Flight reservation for your Canada application

What official sources say

On the IRCC visitor visa page, the recommended ‘Itinerary’ documents show how long you plan to stay and what you will do in Canada. Flight details, proof of accommodation and event registration are given as examples. They are described as recommended, not as an explicit return-ticket requirement.

The IRCC eTA page lists a valid passport, an email address and a payment method. No flight reservation or ticket was mentioned in the text we read.

Good to know for Canada

• Border officers can still ask about your plans to leave, which we did not review.

Step by step: using a flight reservation

1. Check the official checklist for your application and ask your application centre what they accept.
2. Search flights on Visa Flight Pass with your real route and dates.
3. Choose a flight and click Book for Visa proof. Only flights the airline lets us hold are offered.
4. Enter each traveller exactly as in the passport.
5. Pay the service fee and receive the reservation PDF by email.
6. Attach the PDF unaltered to your application.

Timing

Airline holds are short, typically from about a day to a few days. Apply while the reservation is still valid, or ask your application centre whether it must be active on your appointment date.

Limits and honesty

A reservation is not a ticket: you cannot fly on it. Use real names and never edit the PDF. Requirements differ between embassies, consulates and application centres, and some ask for a paid ticket. No document guarantees a visa or entry. Always confirm against the checklist for your own application.

Sources

• Apply for a visitor visa (IRCC) - Itinerary documents including flight details
• Apply for an eTA (IRCC) - What you need for an eTA

Last checked: 6 October 2026. Requirements change and differ between consulates. Always confirm with the official checklist for your own application.