While a confirmed flight ticket is not mandatory, you are required to submit a travel itinerary or flight reservation showing your entry and exit dates from the Schengen Area. Most embassies do not recommend purchasing actual tickets before your visa is approved. Instead, you can provide a temporary flight reservation from a travel agency, airline, or visa service provider. This helps demonstrate your travel plan without risking financial loss in case of visa denial. Once the visa is issued, you can then book your final flights accordingly.