In a major relief for Indian travellers, Germany has announced that Indian passport holders will no longer be required to obtain a Schengen Airport Transit Visa, also known as a Type A Schengen visa, while transiting through its international airports.
The new rule applies to passengers connecting via major German hubs such as Frankfurt and Munich en route to non-Schengen destinations. This move is expected to significantly ease international travel for Indians who frequently transit through Germany for long-haul flights.
The decision was announced during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s first official visit to India on January 12 and 13, 2026. The visit, hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focused on deepening strategic and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Key areas of discussion included defence collaboration, trade, semiconductor manufacturing and mobility. The visa-free airport transit facility was highlighted as a people-centric outcome of the broader bilateral engagement, aimed at enhancing ease of travel and strengthening people-to-people ties between India and Germany.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
