- An airport transit visa is a category A Schengen.
- It does not entitle the holder to enter Germany; it only allows the holder to stay in the international transit area of a German airport.
- For nationals of most countries, airport transit in Germany is visa-free due to the transit privilege.
- However, citizens of 21 countries require a transit visa to change planes at a German airport. They are also exempt from the visa requirement under certain conditions, such as having a valid visa or residence permit for another Schengen state or several other countries.
- Compared to other visa types, a simplified and expedited procedure is provided for the visa application.
Schengen countries & Schengen visa
The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries. These include the EU member states except Ireland and the non-EU countries Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Iceland. Citizens of these states and foreign nationals with a valid residence permit for one of these countries enjoy freedom of travel within the Schengen area — border controls only occur at external borders.
The issuance of visas for the Schengen countries is regulated uniformly – depending on the purpose of the trip and the length of the stay, the following visa categories may apply:
- A visa: airport transit visa for travelers from countries that do not have airport transit privileges
- C visa: Schengen visa for short stays of up to 90 days. Citizens of 60 countries are exempt from visa requirements for short stays, meaning they can enter Germany and stay in the entire Schengen area for up to 90 days without a visa.
- D visa: visa for stays of more than 90 days. These are national visas, which are issued, for example, as work or student visas.
Airport transit visa for Germany
The airport transit visa for Germany and other Schengen countries is a Schengen visa of category A. It allows travelers to stay for 12 hours in the international transit area, enabling them to wait for their connecting flight. This does not involve formal entry into Germany and, thus, into the Schengen area.
The transit privilege applies to most travelers, meaning they do not require a visa for airport transit in Germany or any other Schengen state. Citizens of 21 countries are excluded from the transit privilege.
Travelers requiring an airport transit visa
Nationals of the following countries do not fall under the transit privilege and, therefore, require a visa for airport transit in Germany:
| Afghanistan | Ethiopia | Bangladesh |
| Eritrea | Ghana | India |
| Iran | Iraq | Jordan (exempt of travelers with a visa for Australia, New Zealand, or Israel) |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | Cuba | Lebanon |
| Mali | Nigeria | Pakistan |
| Somalia | Sri Lanka | Sudan |
| South Sudan | Syria | Turkey (exempt of travelers with diplomatic passports and official duty passports) |
Exemptions from transit visa requirement
Travelers who fulfill certain requirements do not need a transit visa for a stopover at a German airport. This regulation applies to:
- Holders of a valid visa or a residence permit for an EU country or another Schengen state. This also applies to travelers with visas from EU countries such as Ireland and Cyprus, which are not Schengen member countries.
- Family members of citizens of the European Union and non-EU Schengen countries (spouse, registered partner, children, and grandchildren under 21 years of age, as well as parents and grandparents, provided they are dependent on the traveler)
- Holders of a valid visa for the USA, Canada, or Japan
- Holders of certain national residence permits from the USA, Canada, Japan, Andorra, and San Marino.
- Holders of diplomatic passports
Transit airports in Germany
Transit airports in Germany are:
- Berlin-Brandenburg
- Düsseldorf (from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)
- Frankfurt am Main
- Hamburg (from 4:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.)
- Munich
Transit visas are issued by the German missions exclusively for these airports.
If you are traveling via another German airport or your transit in Hamburg and Düsseldorf temporarily falls outside the designated times, you will need a category C Schengen visa instead of a transit visa.
Visa Application Process
Applying for a visa is straightforward. You can do so at the German embassy, consulate, or the responsible visa application centres in your home country or country of residence. As with other Schengen visa applications, a personal appointment is usually required, but the process is designed to be as smooth as possible.
It typically takes 5 days for the visa to be issued. Nevertheless, we recommend allowing a little more time and calculating with a processing time of 14 days, as for a Schengen entry visa.
The German missions accept visa applications up to 6 months before the planned trip.
Documents for the visa application
The documents required for a German transit visa are less extensive than those required for a Schengen entry visa. You must submit the originals and 2 photocopies of each document. The German missions are entitled to request additional documents.
Required documents for the visa application are:
- Valid passport (valid for at least 3 months after transit, not older than 10 years)
- Copies of the data pages of your passport
- Completed application form
- 2 biometric passport photos according to the requirements of the German authorities
- Confirmed flight ticket and — if required — visa for your final destination
- Proof of residence through national ID, registration certificate, driver’s license, utility bill, or other suitable documents
- Employees: confirmation of employment from your employer stating the type and start date of employment, monthly salary, and the start and end dates of your vacation
- Pupils and students: relevant confirmation from the educational institution
- Self-employed: suitable official proof of self-employment or freelance work
- Travelers without income: proof of employment and income of the spouse or other person responsible for their support
- Minors: birth certificate and, if applicable, marriage certificate of the parents (both parents must sign the application form in the presence of an embassy official; alternatively, officially notarized written consent for the trip from the parent who is not present)
- Declaration of the accuracy of your information
Cost
Adults pay a processing fee of €90. A reduced visa fee of €45 applies for children between 6 and 12. Children under the age of 6 receive their transit visa for free.
Conclusion
While most travelers enjoy the transit privilege, citizens of 21 countries must apply for transit visas for a flight stopover in Germany or other Schengen countries before traveling. The application process is straightforward, but it must be completed in advance, as on-arrival visas are not available.
Understanding the requirements, exemptions, and procedures ensures a smooth journey and avoids complications at the airport. Travelers should carefully check their visa needs and plan to meet all document requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ
No, this is not possible. As with other Schengen visas, you must apply for a transit visa in advance at the German embassy in your home or residence country.
If you require a visa for airport transit in Germany, you may be unable to take your flight without a visa. Airline employees are obliged to check whether passengers have all the necessary visas. If not, they will not be allowed to board.
Transit passengers without a visa who nevertheless arrive at a German airport will be refused entry to the airport’s international transit area by border officials. The German authorities will send the traveler back to the country they came from as soon as possible on the next available flight.
In some cases, a transit visa is not sufficient for a stopover. You need a Schengen visa of category C:
- If your itinerary includes transit at 2 airports within the Schengen area
- If you have to leave the international airport area to change terminals
- If your final destination is in one of the other Schengen countries
