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National visa: booking travel despite an unclear processing time

By Thomas Heise · Published: 2026-10-16 · Source: German Federal Foreign Office (national visas, fact sheets/FAQ); AufenthG (Residence Act)

With a national visa there is a catch-22: processing often takes months and the visa start date is only fixed with the decision — yet the word "flight booking" still turns up in checklists. Buying a fixed, non-refundable ticket in advance is therefore hardly feasible.

Why this is a real problem

For many national visas the foreigners authority at the future place of residence must agree, and for family reunification, work or study often the Federal Employment Agency as well. The foreign mission has no influence on this processing time.

The official figures vary by mission, but are regularly several weeks to months. The Federal Foreign Office states up to three months or longer when the foreigners authority's approval is needed. Many missions speak of about 6 to 12 weeks or up to three months and expressly advise applying early.

Because the visa start date is only fixed with the decision and depends among other things on the insurance and entry date, you do not know beforehand from when you can actually fly. A firmly booked ticket for a date you do not know is therefore unreasonable.

What the missions themselves say

The German foreign missions are surprisingly clear here. One FAQ states: "We strongly recommend that you do not make any travel arrangement or make any other financial commitments until your visa has been approved" — and adds that it may make sense to book a fully refundable ticket. A fact sheet for skilled workers says: "Flight reservations are not required to apply for a visa — please only book a flight when you have received your visa." In some cases the flight booking is only requested after approval. A paid ticket is therefore not a standard part of the application package.

The practical way

Submit a reservation or a travel itinerary instead of the paid ticket. If proof of a ticket is demanded, book only flexibly and refundably, with a movable start. Buy the actual ticket only after issuance, for a date that matches the issued visa. Keep the accommodation cancellable. And after issuance, align the entry date and insurance start with the visa start.

The visa start date cannot be chosen freely. It depends among other things on from when sufficient health insurance cover is proven — more on this in the article National visa: health insurance.

Not to be confused with the Schengen visa

The 15 calendar days (up to 45) apply to the Schengen short-stay visa, not to the national visa. There the timeframe is weeks to months. Anyone who mixes up the deadlines plans too tightly.

What often goes wrong

Buying a non-refundable ticket before issuance. Firmly booking accommodation for a date that is not yet fixed. Applying too late — with a national visa, months of lead time must be planned. Asking about the processing status after a few weeks, although many missions generally do not reply in the first weeks. And not aligning the insurance or entry date with the issued visa start.

Note: general information, not legal or case-specific advice. What is always decisive is the current checklist of your foreign mission. Last updated: 16.10.2026.

Further reading

Sources

Note: General information, not legal or case-specific advice. Information without guarantee.

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