diff --git a/app/Services/ApprovalService.php b/app/Services/ApprovalService.php
index 474a8dd..744e3a0 100644
--- a/app/Services/ApprovalService.php
+++ b/app/Services/ApprovalService.php
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class ApprovalService
         $workflow = $travelRequest->workflow;
 
         if (! $workflow) {
-            return;
+            throw new \RuntimeException('No active approval workflow is configured.');
         }
 
         $steps = $workflow->steps()->orderBy('order')->get();
diff --git a/resources/views/livewire/travel-request/create.blade.php b/resources/views/livewire/travel-request/create.blade.php
index 95353f5..db1de19 100644
--- a/resources/views/livewire/travel-request/create.blade.php
+++ b/resources/views/livewire/travel-request/create.blade.php
@@ -92,7 +92,6 @@ new #[Layout('components.layouts.app')] class extends Component {
     public function saveDraft(): void
     {
         $this->saveRequest(submit: false);
-        session()->flash('success', 'Draft saved successfully.');
     }
 
     public function submit(): void
@@ -102,6 +101,12 @@ new #[Layout('components.layouts.app')] class extends Component {
 
     private function saveRequest(bool $submit): void
     {
+        if ($submit && ! ApprovalWorkflow::where('is_active', true)->exists()) {
+            $this->addError('workflow', 'No active approval workflow is configured. Please contact an administrator.');
+
+            return;
+        }
+
         $this->validate([
             'emergencyFullName' => ['required', 'string', 'max:255'],
             'emergencyPhone' => ['required', 'string', 'max:50'],
@@ -182,6 +187,8 @@ new #[Layout('components.layouts.app')] class extends Component {
         if ($submit) {
             app(ApprovalService::class)->submit($travelRequest);
             session()->flash('success', 'Travel request submitted for approval.');
+        } else {
+            session()->flash('success', 'Draft saved successfully.');
         }
 
         $this->redirect(route('travel-requests.show', $travelRequest), navigate: true);
@@ -209,6 +216,10 @@ new #[Layout('components.layouts.app')] class extends Component {
         </div>
     @endif
 
+    @error('workflow')
+        <div class="alert alert-danger">{{ $message }}</div>
+    @enderror
+
     <form wire:submit.prevent>
 
         {{-- Applicant Details --}}
diff --git a/tests/Feature/TravelRequestSubmissionTest.php b/tests/Feature/TravelRequestSubmissionTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ebfb97d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Feature/TravelRequestSubmissionTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Tests\Feature;
+
+use App\Enums\ApprovalStatus;
+use App\Enums\JourneyMethod;
+use App\Enums\TravelStatus;
+use App\Models\ApprovalStep;
+use App\Models\ApprovalWorkflow;
+use App\Models\TravelRequest;
+use App\Models\User;
+use Illuminate\Foundation\Testing\RefreshDatabase;
+use Livewire\Livewire;
+use Spatie\Permission\Models\Role;
+use Tests\TestCase;
+
+class TravelRequestSubmissionTest extends TestCase
+{
+    use RefreshDatabase;
+
+    private User $staff;
+
+    /** @var array<string, mixed> */
+    private array $validFormData;
+
+    protected function setUp(): void
+    {
+        parent::setUp();
+
+        Role::firstOrCreate(['name' => 'staff']);
+        Role::firstOrCreate(['name' => 'travel_approver']);
+        Role::firstOrCreate(['name' => 'administrator']);
+
+        $this->staff = User::factory()->create();
+        $this->staff->assignRole('staff');
+
+        $this->validFormData = [
+            'emergencyFullName' => 'Jane Doe',
+            'emergencyPhone' => '0400000000',
+            'emergencyRelationship' => 'Spouse',
+            'reasonSummary' => 'Attending a medical conference in Sydney',
+            'journeys' => [
+                [
+                    'origin' => 'Perth',
+                    'destination' => 'Sydney',
+                    'date' => '2026-04-01',
+                    'time' => '09:00',
+                    'method' => JourneyMethod::Air->value,
+                ],
+            ],
+            'costCodes' => [],
+        ];
+    }
+
+    private function makeWorkflow(): ApprovalWorkflow
+    {
+        $workflow = ApprovalWorkflow::factory()->create(['is_active' => true]);
+
+        ApprovalStep::factory()->create([
+            'workflow_id' => $workflow->id,
+            'order' => 1,
+            'name' => 'Travel Approver Review',
+            'role' => 'travel_approver',
+        ]);
+
+        return $workflow;
+    }
+
+    public function test_submitting_form_with_active_workflow_sets_status_to_pending(): void
+    {
+        $this->makeWorkflow();
+
+        Livewire::actingAs($this->staff)
+            ->test('travel-request.create')
+            ->set($this->validFormData)
+            ->call('submit');
+
+        $request = TravelRequest::first();
+        $this->assertNotNull($request);
+        $this->assertSame(TravelStatus::Pending, $request->status);
+        $this->assertNotNull($request->submitted_at);
+    }
+
+    public function test_submitting_form_with_active_workflow_creates_pending_approval(): void
+    {
+        $this->makeWorkflow();
+
+        Livewire::actingAs($this->staff)
+            ->test('travel-request.create')
+            ->set($this->validFormData)
+            ->call('submit');
+
+        $request = TravelRequest::first();
+        $this->assertCount(1, $request->approvals);
+        $this->assertSame(ApprovalStatus::Pending->value, $request->approvals->first()->status->value);
+    }
+
+    public function test_submitting_form_with_no_active_workflow_shows_error(): void
+    {
+        Livewire::actingAs($this->staff)
+            ->test('travel-request.create')
+            ->set($this->validFormData)
+            ->call('submit')
+            ->assertHasErrors(['workflow']);
+
+        $this->assertDatabaseCount('travel_requests', 0);
+    }
+
+    public function test_saving_draft_does_not_submit_for_approval(): void
+    {
+        $this->makeWorkflow();
+
+        Livewire::actingAs($this->staff)
+            ->test('travel-request.create')
+            ->set($this->validFormData)
+            ->call('saveDraft');
+
+        $request = TravelRequest::first();
+        $this->assertNotNull($request);
+        $this->assertSame(TravelStatus::Draft, $request->status);
+        $this->assertNull($request->submitted_at);
+        $this->assertCount(0, $request->approvals);
+    }
+}