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Visa guide

Flight reservation for your Ireland application

Planning a trip to Ireland? Here is what official sources say about flight reservations and return or onward tickets, and how to get a reservation without buying a full ticket.

Short answer. Ireland is not in Schengen and uses its own short-stay C visa. Irish Immigration advises not to buy travel tickets before a visa decision and asks for an itinerary and dated accommodation confirmations. The pages we read do not list a flight reservation or return ticket as a requirement. No document guarantees a visa.

What official sources say

Irish Immigration Service Delivery states: ‘You are advised not to purchase travel tickets before you know the outcome of your visa application.’

Its required documents guide lists an itinerary covering what you will do, proposed dates of travel and how you will travel. The visit family and friends page asks for a letter describing your travel plan if you travel from or to a different country, and printed accommodation reservations showing dates.

The pages we read do not list a flight reservation or return ticket as a requirement.

Good to know for Ireland

  • Ireland is outside Schengen, so the EU Visa Code does not apply. Apply through Irish Immigration.
  • Many nationalities do not need a visa for Ireland. This guide covers those who need a C visa.
  • The required documents PDF is dated 2021, so check for a newer version.

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.

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Find a flight to Ireland that can be held, and get your reservation by email.

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Sources

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