Schengen area · Transit
Do you need a transit visa for the Schengen area?
In brief
Only some passports need one to change planes. Nationals of 12 countries on the EU list need an airport transit visa at every Schengen airport, unless they hold an exemption document, such as a valid US, Canadian or Japanese visa on the way to or from that country.1 Some states add their own lists: Germany 8, France 24, the Netherlands 14, Italy 4 and Spain 29.23456 To leave the international transit area, you need a Schengen visa if your passport requires one.115
Checked 6 Nov 2026Source: EU Visa Code and the national listsReport a change
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ContentsIn brief
Who needs an airport transit visa, by nationality
| Your passport | Changing planes in the transit area | Going through border control | Official list |
|---|---|---|---|
| On the EU list 12 | Airport transit visaat every Schengen airport, unless exempt | Schengen visa | Visa Code, Annex IV |
| On Germany's list 8 | Airport transit visaonly at German airports, unless exempt | Schengen visaif your passport needs one | Germany: national list |
| On France's list 24 | Airport transit visaonly at French airports, unless exempt | Schengen visaif your passport needs one | France: national list |
| On the Netherlands' list 14 | Airport transit visaonly at Dutch airports, unless exempt | Schengen visaif your passport needs one | European Commission's table |
| On Italy's list 4 | Airport transit visaonly at Italian airports, unless exempt | Schengen visaif your passport needs one | Italy: national list |
| On Spain's list 29 | Airport transit visaonly at Spanish airports, unless exempt | Schengen visaif your passport needs one | Spain: national list |
| Other passports that need a Schengen visa 57 | No airport transit visa | Schengen visa | Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, Annex I |
| Visa-free passports | Nothing | No visaup to 90 days in any 180 | Schengen area entry rules by nationality |
The EU list (Visa Code, Annex IV)
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
DR Congo
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Ghana
Iran
Iraq
Nigeria
Pakistan
Somalia
Sri Lanka
- Nationals of some countries need an airport transit visa even to change planes in the international (non-Schengen) part of an EU airport.7
- An airport transit visa is valid only for transit through the international transit areas of airports in the Schengen states; it does not allow entry.1
- Each Schengen country can add its own airport transit visa requirements for other nationalities, on top of the common EU list.7 Member States may require an airport transit visa from nationals of further countries in urgent cases of mass influx of irregular migrants; this is the legal basis of the national lists.1
- An airport transit visa issued because of a national list is valid only at the airports of the state or states concerned.1
Nationals of the third countries listed in Annex IV shall be required to hold an airport transit visa when passing through the international transit areas of airports situated on the territory of the Member States.
EU Visa Code, consolidated text · checked · read from an archived copy of 18 Oct 2026
National lists: Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain
These states also require an airport transit visa from the nationalities below, at their own airports only.1 The European Commission publishes the extra requirements of every Schengen state in one table; other states' lists are not on this page.4
Germany 8 nationalities · full page
Cuba
Jordan
Lebanon
Mali
South Sudan
Sudan
Syria
Türkiye
Germany exempts Jordanians who hold a valid visa for Australia, Israel or New Zealand and a confirmed ticket or boarding pass to that country, or who are returning to Jordan from an authorised stay there, if the onward flight leaves the same airport within 12 hours of arrival in Germany.2
France 24 nationalities · full page
Angola
Bolivia
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Congo
Côte d'Ivoire- Cuba
Dominican Republic
Guinea
Haiti- Mali
Mauritania
Nepal
Philippines
Russia
Senegal
Sierra Leone- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
Togo- Türkiye
Uzbekistan
The English version of France-Visas (Wayback capture of 29 January 2026) still listed India among ordinary passports needing a French airport transit visa. The French version (capture of 27 July 2026) and the Commission's table no longer list India for France.9
The Netherlands 14 nationalities · full page
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Cuba
- Guinea
Guinea-Bissau- Mauritania
- Nepal
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Türkiye
Yemen
The Netherlands does not print a nationality list for its airport transit visa: the Marechaussee sends travellers to a questionnaire.8 The list above is the Netherlands' column in the European Commission's table.4 Most Turkish passport holders need an airport transit visa to change planes at Amsterdam Schiphol since 1 December 2022.8
Italy 4 nationalities
- Senegal
- Syria
Tajikistan- Uzbekistan
Italy has required airport transit visas from Tajik and Uzbek citizens since 1 February 2025.10 Italy's list was read from an archived copy of its Foreign Ministry's page.5 Italy's page lists only Andorra, Canada, Japan, San Marino and the United States for the Annex V residence permits; it does not mention the United Kingdom, which the consolidated Visa Code names.5
