Is a Dummy Ticket Accepted for an Equatorial Guinea Visa from India?

The wording quoted here is as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For fees, entry rules and the full document list, see our Equatorial Guinea visa guide for Indians.

What does the official e-Visa checklist say about flights?

There is no VFS Global visa centre for Equatorial Guinea in India, and our record found no official website for an embassy route in New Delhi. Indians apply through the Government of Equatorial Guinea's online e-Visa service, open to all nationalities since 1 July 2023, with VFS Global as technical partner. The Directorate General of Immigration then issues the e-Visa letter by email.

The flight requirement appears in two places in the official material:

• The mandatory upload list on the e-Visa Information page names a 'Return flight ticket'.
• The step-by-step FAQ is more precise. You upload the cover and bio pages of your passport, 'a confirmed return flight ticket', a confirmed hotel booking (or an invitation letter) and a 4x6 cm photo on a light background.

Neither page mentions a flight reservation, an itinerary or a booking on hold. The word the Government uses is 'confirmed', and it uses the same word for the hotel.

Is a dummy ticket the same as a confirmed ticket?

Not necessarily. In the legitimate sense, a dummy ticket is a real, verifiable flight reservation issued in your name, with a booking reference the airline system can confirm. It is not an edited or invented document. Many such reservations are held without full payment and lapse after a set time.

A confirmed ticket is a booking that has been issued and paid for. Because the official wording says 'confirmed', a held reservation may not satisfy it, and nothing on the e-Visa pages says officers accept one. If you upload a reservation anyway, you take a risk that the official sources do not cover.

Never upload an altered or invented ticket. Your flight proof is checked by the e-Visa team and can be checked again by the immigration officer at Malabo, so a document that does not match a real booking would not survive the second check.

Why does the 24–72 hour decision change the ticket question?

Embassies generally advise against buying a non-refundable ticket before a visa decision, mostly because sticker visas can take weeks. Equatorial Guinea's e-Visa is quicker. The official FAQ says a complete application is normally decided within 24–72 hours of payment, and it asks you to contact support if a decision takes more than five working days.

That short window gives you practical options that stay within the official wording:

• Buy a fare with flexible change or cancellation terms, so a confirmed ticket does not lock you in if plans move.
• Apply only once your dates are firm, then issue the ticket and book the hotel for exactly those dates.
• Keep the ticket, hotel booking, travel insurance and e-Visa dates aligned, because the officer at Malabo can compare them.

Factor in the fees too. The visa fee is USD 50 and the VFS service fee is USD 25 (excluding taxes), paid online in USD by MasterCard, Visa or Union Pay card with 3D Secure. Both are non-refundable. If an application is refused, the reason is given in the letter sent by email and you can reapply online, but you pay again.

What does immigration at Malabo check on arrival?

Malabo International Airport is the only border currently enabled for the online visa, so your ticket must land there. On arrival you use the dedicated visa lane, present your passport, a copy of the valid e-Visa and proof of stay, give a retina scan and receive the visa stamp.

The official 'Arriving in Equatorial Guinea' page states that the immigration officer may ask for return tickets, hotel bookings or other documents. The list of documents to carry at the immigration counter also includes return flight ticket copies, the yellow fever certificate and travel insurance. In other words, the return flight is checked when you apply and again when you land.

Which documents must match your flight booking?

Business travellers also upload an invitation letter or a letter on company letterhead explaining the business need. The flight requirement is the same for both visa types.

Mistakes to avoid with your flight proof

• Routing to the wrong airport. The e-Visa can be used only for arrival by air at Malabo International Airport.
• Uploading a hold that expires. A lapsed booking leaves you without the return ticket the officer may ask to see.
• Name mismatches. The passenger name should match your passport and the e-Visa form exactly.
• Treating the family as one file. All applicants, including children and infants, need a visa, the fee is the same for infants, and each family member's application is decided separately.
• Assuming several trips are covered. The FAQ says an e-Visa is usually valid for a single entry, and the official pages do not publish its validity or length of stay, so check the dates on your e-Visa letter before fixing the return.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). For Equatorial Guinea, mention that the official checklist asks for a confirmed return ticket so we can tell you which of our documents fit. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact our team.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Equatorial Guinea e-Visa cost for Indians?

The visa fee is USD 50 and the VFS Global service fee is USD 25, excluding taxes. The visa fee is the same for infants, minors and adults, is paid online in USD and is non-refundable.

Is a visa on arrival available for Indians in Equatorial Guinea?

Only in part. The visa is stamped at Malabo International Airport after a retina scan, but only for travellers who already hold e-Visa approval obtained online before departure. No arrival visa without prior approval is published.

Can I use an invitation letter instead of a hotel booking?

Yes. The official checklist accepts an invitation letter with house registration and an ID or passport copy of the inviting person in place of hotel proof. The confirmed return flight ticket is still required.

What happens if my Equatorial Guinea e-Visa is refused?

The reason is given in the letter sent to you by email, and you can reapply online. The USD 50 visa fee and USD 25 service fee are not refunded, so fix the problem before reapplying.