Proof of transport to the Netherlands and back
Proof of transport can, for example, be an option for a return flight ticket or a (provisional) reservation that you can cancel without charge.
For the visa application you don't have to buy a plane ticket. That is even unwise because a refusal of the Schengen visa also means you have lost the money for the tickets.
There are also other options for this:
- Call or email an airline and ask for an option on a flight ticket. You can then usually take an option / reservation free of charge or at a low cost. This will automatically expire after a few weeks if you do not make a final booking. A valid option or reservation is sufficient to apply for a visa. When the visa is granted, you only make the final booking and payment of the ticket.
- Contact a travel agent and ask if they can make a reservation that can be canceled free of charge.
- You can also select a ticket online. Then do not go to the last step to pay. Instead, take a screenshot of the intended flight and attach it to the visa application as proof of transport. The personal data of the visa applicant must be visible.
Never buy airline tickets before you are sure you will get the visa. A travel schedule (travel reservation to and from the Schengen area in your name) is sufficient for the visa application.
Buy another flight ticket
You are also not obliged to buy the same flight ticket, which was initially included as an option with the application. If, after the visa has been granted, you see a plane ticket elsewhere that is better or cheaper, you can buy it. The trip must of course fall within the validity period of the visa.
Cancellation insurance does not pay out in the event of a visa rejection
You may think that a cancellation insurance offers a solution if you do decide to buy airline tickets and the visa is rejected. That's a misunderstanding! The rejection of a visa that is necessary for the trip is only covered by cancellation insurance for Dutch residents.
