There is good news for Indian travelers. Germany has announced visa-free transit travel for Indian passport holders. This announcement was made during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s official visit to India.
However, airlines and the travel industry are still waiting for an official notification about the exact date when this facility will start.
Once implemented, Indian travelers will be able to fly between India and the UK via Germany on Lufthansa flights without needing a Schengen transit visa.
This will make travel easier and more convenient. It will also allow Air India to code-share with Lufthansa on UK routes, which is expected to increase passenger traffic on Air India’s flights to Germany.
What Does Visa-Free Transit Mean?
Visa-free transit means that passengers who are only passing through a country to catch a connecting flight do not need a transit visa.
During transit, passengers must stay within the airport’s designated transit area and cannot cross immigration or enter the country.
A Schengen transit visa is normally required when a traveler passes through an airport in a Schengen Area country for a connecting flight.
With this new rule, Indian passengers transiting through Germany will no longer need this visa, as long as they stay within the airport.
Limited Impact but Important Change
According to a Times of India report, the government stated that visa-free transit through Germany for Indian passport holders was one of the 27 key outcomes of the German Chancellor’s visit to India. This step will partly reduce the travel difficulties caused by Brexit.
After Brexit, the UK and the European Union made transit visas mandatory for travelers passing through each other’s regions.
Because of this, Indian passengers traveling from Delhi to London via Frankfurt needed a Schengen transit visa, while those traveling from Mumbai to London via Munich needed a UK transit visa. The new German rule will ease this burden.
Advice for Passengers Booking Tickets
The UK is an important market for both Lufthansa and Air India. Once the new arrangement begins, Lufthansa will be able to carry more passengers from India to the UK through its German hubs, including Air India code-share passengers.
In addition, some other visa-free destinations, such as Caribbean countries, may become easier to reach for Indian travelers via Germany.
However, passengers are advised to carefully check transit visa rules before booking tickets, as regulations can vary depending on the route and destination.
International Travel to Become Simpler
Many travelers book tickets based on low fares but later have to cancel due to visa requirements.
For example, a US visa is required even if an Indian traveler is only transiting through the US. Similarly, a Canadian transit visa is needed for travel via Canada.
Germany will soon become an important exception for India–UK travel. This change is expected to make international travel smoother, more affordable, and much easier for Indian travelers.
