France Lifts Transit-Visa Need For Indian Passport Holders Flying Through

For many travellers, a transit visa can feel confusing and cumbersome. Unlike a standard tourist or business visa, a transit visa applies only to passengers passing through a country en route to another destination, without formally entering it. Until recently, Indian travellers flying via France were required to obtain an airport transit visa even for brief layovers while connecting to another international flight.

This requirement applied even if passengers remained entirely within the airport, did not collect checked baggage and never crossed passport control. That, however, has now changed.

Transit Visas Not Required Anymore

With effect from April 10, 2026, Indian nationals holding an ordinary passport are no longer required to obtain an airport transit visa when passing through the international zone of airports in France. The announcement was confirmed by the Embassy of France in India in a press release issued on April 23, 2026.

The exemption applies strictly to passengers who remain in the international transit area during their layover at a French airport while travelling onwards to a third country.

"During his recent visit to India in February 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron had announced that measures would be taken to ease Indian nationals' travel via France," the Embassy noted.

Following President Macron's statement, a decree amending the existing regulation of May 10, 2010, which governs visas and documentation required for entry into French territory, was adopted and officially published in the French government's Journal Officiel on April 9, 2026, the Embassy explained.

The updated rules have since been incorporated into the official France-Visas platform, reflecting the new and smoother procedure for Indian travellers.

France Follows Germany In Offering Visa-Free Transit For Indians

France is not the only European country to ease transit rules for Indian passport holders in recent months. In January 2026, Germany also announced that Indian nationals would no longer require a Schengen Airport Transit Visa, commonly referred to as a Type A visa, when transiting through its international airports.

This exemption applies to passengers connecting through major German hubs such as Frankfurt and Munich while travelling to a non-Schengen destination. The decision was announced during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's first official visit to India on January 12 and 13, 2026.

Together, these developments are expected to simplify travel, reduce costs and ease planning for Indian passengers using key European airports as transit hubs, making long-haul journeys smoother and more accessible.