How to date your flight plan for a visa appointment
Tips for choosing travel dates on a reservation or itinerary used for a visa application: leave, appointment dates and processing time.
Dates on your flight plan should be believable. They should fit the visa process and your own life.
Start from the rules
- Check how early the embassy accepts applications and how long processing usually takes. Embassies publish this information.
Leave some room
- Choose travel dates after the likely decision date, with extra days in case of delay.
Match your documents
- Leave letters, hotel dates and the cover letter should use the same dates.
If dates change
- Tell the embassy if the plan changes in a way they asked you to report. A new reservation can be ordered if you need updated dates.
Check the official checklist
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and it does not guarantee a visa. Rules differ by country, visa type and consulate, and they change. Follow the checklist of the embassy or visa centre you apply to.