Germany offers visa-free transit facility for Indian travellers — here's what it means

GERMANY announced on Monday that it would provide a visa-free transit facility to Indian passport holders for transiting through the country, aiming to make travel easier for Indians.

This means Indian nationals will no longer need an airport transit visa for layovers in Germany's international transit areas to catch a connecting international flight. However, it does not automatically allow the travellers to leave the airport, enter Germany, or stay there using this facility.

The move was announced during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's first visit to India. At a joint press conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Merz for the decision, calling it a step that would not only facilitate and ease travel for Indian nationals but also strengthen people-to-people links between the two countries.

Who does it benefit?

Earlier, Indian nationals were required to obtain a Schengen transit visa, also known as a category A visa, even if they stayed within the international transit area at airports such as Frankfurt, Munich or Berlin. This mandate applied despite passengers not entering Germany or the wider Schengen area.

However, under the new facility, transiting will become easier for Indian passport holders, as they can now pass through German airports for onward International connections without needing to apply for a separate transit visa.

Since the facility does not apply to travellers who are visiting Germany for tourism, business, or family visits, Indian nationals will still need the appropriate visa to enter Germany or other Schengen countries.

Modi, Merz meet in Ahmedabad

Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited India on Monday, as part of a trip to strengthen economic and security cooperation between the European Union's largest economy and India.

Berlin and New Delhi are currently navigating a highly unstable global landscape, facing economic and geopolitical pressures from the world's two biggest economies, the United States and China.

During his trip to India, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed closer business and defence ties with New Delhi, aiming to bolster Germany's economy amid tensions with its key trading partners, China and the US, Bloomberg reported.

According to a news report, both sides are expected to sign about 10 agreements, covering key areas such as critical minerals and traditional medicines.