Lois Larson
Indian citizens travelling through Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) with a layover may need a transit visa depending on their situation. As of April 27, 2021, Indian passport holders must have a valid Airport Transit Visa (ATV) to transfer via France if their final destination is outside the Schengen Area. This only applies if the traveller can remain airside. If you have a valid US, EU, Canadian, or Japanese visa or permanent resident card, no visa is required. If you need to leave the transit area to pick up baggage and check-in, you must clear passport control and comply with entry and visa requirements.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who needs an airport transit visa (ATV) | Holders of ordinary, service or special passports from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, or Sri Lanka. |
| Holders of ordinary passports from Angola, Bolivia, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, India, Mali, Mauritania, Nepal, the Philippines, the Republic of Guinea, the Republic of the Congo, Russia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria or Turkey. | |
| Holders of service passports from the Republic of Guinea. | |
| Who does not need an ATV | Holders of a valid visa for a Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area, Canada, the United States or Japan. |
| Family members of a national of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland. | |
| Holders of a valid Schengen visa, a national long-stay visa, or a residence permit issued by a Schengen country. | |
| Passengers with a valid US visa on their passport. | |
| Passengers with a valid visa or permanent resident card from the US, an EU country, Canada or Japan (and a few others). | |
| Conditions for not needing an ATV | Remaining in the airport's international/transit zone. |
| Remaining airside. |
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What You'll Learn
- Indian citizens with an expired US visa will need a transit visa
- If you have a US visa, you don't need a transit visa
- If you have a valid visa from Canada, Japan, or an EU country, no transit visa is required
- If you have separate tickets, a full type C Schengen visa is needed
- If you leave the transit area, you must clear security and/or immigration
Indian citizens with an expired US visa will need a transit visa
According to the French visa website, Indian citizens with an expired US visa are required to obtain a transit visa for France. This requirement is applicable even if the US visa has been used and is no longer valid. However, if an individual is returning from a flight originating in the country that issued the original visa, they may be exempt from the transit visa requirement.
It is important to note that the transit visa allows individuals to remain in the airport's international zone while waiting for their transfer flight to their final destination. If travellers wish to leave the international zone and enter the city of Paris or any other French territory, they must hold a valid short-stay visa for the respective territory. This is applicable even if the individual has a valid US visa or residence permit.
In the case of Indian citizens with an expired US visa, it is recommended to apply for an ""A" airport transit visa (ATV). This type of visa is specifically required for individuals holding an ordinary, service, or special passport issued by India. The ATV will enable them to transit through the airport without entering the Schengen Area. However, if their itinerary includes a long daytime or overnight layover in France, and they plan to leave the airport for sightseeing or accommodation, they will need a short-stay Schengen Visa.
To summarise, Indian citizens with an expired US visa will need to obtain a transit visa if they intend to leave the international transit area of the airport in Paris. This visa requirement is necessary to comply with the entry and visa regulations of the country.
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If you have a US visa, you don't need a transit visa
If you are a US citizen, you can enter France without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. This includes transiting through a French airport. However, it is important to note that your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure date from the Schengen area. If you are a non-US citizen travelling through France, you may need to apply for an "'A'" Airport Transit Visa (ATV), depending on your nationality and the nature of your trip.
ATV requirements apply to those travelling from a non-Schengen country to another non-Schengen country who need to pass through the international zone of a French airport. This visa allows you to remain within the international zone of the airport while waiting for your transfer flight. It is important to note that an ATV does not permit you to leave the airport, for example, to sightsee or stay in a hotel.
If you are a citizen of the following countries, you will need to apply for an ATV: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, or Sri Lanka. Additionally, if you hold an ordinary passport from specific countries, such as India, Russia, or the Philippines, you will also need an ATV.
However, there are exemptions to the ATV requirement. If you are a holder of a valid visa or residence permit for a country in the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), you are exempt. This includes visas or permits from countries such as the United States, Canada, Japan, and specific Caribbean countries. Family members of EU, EEA, or Swiss nationals are also exempt from the ATV requirement.
Therefore, if you have a valid US visa, you are exempt from obtaining an ATV when transiting through a French airport. However, it is always important to ensure compliance with entry and visa requirements, as specific conditions may apply.
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If you have a valid visa from Canada, Japan, or an EU country, no transit visa is required
When transiting through a French airport, you may be subject to visa requirements. If you have a valid visa from Canada, Japan, or an EU country, no transit visa is required. This also applies to family members of an EU/EEA/Swiss national, holders of a valid Schengen visa, a national long-stay visa, or a residence permit issued by a Schengen country.
However, it is important to note that this exemption is only valid if you remain in the airport's international zone while waiting for your transfer flight to your final destination, and if your final destination is located outside the Schengen area. If you need to leave the transit area to pick up baggage and check-in, you must clear passport and security checks, and ensure you comply with entry and visa requirements.
If you are travelling from an airport in a third country and wish to enter the French territory or overseas department where the airport is located, you must hold a valid short-stay visa for that territory. This also applies if you are travelling from an airport in a country outside the Schengen area and staying in the international zone of an airport in metropolitan France while waiting for a connecting flight to a destination outside the Schengen area.
Additionally, certain countries have visa exemption arrangements with Japan, allowing their citizens to enter Japan without a visa for a short-term stay. These countries include Hong Kong, Macao, Barbados, Türkiye, and Lesotho, among others. However, for some countries, only specific passport holders are exempt, such as those with Machine-Readable Passports (MRPs) compliant with ICAO standards.
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If you have separate tickets, a full type C Schengen visa is needed
If you are travelling from an airport in a country located outside the Schengen Area and staying in the international zone of an airport located in metropolitan France while waiting for your connection to your final destination, which is also located outside the Schengen Area, you can remain in the airport's international zone without a visa. However, if you need to leave the transit area to pick up baggage and check in, you must clear passport check and comply with entry and visa requirements.
The type of visa you need depends on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. For example, citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Sri Lanka must apply for an "A" airport transit visa (ATV) if they hold an ordinary, service, or special passport from these countries. On the other hand, if you are a citizen of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland, you are exempt from needing a visa.
It is important to note that the rules and requirements for visas can change, so it is always best to check with the official government website or embassy for the most up-to-date information. Additionally, some airports, such as Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), have terminals that are not connected airside, meaning you may need to exit and re-enter the transit area to transfer between flights. This would require a full type C Schengen visa.
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If you leave the transit area, you must clear security and/or immigration
If you are travelling from an airport in a country located outside the Schengen Area and staying in the international zone of an airport located in metropolitan France while waiting for your connection to your final destination, which is also located outside the Schengen Area, you do not need a transit visa. However, if you need to leave the transit area to pick up baggage and check in, you must clear a passport check and comply with entry and visa requirements.
There are three types of airport transit visa (ATV): a one-way ATV, a transit ATV, and a double-entry ATV. You must apply for an "A" airport transit visa (ATV) if you hold an ordinary, service, or special passport issued by Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, or Sri Lanka. You must also apply for an ATV if you hold an ordinary passport issued by certain countries, including India, Russia, and Turkey.
If you are an Indian citizen, you must hold a valid ATV to transit via France for a final destination outside the Schengen Area. However, if you have a valid US, EU, Canadian, or Japanese visa, no transit visa is required.
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Frequently asked questions
No, you do not need a transit visa as long as you have a valid US visa on your passport.
Yes, you will need a transit visa.
It depends on where you're flying to and from. If you need to leave the transit area to pick up baggage and check in, you must clear a passport check and comply with entry and visa requirements.
Yes, an airport transit visa (ATV) is required if you need to transfer between terminals outside of the transit zone.
