Jazmin Li
The majority of travellers do not need a visa when transiting through Germany, as long as they do not leave the International Airport Area. This is referred to as the transit privilege. However, citizens of around 20 countries must apply for transit visas for a flight stopover in Germany or other Schengen countries. An airport transit visa for Germany is a category A Schengen visa, allowing travellers to stay for up to 24 hours in the international transit area, enabling them to wait for their connecting flight. The standard fee for a German airport transit visa is €90, with children aged 6-12 paying a reduced fee of €45.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who needs an airport transit visa? | Citizens of certain countries require an airport transit visa when flying via Germany to their final destination. |
| Transit privilege | Most travelers do not need a visa to transit in Germany, as long as they do not leave the International Airport Area. This is referred to as the "transit privilege". |
| Countries that require a transit visa | Citizens of 21 countries require a transit visa to change planes at a German airport. |
| Airports with International Transit Areas | Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin. |
| Time limit | With a German transit visa, you can stay in the airport's international transit area for up to 12-24 hours. |
| Visa fee | The standard fee for a German airport transit visa is €90. Children (6-12 years old) pay a reduced fee of €45. |
| Processing time | It takes a minimum of two weeks to process a transit visa. |
| Application process | Complete the online application form, schedule an appointment, collect all required documents, and submit them along with the visa fee. |
| Travel insurance | Travel insurance is mandatory for entering Germany. It must cover a minimum of €30,000 for medical expenses and be valid for all Schengen countries. |
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What You'll Learn
Who needs an airport transit visa for Germany
The majority of foreign travellers do not need an airport transit visa when passing through Germany to their final destination. This is known as the "transit privilege". However, citizens of around 20 countries do require a visa to transit through Germany, even if they do not leave the transit area.
The German missions in the UK will only accept visa applications from UK residents. If you are not a UK resident, you should apply through the German Mission in your country of residence or its Visa Application Centres. Nationals of the following countries are required to be in possession of an airport transit visa when passing through the international transit area of airports in Germany:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Congo (Dem. Rep.)
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Cameroon
- Kenya
- Lebanon
- Mali
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turkey
The airport transit visa for Germany and other Schengen countries is a Schengen visa of category A. It does not entitle the holder to enter Germany; it only allows the holder to stay in the international transit area of a German airport for up to 12 hours, enabling them to wait for their connecting flight. The standard fee for a German airport transit visa is €90. Children (6-12 years old) pay a reduced fee of €45. It takes at least two weeks for the transit visa to process.
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Transit privileges
The "transit privilege" is a benefit for most foreign travellers who require a visa to enter Germany and the Schengen area. Under this rule, travellers can stay in an international transit area at a German airport without a transit visa. This exemption applies only under specific conditions:
- The traveller will make a stopover at a German airport with an International Transit Area.
- The traveller will not leave the International Transit Area at any point.
- The traveller's final destination is outside the Schengen area.
In these cases, travellers need a German tourist visa. This is because once they leave the transit area, they clear immigration in Germany, effectively entering the Schengen Zone. If travellers will transit through Germany by car, they have to get a tourist visa. They must stay in the airport transit area until their connecting flight. If the connecting flight is more than 24 hours away, they should get a tourist visa beforehand.
Citizens of certain countries require an airport transit visa when flying via Germany to their final destination. Nationals of these countries must be in possession of an airport transit visa when passing through the international transit area of airports in Germany. The standard fee for a German airport transit visa is €90. Children (6-12 years old) pay a reduced fee of €45. It takes at least two weeks for the transit visa to process. It can take longer if there are more applicants or during the holidays.
UK residents holding a valid UK Biometric Residence Permit do not require a transit visa to transit through a German airport. This exemption applies to holders of valid UK Biometric Residence Permit Cards only.
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How to apply for a German airport transit visa
A German airport transit visa allows citizens of certain countries to pass through the international transit area of airports in Germany when flying to their final destination. This is necessary when the final destination is within the Schengen area. Nationals of certain countries are able to transit through a German airport without a visa if they have a valid visa issued by a Schengen zone country, Canada, Japan, or the United States of America.
To apply for a German airport transit visa, follow these steps:
- Complete the online application form and print it out. You can fill out the form online through VIDEX or in paper format, depending on the embassy. Sign the printed form.
- Schedule an appointment at a German embassy or consulate, or a visa application center. Appointments can be booked through the free online appointment system.
