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Visa guide

Flight reservation for your Spain application

Planning a trip to Spain? 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. Spanish consulate pages we reviewed ask for round-trip flight reservations showing the booking reference, dates and entry and exit from the Schengen area. Requirements vary by consulate, and a reservation is not a paid ticket. No document guarantees a visa.

What official sources say

The Consulate General of Spain in San Francisco asks for round trip flight reservations showing arrival and departure from the Schengen area, and a complete itinerary from the travel agent for organised trips.

The Spanish Consulate in Washington asks for a flight reservation with booking reference number, and says travel itinerary reservations should include the applicant's name, travel dates and times and booking reference, matching accommodation dates.

EU Visa Code Annex II lists a reservation of or return or round ticket.

Good to know for Spain

Both pages come from US-based consulates, so check the Spanish consulate covering your residence. Flight dates should align with your accommodation proof.

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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Sources

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