclusion
A Schengen visa is generally a documentary
application. However, it is not sufficient to provide documentation merely
because they are required. Keeping these details in mind may save you time and
unnecessary expense that may result from a refusal.
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