A one-way dummy ticket is a reservation for a single flight out, held in the airline's system without paying the fare, with a PNR you can look up on the airline website. Dummy Tickets Visa (DTV) charges ₹699 per passenger, the same as a return. It suits student, work and long-stay visa files. Where a short-stay tourist visa asks for a flight, it usually wants a return.
- A one-way dummy ticket is a reservation for one flight, held without paying the fare, and costs ₹699 per passenger, the same as a return.
- It suits student, work, long-stay and settlement visas, and residents flying back to the country where they live.
- Schengen checklists used in India, such as Spain's and the Netherlands', ask for a round-trip or return booking, so a one-way booking does not match them.
- Date the flight a few days before the start date on your admission letter, job offer or move plan.
- It is not a paid ticket: there is no e-ticket number and it cannot be used to board.
On this page
A one-way dummy ticket is a flight reservation for a single flight out, with no return leg. Dummy Tickets Visa (DTV) makes the booking in the airline's reservation system and holds it without paying the fare, so the PDF carries a PNR you can look up on the airline's website. It costs ₹699 per passenger, the same as a return.
Choose one-way when your file has no return date to show: a student, work or long-stay visa, or a flight back to a country where you already live. For a short-stay tourist visa, a checklist that asks for a flight usually wants a return, and a dummy return ticket costs the same ₹699.
What a one way dummy ticket shows
The PDF shows one flight: each passenger's name as in the passport, the airline, flight number, route, date and the PNR (booking reference). The booking desk picks the airline and flight for the route and date you enter. You can name a preferred airline in the notes box on the form, and we treat it as a request, not a promise. The sample dummy ticket shows the layout.
It is a reservation, not a paid ticket. There is no e-ticket number and it cannot be used to board. If an officer asks, say it is a reservation. The PDF arrives by email or WhatsApp, typically 10–20 minutes after your payment is confirmed, though weekends, holidays and busy periods can slow that down. The form also asks when you want to receive it, so you can have it issued the day before your appointment.
Visas a one-way reservation suits
A one-way reservation suits a file where you are moving abroad for a set purpose rather than visiting. Your admission letter, job offer or family documents set how long you stay, not a return flight.
- Student visas. The course dates on your admission letter set the length of stay. See flight reservations for student visas.
- Work visas and permits. The joining date on your contract or offer letter sets the start. See reservations for a work visa.
- Long-stay national visas and family or settlement routes. A spouse joining a partner abroad has no return date to show.
- Returning residents. If you already hold a residence permit abroad and are flying back after a trip home, one flight is the honest picture.
Check one thing first: not every long-stay checklist asks for a flight booking. If yours does not list a flight reservation or travel itinerary, you do not need to order one. If it does, or your university or employer asks for your arrival plan, a one-way reservation matches your plan.
Choosing the date on a one-way reservation
Pick the date you would really fly, working back from the date your course, job or move starts. An officer can put the flight date next to those papers, so they should tell the same story.
Say your admission letter gives an enrolment date of 5 January and orientation starts on 2 January. A reservation for 30 December leaves time to land, collect keys and reach the campus. A flight dated 20 February, after classes have begun, invites an obvious question. A work visa works the same way: fly a few days before the joining date on your offer letter.
| Visa type | Date to work back from | Where that date is printed |
|---|---|---|
| Student | Enrolment or orientation start | Admission or enrolment letter |
| Work | Joining date | Offer letter or employment contract |
| Family or settlement | Planned move date | Cover letter and your sponsor's letter |
| Returning resident | Date you are due back at work or study | Leave approval or course calendar |
A reservation is a temporary hold, and long-stay decisions can take weeks. How long a hold stays live depends on the airline, so read how long a reservation stays live before you choose when to receive it.
When a one-way booking raises questions
A one-way booking raises questions when you apply for a short visit. A visitor visa covers a trip with an end date, and the flight document is one of the ways you show that end date.
Schengen files are the clearest case. The European Commission's general list of documents for a Schengen visa does not mention flights at all, but the checklists used in India do. Spain's Embassy in New Delhi lists "Flight bookings (roundtrip)", and the Dutch checklist for India asks for a reservation in your name for travel to and from the Schengen area. A one-way booking meets neither. UK, US, Canadian and Australian visitor visas are different again: a flight booking is generally not a required document there at all. Our visa guides give the wording for each country.
