Getting a visa can be stressful when embassies ask for flight bookings before approving your application. Buying a non-refundable ticket early is risky because you could lose hundreds of dollars if your application is rejected.
A dummy ticket for visa gives you a real flight reservation to show the embassy without buying an actual airline ticket upfront.
A dummy ticket is just a real flight reservation made in your name that comes with an active booking code (PNR). It holds a seat on a flight temporarily.
Embassies know visa decisions take time, so they actually prefer you submit these hold reservations rather than spending money on full airfare.
You might see embassies call it a : flight reservation, travel itinerary, or temporary flight booking.
Read the full guides:
Yes, absolutely. It is completely legal as long as the booking is real and can be checked on the airline's website.
Visa processing usually takes anywhere from 10 to 60 days. Embassies just want to see that you have a logical travel plan and specific dates in mind before they grant your visa.
Getting a verified flight reservation takes only a few minutes. Here is how the process works:
Visit the website on your mobile or desktop browser to start your booking.
Select the flight reservation service and click the booking button.
Fill in your full name, nationality and passport details accurately.
Choose your preferred flight routes, dates, and departure times.
Complete the small service fee using your debit or credit card.
Get your official reservation document delivered straight to your email within 24 hours.
Enter your booking code online to confirm your live reservation status.
Print out a clear copy and add it to your visa application documents.
More tutorials: How to Create a Dummy Flight Booking Using Online Booking Tools | How to Update Dummy Flight Booking After Visa Submission
The types of dummy tickets can be used for different visa types:
Best if you're applying for student, work, or long-term residence visa.
Most common for tourists, visitors, and business trips (especially for Schengen, UK, or US Visas).
Useful if your trip includes stops in multiple countries and you need to show a clear route.
A dummy ticket costs (around $20), while real tickets cost full price. Dummy tickets are for visa processing only, paid tickets let you board the plane. Both have real PNR, but a dummy ticket is a temporary seat hold.
You can check out the detailed comparison between these tickets in the links below:
Embassies check the live status of your reservation. Always use a verifiable PNR to ensure a successful visa application.
Visa officers enter your PNR code and last name directly into the airline's system.
They confirm that your reservation status shows as "Confirmed" or "On Hold".
They ensure your flight dates align with your hotel bookings and overall travel plans. If the PNR brings up no record or shows as fake, the visa is immediately refused.
Ensure passenger names on tickets match your passport spelling character for character. Avoid submitting temporary bookings while the embassy processes your file.
Never submit fake PDF files that lack the trackable airline PNR. Always double-check the details that align with your submitted hotel reservations.
A sample dummy ticket includes:
💵 Standard pricing: Costs $20 per person for one-way, round-trip, or multi-city flight itineraries.
👥 Couple discount: Available at a discounted rate of $28 for two persons.
🕑 Standard delivery: Receive your reservation document via email within 12 to 24 hours.
⚡ Urgent delivery: Pay an extra $30 for the urgent delivery.
Experts strongly recommended using a verifiable dummy ticket to protect your finances while applying for a visa.
Major consulates explicitly advise applicants not to purchase non-refundable tickets. Securing a legitimate dummy ticket keeps your money safe, while ensuring visa officers can verify your live booking code directly through airline systems without detecting fake documents.
Common questions about dummy tickets for visa applications.