Indian passport holders can now transit through Germany without a visa under the new visa-free transit facility.
This move is expected to make travel easier for Indian nationals flying via Germany to destinations outside the Schengen area.
Previously, Indians were required to obtain an airport transit visa even for a short stopover at German airports.
Now, as long as travelers stay within the international airport area and are not traveling to a Schengen country, no transit visa will be needed.
How the Transit Privilege Works
The “transit privilege” allows most foreign travelers to pass through a German airport without a visa, provided they meet certain conditions:
Stay inside the international transit area of the airport
Destination is outside the Schengen area
Do not need to enter the Schengen zone during the layover
If you need to enter the Schengen area—for example, to change terminals or catch a connecting flight within the Schengen zone—a visa may still be required.
Certain travelers who hold valid, expired, or used US visas returning from the US may also be exempted from transit visas when traveling to a non-Schengen country within 24 hours.
What Changed from the Earlier Rule
Earlier, Indian nationals needed an airport transit visa to stop over in Germany.
This visa allowed a short stay only in the airport’s international transit area and did not permit leaving the airport or overnight stays.
Travelers leaving the transit area or connecting via another airport to enter the Schengen region still needed a regular Schengen visa.
The new rule comes after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Merz on January 12, 2026, in Ahmedabad.
Both countries agreed to enhance legal mobility, improve cooperation on the return of persons required to leave, and combat irregular migration, human trafficking, and visa/document fraud under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA).
