Indian travelers will not require transit visa for stopover at any German airport from June 3.

Germany announced that Indian citizens will no longer require a transit visa while traveling to another country with a stopover at a German airport. The new rule will come into effect from June 3. “This implements the outcome of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to India in January this year. It underlines the commitment of the federal government to deepen German-Indian relations, facilitate the movement of people and further strengthen economic ties,” the German Embassy said in a statement.

What is a transit visa? What does this mean for Indian travelers?

When you travel from country A to country B and stop in country C in between, you may need a visa only for the stop in country C. This is called transit visa.Before Germany, France had removed the transit visa requirement for India. It came into effect on April 10, 2026. France became the first Schengen country to completely abolish transit visas for Indian citizens, although Germany was the first to announce the same in January. France announced this decision after President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to India in February. During Macron’s visit, France announced a six-month pilot scheme to allow Indian passport holders to transit through French airports without ATVs. The pilot was effective immediately. The pilot bailed out successfully. Airlines updated boarding systems, Paris CDG reported no compliance issues, and transit bookings by Indian passengers through French airports increased significantly. In April, France lifted the transit visa requirement.

Removal of transit visa does not mean visa-free entry

Removing transit visas does not mean travelers can enter the country. They are allowed to stay only in the transit zone. They cannot go out of the airport.