Citizens of third countries transiting through the airport of an EU country must have an appropriate visa. Find out the conditions for obtaining and the procedure for issuing a transit Schengen visa

The Gandhinagar District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered German airline Lufthansa to pay compensation to an Indian student who was not notified by the company of the Schengen transit visa requirement. The student was denied boarding while traveling from Mumbai to Munich and then on to Frankfurt and Toronto. The amount that Lufthansa will have to compensate is €729.29 (Rs 67,612) for the tickets and around €1,078 for emotional distress.

With this in mind, it's safe to say that understanding transit visa requirements is critical to avoiding travel disruptions, including denied boarding and missed connections.

What is a transit Schengen visa? Citizens of which countries and when do they need to issue this permit? We tell.

What is a Schengen transit visa?

A transit Schengen visa allows its holder to transit through a country of the Schengen Agreement to a destination country that is not part of the zone, without leaving the transit area of ​​the airport.

For example, if you are going to the USA, Canada or the UK and your route includes a stopover in a European country such as Germany, France or the Netherlands, you may need a transit visa. This visa allows you to stay in the international transit area of ​​airports, but does not allow you to enter a Schengen country or leave the airport.

Exclusion! Travelers who need to land at multiple Schengen airports need to apply for a regular Schengen visa instead of a transit Schengen visa.

Importantly! If a traveler is heading to a Schengen country, such as Italy, and has to transit through another Schengen country, such as Germany, then there is no need to obtain a transit visa, as a Schengen visa already allows the traveler to enter any Schengen country .

Citizens of which countries must issue a transit Schengen visa?

Countries whose citizens must have a transit visa when traveling through the international transit zone of airports located on the territory of each member state of the Schengen Agreement: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka.

Citizens of: Syria, Dominican Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Nepal, South Sudan, Sudan, Turkey, Chad, Egypt, India, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Turkmenistan may need a Schengen transit visa to visit certain territories. , Yemen, Palestine, Russia, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Djibouti, Gambia, Jordan, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo and others.

On the other hand, member states of the Schengen area have the right to require a transit Schengen visa from citizens of all third countries. Therefore, before planning a trip through one of the European countries, visit the website of the diplomatic institution of the transit country to find out whether you need a visa or search for information on the Visit World portal.

Categories of persons who are exempted from issuing a transit Schengen visa

Passengers belonging to one of the following categories do not need to issue a transit Schengen visa

- Holders of diplomatic passports.

- Holders of a valid single visa, national long-term visa or residence permit issued by a member state of the Schengen Agreement.

- Third-country nationals with a valid residence permit issued by Andorra, Canada, Japan, San Marino or the United States of America.

- Citizens of third countries who have a valid visa or residence permit in a country of the Schengen area, the EU or the EEA.

- Third-country nationals who have a valid visa for Canada, Japan or the United States of America, or when they return from these countries after using their visa.

- Ordinary members of the flight crew who are citizens of the Contracting Party of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation (ICAO).

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Citizens of which countries need a Schengen visa for travel, read this article.

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How to apply for a transit Schengen visa?

The application for obtaining a transit visa must be submitted to the embassy or consulate of the country of the Schengen Agreement through which you will transit.

1. Prepare a package of documents

  To apply for a transit Schengen visa, you need to prepare the following package of documents:

- Completed visa application form.

- Valid passport: Make sure your passport has at least two blank pages and is valid for at least three months after your planned stay in the Schengen area.

- Travel Itinerary: Provide proof of your travel plans, including plane tickets showing your stopover and final destination.

- Final Destination Visa: Provide proof of your visa or entry permit for the country you are traveling to after your Schengen stopover.

- Insurance policy.

- Proof of financial capacity: provide documents confirming that you have sufficient funds to cover your accommodation and travel expenses.

2. Visit a diplomatic institution

Take a complete package of documents with you and apply for a visa. It is usually necessary to book an appointment in advance on the website of the consulate.

3. Pay the visa fee

The total cost of a Schengen transit visa is 90 euros. However, the exact amount will depend on the country of destination and your citizenship.

4. Wait for the application to be processed

Usually, the transit visa processing period is about 15 calendar days from the date of submission. However, it is advisable to apply well in advance of your travel date to allow for any delays.

5. Get a visa

Once your visa is approved, you will be notified of the need to obtain a passport with a visa sticker.

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How long is a Schengen transit visa valid for?

A Schengen airport transit visa allows you to stay in the international transit zone of a Schengen airport for a maximum of 24 hours. If you plan to leave the territory or stay longer than one day, you will need to apply for a normal Schengen visa instead.

Obtaining the correct visas, including transit visas, is crucial for a smooth trip. Understanding visa requirements and preparing in advance can help you avoid travel disruptions and additional costs. Always check visa requirements before planning your itinerary. Current rules of entry to any country in the world for citizens of any state are collected on the Visit World portal.

We will remind you! Citizens of third countries must obtain a Schengen visa to travel to EU countries. However, according to statistics, some countries approve visa applications more often than others. We previously talked about the countries in which the chance of obtaining a Schengen visa is higher and when the permit may be refused.

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Igor Usyk - Head of Migration department at VisitWorld

To ensure a safe move to a new country, I advise you to consult a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with a legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration.

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Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Travel guide for 200 countries;

Legal advice from a local specialist on visa and migration issues;

Travel insurance around the world (please select the country of interest and citizenship to receive services);

Medical insurance all over the world.

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We monitor the accuracy and relevance of our information. Therefore, if you see any error or discrepancy, please write to our hotline.