In a major facilitation move for Indian flyers, Germany has abolished the airport-transit-visa requirement for holders of Indian passports. Announced on 12 January 2026 during Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to New Delhi, the step means Indian travellers catching onward flights through hubs such as Frankfurt, Munich or Berlin will no longer need to obtain a Schengen ‘Type A’ transit visa—provided they remain in the international transit zone and clear their onward flight within 24 hours.
Background and context: Until now, Indian passengers headed to the Americas, Europe, Africa or Latin America via Germany had to schedule extra processing time (often 5-7 days) and pay a €60 fee to secure the document. Airlines also faced last-minute off-loads when travellers turned up without the permit, creating commercial and reputational headaches. The removal follows months of lobbying by Indian carriers, the travel-trade and India’s Ministry of External Affairs, which argued that Germany’s policy was out of step with other EU transit hubs such as Paris-CDG and Amsterdam-Schiphol.
Business implications: The change is expected to cut transit-time complexity for corporate road-warriors and global assignees, while giving Indian exporters and SME owners more routing options to Latin America and Africa—markets often served via Lufthansa and Condor. Travel managers estimate a cost-saving of ₹5,500–7,000 per trip in visa fees, courier charges and lost productivity. Airlines forecast a 10-12 % jump in India-Germany transit traffic by the end of Q1 2026.
![Germany Lifts Transit-Visa Requirement for Indians, Easing Global Connections]()
For travellers who still need to determine whether their itinerary triggers a Schengen C visa—or who may require additional permits for their onward destinations—VisaHQ can simplify the process. Its India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers real-time eligibility checks, digital application assistance and doorstep document pickup, ensuring every connection through Germany or any other global hub stays hassle-free.
Practical advice: 1) The waiver applies only to airside transits of less than 24 hours; those needing to exit immigration must still hold a Schengen C visa. 2) Travellers should carry confirmed onward tickets and remain within the transit area. 3) Indian citizens transiting Germany en route to North America must still hold any required ESTA/ETA for their final destination.
Wider significance: Visa facilitation featured prominently in the 19 MoUs signed during the Merz–Modi summit, which also covered defence industrial cooperation and green-hydrogen investment. Mobility experts say Berlin’s gesture sets a precedent for other EU states to streamline procedures for the world’s fastest-growing outbound market.
Background and context: Until now, Indian passengers headed to the Americas, Europe, Africa or Latin America via Germany had to schedule extra processing time (often 5-7 days) and pay a €60 fee to secure the document. Airlines also faced last-minute off-loads when travellers turned up without the permit, creating commercial and reputational headaches. The removal follows months of lobbying by Indian carriers, the travel-trade and India’s Ministry of External Affairs, which argued that Germany’s policy was out of step with other EU transit hubs such as Paris-CDG and Amsterdam-Schiphol.
Business implications: The change is expected to cut transit-time complexity for corporate road-warriors and global assignees, while giving Indian exporters and SME owners more routing options to Latin America and Africa—markets often served via Lufthansa and Condor. Travel managers estimate a cost-saving of ₹5,500–7,000 per trip in visa fees, courier charges and lost productivity. Airlines forecast a 10-12 % jump in India-Germany transit traffic by the end of Q1 2026.
For travellers who still need to determine whether their itinerary triggers a Schengen C visa—or who may require additional permits for their onward destinations—VisaHQ can simplify the process. Its India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers real-time eligibility checks, digital application assistance and doorstep document pickup, ensuring every connection through Germany or any other global hub stays hassle-free.
Practical advice: 1) The waiver applies only to airside transits of less than 24 hours; those needing to exit immigration must still hold a Schengen C visa. 2) Travellers should carry confirmed onward tickets and remain within the transit area. 3) Indian citizens transiting Germany en route to North America must still hold any required ESTA/ETA for their final destination.
Wider significance: Visa facilitation featured prominently in the 19 MoUs signed during the Merz–Modi summit, which also covered defence industrial cooperation and green-hydrogen investment. Mobility experts say Berlin’s gesture sets a precedent for other EU states to streamline procedures for the world’s fastest-growing outbound market.
