The word booking looks simple, but behind it stand several different legal positions, and people who confuse them lose money. The visa is delayed, the plan changes, you fall ill, and then it turns out that the amount you paid is not coming back. Yet that risk is prevented by the choice of one box when you place the order. Below I have written the types of booking and the cancellation rules.
Which option you should choose
| Free cancellation | Fully refunded up to a certain date, slightly more expensive |
| Non-refundable | The cheapest, but if cancelled the money is gone |
| Payment on arrival | The card is taken only as a guarantee, the money is paid at the hotel |
| Prepaid | The amount is charged at once, the terms are written separately |
If the visa is not ready the answer is unambiguous: take only the option that can be cancelled free of charge. The price difference is usually ten to fifteen per cent, while the amount that could be lost is the full value of the order. That arithmetic proves itself every time.
What the booking for a visa should look like
The consulate asks you for a hotel and flight document, but does not require it to have been paid for. That is, a confirmed document with the name, dates and address on it is enough. Paying in full before the visa is both risky and unnecessary.
There is one condition: the document must be genuine. Forged documents, or invented ones cancelled the following day, are checked by consulates, and when they come to light the application is refused. An unpaid but real order, though, is entirely legal.
Booking and cancellation on an air ticket
Ticket fares fall into three groups. The cheapest fare is neither changeable nor refundable. On a middle fare the date can be changed, but the difference and a penalty are paid. The most expensive fare is fully refundable.
There is one important rule: within twenty-four hours of buying the ticket many companies allow cancellation without a penalty. If you have chosen the wrong date, putting it right within that day is free. Reading the conditions of the ticket fares before buying removes this problem entirely.
Read more: A Schengen countries travel guide: 29 countries on one visa, choosing a route, trains and budget
What to watch when cancelling a booking
Write the cancellation date in your calendar, because the free cancellation period usually ends a few days before arrival. Being one day late means the full amount being charged. Make the cancellation in writing and keep the confirmation letter.
A refund to a bank card usually takes five to ten working days. If it has not appeared within that time, contact the hotel or the platform first and the bank afterwards. Filtering accommodation options by their cancellation terms simplifies this process from the very start. Official information on consumer rights is set out on the site of the Ministry of Economy.
In brief
The choice of booking has less to do with the price than with the terms, and until the visa is ready only the free cancellation option makes sense. Write the cancellation date in your calendar, keep the confirmation, read the ticket fare before buying. To prepare the visa documents together, fill in the application form.
Note: cancellation terms vary by hotel and airline, so read the text on the booking confirmation.