Spain 29 nationalities
Burkina Faso- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Congo
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Cuba
Djibouti
Egypt
Gambia- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
Kenya
Liberia- Mali
- Mauritania
- Nepal
Palestine- Russia
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Togo
- Türkiye
- Uzbekistan
- Yemen
The list is the Spanish Consulate General in Washington's; the Commission's table shows the same states.6 The Embassy of Spain in New Delhi shows the same Spanish list as Washington but without Russia, and names 'Palestine'. India is not on it.11 The Consulate General of Spain in San Francisco still shows an older Spanish list (page dated 30 July 2025) with 15 countries, including India. The Washington consulate, the New Delhi embassy and the Commission's table do not list India for Spain.12 Since 4 March 2026, Indian citizens with ordinary passports no longer need an airport transit visa when changing planes in the international zone of a Spanish airport.13
Going through border control
To leave the international transit area, change airports or travel on inside the Schengen area, you pass border control and need a Schengen visa if your passport requires one; an airport transit visa does not allow entry.115 See the Schengen area entry rules by nationality, and the EU Entry/Exit System for what happens at the border.
- An airport transit visa does not allow entry into the Schengen area. A connection between two airports inside the Schengen area, a night closure of the terminal or leaving the airport during the layover requires a valid Schengen short-stay visa.3
- If the connection means changing terminals through border control, a Schengen visa is needed instead of an airport transit visa.6
Exemptions
No airport transit visa is needed, even on the lists above, if you hold:
- a valid Schengen visa, a national long-stay visa or a residence permit of a Schengen state;1
- a valid visa for Canada, Japan or the United States (or a non-Schengen EU state, or the Netherlands' Caribbean territories), when travelling to the issuing country or another third country, or returning from the issuing country after using the visa;1
- one of the residence permits listed in Annex V of Andorra, Canada, Japan, San Marino, the United Kingdom or the United States, or a residence permit of a non-Schengen EU state or the Netherlands' Caribbean territories;1
- a status as a family member of an EU citizen, a diplomatic passport, or flight crew membership (nationals of a Chicago Convention state).1
For the United States, Annex V lists a valid unexpired immigrant visa, the Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, the Form I-327 Re-entry Permit and the Form I-571 Refugee Travel Document endorsed 'Permanent Resident Alien'.1 For the United Kingdom, Annex V lists the UK Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).1 Annex V lists the residence permits that let holders transit Schengen airports without an airport transit visa: for Canada the permanent resident card and the Permanent Resident Travel Document, for Japan the residence card.1
National pages differ on the UK permit: France exempts holders of residence permits of Monaco, Andorra, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States or San Marino, or for the Netherlands' Caribbean territories, that guarantee an unrestricted right of return.3 Italy's page lists only Andorra, Canada, Japan, San Marino and the United States for the Annex V residence permits; it does not mention the United Kingdom, which the consolidated Visa Code names.5
third-country nationals holding a valid visa for a Member State which does not take part in the adoption of this Regulation, or for a Member State which does not yet apply the provisions of the Schengen acquis in full, or for Canada, Japan or the United States of America, or holders of a valid visa for one or more of the overseas countries and territories of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba), when travelling to the issuing country or to any other third country, or when, having used the visa, returning from the issuing country;
EU Visa Code, Article 3(5) · checked · read from an archived copy of 18 Oct 2026
Fee and how to apply
| Fee | EUR 90, EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 111In the US, Spain's consulate charges the same fee in dollars: Spain's consulate in Washington charges the standard visa fee for an airport transit visa: from 1 January 2026, $106 for applicants over 12 and $53 for children aged 6 to 11; children 5 and under are exempt. The dollar amounts are revised quarterly with exchange rates.6 |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | Apply to the Schengen state where the transit airport is; with two or more transit airports, to the state of the first transit airport.1 |
| When to apply | Applications are lodged between 6 months and 15 days before travel (seafarers up to 9 months ahead).6Spain's consulates; other states set their own timing |
| Decision | The legal decision period is 15 calendar days from the day after the application, extendable to 45 calendar days when an interview or extra documents are needed.6Spain's consulates |
| Validity | Multiple-entry airport transit visas may be issued for up to six months.1 |
More on the fee in each country: Schengen visa fee.
