What the official sources say
The Schengen Visa Code (Regulation 810/2009, Article 14) says applicants may be asked for documents showing the purpose of the journey, and gives a non-exhaustive list that includes documents indicating travel plans. EU guidance (EEAS) lists an itinerary or round-trip reservation among the documents that can show this. The same guidance notes that some authorities may ask for the original air ticket when the visa is collected.
The France-Visas arrival page also refers to a return ticket, or the means to buy one. Read it for the wording that applies to you.
Step by step: using a flight reservation
- Check your France-Visas checklist and your application centre for what they accept.
- Search flights on Visa Flight Pass using your real route and dates (for example your home city to Paris).
- Choose a flight and click Book for Visa proof. Only flights the airline lets us hold are offered.
- Enter each traveller exactly as in the passport.
- Pay the service fee and receive the reservation PDF by email.
- Attach the PDF unaltered to your application.
Timing
Airline holds are short, typically from about a day to a few days. The reservation shows a real booking on hold. Apply while it is still valid, or ask your application centre whether they need it to be active on the appointment date.
Limits and honesty
A reservation is not a ticket: you cannot fly on it. Use real names and never edit the PDF. Some consulates want proof of a ticket or have their own rules, and no document guarantees a visa. Always confirm against your own checklist.
Search your flight
Find a flight to France that can be held, and get your reservation by email.
Search flightsSources
- EEAS: General Schengen visa requirements (2008) - Itinerary or round-trip reservation listed as supporting document
- France-Visas: Your arrival in France - Return ticket or means to buy one
- EUR-Lex: Visa Code, Regulation 810/2009 - Article 14 supporting documents