How to Get Flight and Hotel Itinerary for UK Visa?

Thought for 16s

Yes — you don’t have to pre-pay for non-refundable tickets or hotel stays to apply for a UK visa, and there are legitimate ways to supply an itinerary for the application. Below are safe, commonly used options plus important cautions.

Legitimate options:

1. Use an airline “hold” / provisional booking

o Many airlines or agents can hold a reservation (a PNR) for a short time (hours to a few days). Some carriers offer a paid hold for longer. This gives you a verifiable booking reference without buying a ticket.

2. Get a refundable / fully-cancellable ticket

o Book a refundable fare or a ticket with free cancellation. If your visa is refused you can cancel and get your money back (check the fare rules first). This is the safest paid option.

3. Ask a reputable travel agent for a visa reservation

o Many travel agents provide a provisional PNR or “reservation for visa” for a small fee. These are commonly accepted by consulates when you clearly label them as visa reservations. Use only reputable agents (ask for a verifiable PNR/e-ticket number).

4. Hotel reservation with free cancellation / pay-at-hotel

o Book hotels that allow free cancellation or ""pay at property"" and attach the hotel confirmation to your application. Hotels can also issue a proforma reservation letter on request.

What the UK guidance says:

• The UK does not require you to buy travel before you apply; in fact applicants are advised not to book non-refundable travel until a visa decision. If you include travel bookings, they should support your stated travel plan.

Important cautions:

• Avoid fake documents or shady “dummy ticket” scams. Some services will issue false tickets or short-lived holds that later vanish — that can cause problems at the visa stage or when travelling. Always get a verifiable PNR/e-ticket number and check it on the airline’s official site.

• If you use an agent, keep receipts and a verifiable booking reference you can show consular staff.

• Remember: supporting documents should back up what you declared (funds, purpose, itinerary); unnecessary paperwork can be ignored by the officer.

Quick recommendation (practical):

• If you want zero risk: book a refundable ticket + a hotel with free cancellation.

• If you prefer cheaper: get a verified PNR hold from a trusted travel agent and include proof of the hold and the agent’s receipt — but verify the PNR on the airline website yourself.