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Airport Transit Visa — Category A

GermanyTransit

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Explore pathways in Germany Read the five questions ↓

Which travellers require a transit visa/permission and which officially documented exemptions are important?

Nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cuba, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria and Turkey need an airport transit visa even when staying airside (some diplomatic/service passport exceptions). Exempt: holders of valid EU/Schengen visas or residence permits, certain residence permits of Andorra, Japan, Canada, San Marino and the USA, and visas of EEA countries, Japan, Canada or the USA.

See recorded sources
  • https://doha.diplo.de/qa-en/service/visa/schengenvisa/2582612-2582612
    Nationals of the following countries do not yet enjoy transit privileges and therefore require an airport transit visa (category A) for transit at a German airport even if they remain airside and do not have to enter the country: Afghanistan Bangladesh Cuba Democratic Republic of the Congo Eritrea Ethiopia Ghana (except holders of diplomatic and service passports) India (except holders of diplomatic passports) Iran Iraq Jordan (exceptions apply for transits to and from Australia and New Zealand) Lebanon Mali Nigeria Pakistan (except holders of diplomatic passports) Somalia South Sudan Sri Lanka Sudan Syria Turkey (except holders of diplomatic, service and special passports)
  • https://doha.diplo.de/qa-en/service/visa/schengenvisa/2582612-2582612
    The following nationals of the countries listed above are nonetheless exempt from airport transit requirements, if they are Holders of valid visas and national residence permits issued by any EU and Schengen country, Holders of certain national residence permits issued by the following countries: Andorra, Japan, Canada, San Marino, United States of America, Holders of valid visas issued by an EEA country (all EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) or visas issued by Japan, Canada or the United States of America.

Can the traveller remain airside, and under what circumstances must immigration control be crossed?

Only five German airports have an international transit zone for transit without entering Schengen: Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin (6am-11pm), Hamburg (4:30am-11:30pm) and Düsseldorf (6am-9pm, only if the carrier arranged transit facilities with the Federal Police). If the traveller needs to enter the Schengen area during transit, e.g. to change terminals or airports, or if the final destination is in Schengen, a C visa may be needed.

See recorded sources
  • https://doha.diplo.de/qa-en/service/visa/schengenvisa/2582612-2582612
    Only five airports in Germany have an international transit zone enabling you to transit without formally entering the Schengen area: Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) München/ Munich International Airport (MUC) Berlin Airport (BER, 6am to 11pm only) Hamburg Airport (HAM, 4:30am to 11:30pm only) Düsseldorf Airport (DUS, 6am to 9pm only). Only if the carrier has arranged for transit facilities with the Federal Police beforehand. Please check with your airline!
  • https://doha.diplo.de/qa-en/service/visa/schengenvisa/2582612-2582612
    However, if for some reason you need to enter the Schengen area during transit (for example to change terminals or airports or if your final destination is within the Schengen area), you may require a C-Visa.

What officially documented baggage collection, terminal, separate-ticket or self-transfer situations affect the immigration requirement?

If the traveller needs to enter the Schengen area during transit, e.g. to change terminals or airports, or if the final destination is in Schengen, a C visa may be needed. The official source does not state baggage, separate-ticket or self-transfer rules.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The official source does not state the complete answer to this question for this route.

What maximum transit period, overnight, airport-change or multiple-stop rules matter?

If the traveller needs to enter the Schengen area during transit, e.g. to change terminals or airports, or if the final destination is in Schengen, a C visa may be needed. The official source does not state a maximum transit period or overnight rules.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No maximum transit period or overnight rule stated.

If permission is required, what permission is it, where/how is it obtained, and what core onward-travel evidence is required?

The permission is an airport transit visa (category A), applied for at an appointment (VFS Global in Qatar) with documents including a flight reservation or confirmed ticket and, if applicable, the visa/residence permit for the final destination outside Schengen.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Procedure is from the German mission in Doha (Qatar residents); other missions may differ.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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