After France, Germany Scraps Airport Transit Visa Requirement For Indian Nationals

New Delhi: Indian nationals will no longer be required to obtain an airport transit visa when passing through German airports en route to a third country, Germany's embassy announced on Tuesday. The decision will come into effect on June 3. Notably, a large number of Indians, including students, professionals and tourists, travel through German airports while on their way to other countries. In April, France also made scraped transit visa rules for Indians"Indian nationals will no longer need a transit visa when travelling to another country with a layover at a German airport. The lifting of the so-called airport transit visa requirement for Indian citizens was announced in the Federal Law Gazette on June 2, 2026, and takes effect on June 3,

2026," the German embassy said in a statement."It underlines the Federal Government's commitment to deepening German-Indian relations, facilitating the movement of people, and further strengthening economic ties," it added. As per the embassy, the development was a result of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to India in January.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) welcomed the decision. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in an X post, said, "We welcome the operationalisation by Germany of the annoucement waiving requirement of transit visa for Indian nationals transiting through Germany, exclusively by air, with effect from June 03, 2026."

"The announcement was made after discussions between Prime Minister @narendramodi and Chancellor Merz @bundeskanzler during the latter's visit to India in January 2026. This new arrangement would further enhance people-to-people ties between India and Germany," Jaiswal added.France Also Eased Transit Rules For Indian Travellers:In April, the Embassy of France in India had announced that Indian nationals would no longer require an airport transit visa when passing through French airports.In a statement, the Embassy of France in India had said, "With effect from 10 April 2026, Indian nationals possessing an ordinary passport are no longer required to hold an airport transit visa when passing through the international zone of airports located on French territory. This measure applies to passengers remaining in the international zone during a layover at a French airport en route to a third country."

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At a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said that the decision reflected the enduring partnership between India and France, elevated to the level of a 'Special Global Strategic Partnership' during the recent visit of President Emmanuel Macron to India, as also further facilitation of smoother movement of people, and enhancing of people-to-people ties."The government of France has now operationalised this agreement, and Indian nationals transiting through mainland France exclusively by air will no longer need a transit visa, with effect from 10th April, 2026," Jaiswal had said.(With inputs from PTI)