- Collect all the required documents. The documents you need for a German airport transit visa are:
- Valid passport (valid for at least another three months after leaving Germany and issued within the last ten years)
- Two passport-sized pictures
- Round-trip flight ticket or itinerary
- Visa for the final destination (if applicable)
- Proof of travel health insurance that meets Schengen requirements (minimum coverage of €30,000 for medical expenses and valid for all Schengen countries)
On the date of your appointment, submit the documents and pay the visa fee. The standard fee for a German airport transit visa is €90, and it takes at least two weeks for the visa to be processed. You can apply for the visa as early as six months before your planned date of transit, but most applicants submit their application one to three months in advance.
Please note that leaving the international transit area with an airport transit visa is prohibited. If your layover exceeds 24 hours due to delays, contact the airport authorities and your airline immediately. In such cases, German immigration officers may provide temporary assistance.
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Visa fees
The standard fee for a German airport transit visa is €90 for adults. Children between the ages of 6 and 12 pay a reduced fee of €45, while children under 6 receive their transit visas for free. The fee must be paid when submitting your application to the visa centre or embassy, or slightly before—you will be notified of how to pay. You will need to save the payment slip and attach it to your documents.
The German Consulate may waive or reduce fees in individual cases if the applicant is entering the country to promote cultural interests, foreign policy interests, development policy interests, or humanitarian reasons.
As of September 1, 2017, the fee for all types of German long-stay visas, or National (D) visas, is €75. However, some categories are exempt from paying this fee, while others pay a lower fee due to bilateral agreements and facilitations for special categories of visa candidates. If you are applying for a German long-term visa, you will be exempt from paying the visa fee if you are a foreign national receiving a scholarship from public funds during your stay in Germany, as well as your spouse or partner and minor children, as long as they are covered by the funding. All visa candidates under the age of 18 will have to pay a reduced visa fee of €37.50 when applying for a Germany long-stay visa.
Please note that Germany does not reimburse visa fees if your application is rejected or if you decide to withdraw your application.
Most German embassies and consulates have delegated visa submissions to private visa centres. These centres set up appointments, collect documents, and submit them to the German embassies and consulates, which review applications and make decisions.
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Required documents
The required documents for a German airport transit visa depend on the citizenship of the applicant. Nationals of certain countries are required to possess an airport transit visa when passing through the international transit area of airports in Germany.
The German missions in the UK will only accept visa applications from UK residents. If you are not a UK resident, you should apply through the German Mission in your country of residence or its Visa Application Centres. As of 28 June 2024, UK residents holding a valid UK Biometric Residence Permit do not require a transit visa to transit through a German airport. This exemption applies to holders of valid UK Biometric Residence Permit Cards only and does not include BRP-share codes or electronic residence permits.
If you are a researcher holding a doctoral degree or an appropriate higher education qualification that gives access to doctoral programs, you may be eligible for a fee exemption. However, this can only be determined once your visa application has been submitted.
The documents you need for a German airport transit visa are:
- Visa application form: You can fill out the form online through VIDEX or in paper format, depending on the embassy.
- Payment slip: The standard fee for a German airport transit visa is €90. Children aged 6 to 12 years old pay a reduced fee of €45. Attach the payment slip to your documents.
- Travel Health Insurance: Travel insurance is mandatory for entering Germany. The insurance must be issued in either the US or Germany and meet the Schengen requirements. It should cover a minimum of €30,000 for medical expenses, including medical evacuation and repatriation, and be valid for all Schengen countries. Only the insurance certificate/visa letter is accepted, not confirmation.
- Declaration/letter of consent (for unaccompanied minors): It is strongly recommended that unaccompanied minors provide a declaration or letter of consent signed by both parents authorizing the minor to transit through the Schengen member states and appointing a responsible person during their travel.
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Frequently asked questions
The "transit privilege" means that most travellers do not need a visa to transit in Germany, as long as they do not leave the International Airport Area and their final destination is outside the Schengen area.
Citizens of certain countries require an airport transit visa when flying via Germany to their final destination. This includes citizens of around 20-21 countries.
You can apply for a German airport transit visa at a German embassy or consulate, or a visa application centre.
The standard fee for a German airport transit visa is €90. Children (6-12 years old) pay a reduced fee of €45. It takes at least two weeks for the transit visa to process, but you can apply up to six months in advance.