Visa-free entry and visa on arrival are a different check, made by the airline at check-in or by an immigration officer on arrival, and some of those rules ask for a paid ticket, which a reservation is not. Our onward ticket page covers that check. If you are flying out one-way on a student or work visa, one-way tickets on a student or work visa explains what to expect at the airport.
A one-way reservation shows a flight an officer can look up. It does not guarantee a visa, and we cannot tell you how a particular officer will read a one-way plan.
One-way or return: the two compared
Both cost ₹699 per passenger, so choose by what your checklist asks for, not by price.
| Point | One-way reservation | Return reservation |
|---|---|---|
| Flights on the PDF | One flight out | Flight out and flight back |
| Price per passenger | ₹699 (about US$8.50) | ₹699 (about US$8.50) |
| Shows a return date | No | Yes |
| Usual fit | Student, work, long-stay and settlement visas; returning residents | Short-stay tourist, business and family-visit visas |
| On the booking form | Choose "One way" | Choose "Return" |
If you are still unsure, our guide to choosing one-way or return for a visa works through the decision with examples.
How to order a one-way reservation
Enter each passenger as in the passport
First name, surname, date of birth and nationality, up to 9 passengers on one itinerary, plus a phone number and email address.
Choose "One way"
It is the form's default. Enter From, To and the departure date. Add a preferred airline in the notes box if you have one.
Pick the delivery date and pay
Answer "When do you want to receive it?" with the day before your appointment. Pay by UPI QR code in India and send the payment screenshot on WhatsApp, or pay by PayPal, debit or credit card from anywhere else.
Check the PNR
Enter the PNR and the passenger's surname on the airline's "Manage booking" page. Our PNR check guide shows the steps.
Before you submit a one-way reservation
- Your checklist asks for a flight reservation or itinerary, not a paid ticket
- It does not ask for a return or round-trip booking
- The flight date falls a few days before your course, job or move starts
- Every name matches the passport letter for letter
- The PNR opens on the airline's own website
- If your dates change, you message WhatsApp with your order ID before ordering again
Prices, delivery and refund terms are all on DTV's key facts page. When your date is settled, fill in the booking form.
Frequently asked questions
Is a one-way dummy ticket enough for a tourist visa?
Usually not. A tourist visa covers a visit with an end date, and short-stay checklists that ask for a flight usually want a return or round-trip booking. Spain's Embassy in New Delhi, for example, lists round-trip flight bookings. A return reservation costs the same ₹699, so sending a one-way booking where a return is expected saves you nothing.
Does a one-way reservation cost less than a return?
No. It is ₹699 per passenger either way, or about US$8.50 if you pay from outside India by PayPal or card. A multi-city itinerary is ₹699 per two flights. Pick the type your visa file needs, because the price will not change. The full list is on the price page.
How long will a one-way reservation stay live?
That depends on the airline. A reservation is a temporary hold and DTV does not publish a fixed validity period. Use the delivery date on the form to receive it the day before your appointment, then check the PNR on the airline website before you submit it. Long-stay decisions can take weeks, so do not expect the hold to last until the visa is issued.
Can I choose which airline the reservation is on?
You can ask. Write your preferred airline in the notes box on the booking form. The booking desk chooses the airline and flight for your route and date, so a named airline is a request, not a promise. If one airline matters for your file, message us on WhatsApp before you pay.
What if I order one-way and later need a return?
Message us on WhatsApp with your order ID and the dates you need. The booking desk will tell you the quickest way to get a reservation that covers them. Orders are final once the reservation has been issued and are not refundable, so check whether your checklist asks for a return before you pay.
Will a one-way reservation get me through airport check-in?
Not on its own. A reservation cannot be used to board, so you need a paid ticket to fly. Check-in staff also check your documents against the destination's entry rules, and some destinations ask visitors for a return or onward ticket, in a few cases a paid one. Our onward ticket page covers that check.
Is a one-way dummy ticket the same as a one-way ticket?
No. A one-way ticket is paid for, has an e-ticket number and can be used to fly. A one-way dummy ticket is a reservation held without paying the fare: it has a PNR but no e-ticket number and cannot be used to board. A checklist that asks for a flight reservation or itinerary means the second. A rule that says the ticket must be paid means the first.
Last reviewed by the DTV Editorial Team. Visa requirements change, so confirm the current checklist with the embassy, consulate or official application centre before you apply. A reservation supports a visa file and cannot guarantee a visa decision.