Recent changes
- Since 3 June 2026 Indian citizens no longer need an airport transit visa for a layover at a German airport. German Missions in India · checked
- Since 4 March 2026, Indian citizens with ordinary passports no longer need an airport transit visa when changing planes in the international zone of a Spanish airport. Embassy of Spain in New Delhi (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain), notice of 19 February 2026 · checked
- Italy has required airport transit visas from Tajik and Uzbek citizens since 1 February 2025. Embassy of Italy in Abu Dhabi · checked
- Most Turkish passport holders need an airport transit visa to change planes at Amsterdam Schiphol since 1 December 2022. Royal Netherlands Marechaussee · checked
FAQ
Do Indians need a transit visa for Europe?
Not to change planes in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy or Spain: India is on neither the EU list nor their national lists. Since 4 March 2026, Indian citizens with ordinary passports no longer need an airport transit visa when changing planes in the international zone of a Spanish airport. Since 3 June 2026 Indian citizens no longer need an airport transit visa for a layover at a German airport. Other Schengen states have lists of their own, so check the state where you change planes. To leave the airport, Indian citizens need a Schengen visa.
Do I need a Schengen transit visa for a layover?
Only if your passport is on the EU list, or on the national list of the state where you change planes, and you hold no exemption document such as a valid US, Canadian or Japanese visa. Leaving the transit area needs a Schengen visa if your passport requires one.
Can I leave the airport during a layover in Europe?
Only with a Schengen visa if your passport needs one; an airport transit visa does not allow entry. Visa-free passports can enter for up to 90 days in any 180.
Does a US visa exempt me from the Schengen airport transit visa?
A valid visa for Canada, Japan or the United States (or for a non-Schengen EU state or the Netherlands' Caribbean territories) exempts the holder when travelling to the issuing country or another third country, or when returning from the issuing country after using the visa.
How much is a Schengen airport transit visa?
No official page states a separate fee; the Visa Code's visa fee applies: EUR 90, and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 11.
Sources
Official sources only. Each was checked on the date shown.
- European Union (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, Visa Code, consolidated text, EUR-Lex): airport transit visa lists, airport transit, exemptions and applying
- Federal Ministry of Justice, Germany (gesetze-im-internet.de): Aufenthaltsverordnung (AufenthV): airport transit visa lists and exemptions
- Government of France (France-Visas, the official visa website): airport transit visa lists, airport transit and exemptions
- European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME): airport transit visa lists and national lists
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy (esteri.it): airport transit visa lists and exemptions
- Consulate General of Spain in Washington (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain): airport transit visa lists, airport transit and applying
- European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME): airport transit
- Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Koninklijke Marechaussee, border police): national lists
- Government of France (France-Visas, the official visa website): national lists
- Embassy of Italy in Abu Dhabi (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy): national lists
- Embassy of Spain in New Delhi (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain): national lists
- Consulate General of Spain in San Francisco (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain): national lists
- Embassy of Spain in New Delhi (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain), notice of 19 February 2026: national lists
- German Missions in India (Federal Foreign Office): national lists
- European Union, Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (EUR-Lex consolidated text of 30.12.2025): Schengen visa
More: Schengen area entry rules by nationality · transit pages · all visa guides.
About this page
By the Visa Almanac editorial team. Every rule, fee and date on this page comes from the official sources listed above, each read on the day shown; where they are silent, we say so. Editorial policy · Change log
- Updated
- 6 Nov 2026
- Last checked
- Official sources
- 15