Indian Travellers Exempt from German Transit Visa for Short Layovers up to 24 Hours

Germany removes the airport transit visa requirement for Indian passport holders

Indian passport holders will no longer need an airport transit visa when transiting through Germany, provided they remain within the international transit area and depart within 24 hours. The decision was announced on January 12, 2026, in a joint statement during Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to New Delhi.

The change allows Indian travellers passing through major German airports, such as Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin, to continue their onward journeys without obtaining a Schengen Type A transit visa. The exemption applies only to passengers who do not exit the international transit zone during their layover.

The move is expected to ease transit procedures for frequent business travellers and overseas employees, while also expanding routing options for Indian exporters and small businesses. Many long-haul connections to Latin America and Africa are routed through German carriers such as Lufthansa and Condor.

Travel managers estimate cost savings of approximately Rs 5,500 to Rs 7,000 per trip due to the removal of visa fees, courier charges and reduced processing time. Airlines anticipate that India–Germany transit traffic could increase by ten to twelve per cent by the end of the first quarter of 2026.

Until now, Indian travellers transiting through Germany were required to apply for an airport transit visa, which involved an average processing time of five to seven days and a fee of 60 Euros. Airlines also faced operational challenges when passengers arrived without valid transit documentation, often resulting in last-minute offloading.

The policy change follows sustained engagement by Indian airlines, the travel trade and the Ministry of External Affairs, which had highlighted that Germany’s earlier requirement differed from transit policies at other major European hubs, including Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol.