Big relief for Indian travellers as Germany scraps airport transit visa rule

Germany has removed the airport transit visa requirement for Indian nationals travelling to third countries through German airports. Effective June 3, 2026, the move aims to ease travel, strengthen people-to-people ties and deepen India-Germany economic and diplomatic relations

New Delhi: Indian nationals will no longer need a transit visa when travelling to another country with a layover at a German airport, the country’s embassy said here on Tuesday. The decision will come into effect on June 3, 2026. Every year, a large number of Indians, including students, professionals and tourists, travel through German airports, on way to other destinations.

“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 said.

This comes as a result of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to India in January, the embassy said.
In April, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said that the visa-free transit for Indian nationals transiting through the European territory of France has been operationalised by the French government.

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.