Why Do We Need to Provide a Hotel Reservation for Visa Application?

 

As part of the visa application process, you need to provide several travel verifications. This is so that the embassy can issue the appropriate visa and so that they are fully aware of your travel intentions. Arranging the appropriate documentation can be a very complex process with many do’s and don’ts to think about. This article will provide insight as to what a hotel reservation or dummy hotel reservation for visa is, why you need one, and how to get one.

Hotel Reservation:

When completing your visa application, you will be asked to provide proof of accommodation, this is where you will submit a hotel reservation. A hotel reservation is as it sounds, a document that confirms your arrival and departure at a hotel of your choosing. A hotel reservation is also known as a hotel confirmation but it doesn’t mean that you have to go and pay for a full price hotel booking.

Why Do You Need to Provide a Hotel Reservation for Visa Application?

Unfortunately, the embassy now requires extensive information regarding your travel plans as many people have manipulated the system in the past. The bottom line is that the authorities want to know when you intend on arriving at your destination and when you plan on leaving. By providing dummy hotel reservations and flight reservations it assures them that you aren’t devising to stay in the country illegally. A hotel reservation/hotel confirmation or dummy hotel reservations go hand in hand with your flight reservations as part of the documentation you need to submit.

Staying with Friends or Relatives?

Understandably many people have contacts all over the world and most of the time, when visiting a country, friends or relatives offer to accommodate you. If this is the case, you will still need to provide proof of accommodation. To do this, the person(s) of whom you are staying will need to compose a formal letter expressing their residential status with a copy of their passport. The letter will then need to be taken to the town hall where a person of authority can witness it. Afterward, it will need to be submitted along with your visa application. Whilst it may be cheaper to stay with friends and relatives, it’s not always straightforward, and more often than not, it takes a lot longer for the visa application to be processed. It is typically, a much easier process to acquire a dummy hotel reservation for your application.

To Get a Hotel Reservation for Visa Application:

Similar to how getting a dummy ticket or flight reservation works, you will need to source a travel agent or company that provides a hotel reservation service. This can become a little complicated as every travel agent will advertise that you will get hotel confirmation but it doesn’t mean that it is suitable for visa purposes. A hotel reservation for the visa application should be a fully amendable hotel confirmation, otherwise, you risk losing a lot of money. Most of the “free cancellations” that general travel agents offer, are at a much higher price to start with. Also, in many cases, if you simply need to change the dates of your stay, there are often fees that you will need to pay to do so.

In its place, you can also use the visa consultation services of a travel agent or find one online like Schengen Visa Itinerary.