Germany has scrapped its long-standing airport-transit-visa (ATV) requirement for Indian citizens, a move announced in New Delhi during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s state visit on 13 January 2026. Effective 12 January, Indians flying through Frankfurt, Munich or any other German international hub will no longer need to obtain a separate Schengen transit sticker when connecting to third-country destinations such as the United Kingdom or the Caribbean.
The change reverses a post-Brexit patchwork that had forced Indian travellers to secure two separate visas—one British and one Schengen—when routing journeys via the EU. Lufthansa, Air India and tour operators say the extra paperwork depressed India-Europe-UK passenger flows by double digits over the past six years; they expect a swift rebound, with transit bookings already spiking on global distribution systems within hours of the announcement.
![Germany Drops Airport-Transit Visa for Indian Passport Holders, Unlocking Faster UK Connections]()
If you’re navigating the shifting landscape of transit and entry permits, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers up-to-date guidance, digital document checks and application handling for Schengen, UK and dozens of other destinations. Their platform lets Indian passengers compare requirements, submit forms online and arrange courier pickup, making multi-country itineraries far less stressful—especially when policies change overnight, as they did with Germany’s ATV.
For corporate mobility managers the benefit is tangible: compared with the ₹7,500–10,000 cost of an ATV and the two-to-five-day processing time, the new regime eliminates out-of-pocket charges and slashes itinerary lead-times for last-minute project travel. Airlines also gain flexibility to code-share India–Germany-UK sectors without fearing visa-related no-shows that routinely cost carriers millions in denied-boarding compensation.
Travellers should note that the waiver only covers air-side connections; entering Germany to collect baggage or overnight still demands a regular Schengen visa. The German Foreign Office is expected to publish a detailed circular this week clarifying eligibility for seafarers and holders of limited-validity Indian passports. Meanwhile, Indian agencies are urging passengers to verify that any onward UK segment meets entry-document rules to avoid being stranded at German airports.
The change reverses a post-Brexit patchwork that had forced Indian travellers to secure two separate visas—one British and one Schengen—when routing journeys via the EU. Lufthansa, Air India and tour operators say the extra paperwork depressed India-Europe-UK passenger flows by double digits over the past six years; they expect a swift rebound, with transit bookings already spiking on global distribution systems within hours of the announcement.
If you’re navigating the shifting landscape of transit and entry permits, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers up-to-date guidance, digital document checks and application handling for Schengen, UK and dozens of other destinations. Their platform lets Indian passengers compare requirements, submit forms online and arrange courier pickup, making multi-country itineraries far less stressful—especially when policies change overnight, as they did with Germany’s ATV.
For corporate mobility managers the benefit is tangible: compared with the ₹7,500–10,000 cost of an ATV and the two-to-five-day processing time, the new regime eliminates out-of-pocket charges and slashes itinerary lead-times for last-minute project travel. Airlines also gain flexibility to code-share India–Germany-UK sectors without fearing visa-related no-shows that routinely cost carriers millions in denied-boarding compensation.
Travellers should note that the waiver only covers air-side connections; entering Germany to collect baggage or overnight still demands a regular Schengen visa. The German Foreign Office is expected to publish a detailed circular this week clarifying eligibility for seafarers and holders of limited-validity Indian passports. Meanwhile, Indian agencies are urging passengers to verify that any onward UK segment meets entry-document rules to avoid being stranded at German airports.
