A Germany Airport Transit Visa is an essential piece of documentation that is required for travellers who need to land at a German airport to catch a connecting flight to their destination country, which is located in a non-Schengen area.
A primary holder of a German transit visa can stay in any airport located in Germany, within the airport’s international transit area, for up to 24 hours. However, leaving the international transit area of the airport will be considered illegal and therefore strictly prohibited.
Currently, only the following five airports in Germany possess the International Transit Area, thereby enabling travellers to transit without formally entering the Schengen area: Munich, Frankfurt/Main, Hamburg (4:30 AM to 11:30 PM), Dusseldorf (6 AM to 9 PM), and Berlin-Brandenburg.
What are the Eligibility and Requirements?
It should be known that entry clearance at any German airport will depend on the citizenship of the applicant. Currently, the nationals of the following countries who are planning to pass through the international transit area of German airports should possess their airport transit visa: Afghanistan, Ghana, Lebanon, South Sudan, Bangladesh, India, Mali, Sri Lanka, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iran, Nigeria, Sudan, Eritrea, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Ethiopia, Jordan, Somalia, and Turkey.
However, citizens of the above-mentioned countries will not require an airport transit visa, if they fulfil any one of the following set of requirements: the applicant is a holder of a valid visa and national residence permits from EU and Schengen countries; the applicant is a holder of certain national residence permits from countries such as Andorra, Japan, Canada, San Marino, United States of America; or, the applicant is a holder of valid visa from the EEA countries (the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland), Japan, Canada and the United States of America.
In addition to the above-mentioned requirements, you will require the following set of documents: the completed application form along with the Declaration Of Accuracy Of Information form, one recent passport-size photograph (read the photograph rules and regulations), details of the travel or flight reservations (original and copy), a valid passport (original and copy of the data page) having at least 3 months validity with at least 2 blank pages and should have been issued within the last 10 years, a valid US alien registration card or visa (if any; original and copy), confirmed airline ticket to the final destination (original and copy), final destination country visa (if any; original and copy), and recent residence proof (utility bill or driver’s license).
In the case of minors under 18 years, additional documents will be required, such as the signatures of both parents on the application form (unless one parent has sole custody of the minor), the minor’s birth certificate, and the parents’ original passport(s) with one copy each.
Lastly, when it comes to the airport transit visa fees, the cost is 80 euros for adults and children aged 12 or older. Alternatively, for children aged 0-5 years, airport transit visas are provided free of charge, while for children aged 6-12 years, it is 40 euros.
What is the processing time? Expect a time frame of at least 15 working days for your German airport transit visa to be processed.
Steps to Apply For a German Airport Transit Visa Online
If you want to apply for your German airport transit visa online, then you can follow the below-mentioned steps for a seamless experience.
- Start the process of filling out the online visa application form via the official website here.
- On the landing page, you have to provide your personal data, such as your name, nationality, country and date of birth, sex, occupation, etc.
- After that, you have to provide your contact information, such as your address, phone number, and email address.
- Once done, proceed to provide details on your travel documents, such as your passport number, passport issuance date and validity, etc. Additionally, you have to disclose the need for biometric data (unless your biometric data has already been collected previously).
- On the final step, you have to provide your travel data, such as the purpose of your journey, duration of stay, details of your entry permit for the final country of destination, etc. You also have to provide a reference for your trip.
- After you have provided all the required information as mentioned in the aforementioned steps, an assumption of costs for your airport transit visa will be made, and you will be able to submit your application for an in-person interview.
Once the visa application is submitted, proceed to print it along with the “Declaration Of Accuracy Of Information” form, which needs to be filled out as well. The above-mentioned two printed forms, along with the documents previously mentioned, should be presented before the German visa authorities for your in-person interview.
After the interview is successfully completed, you have to pay the requisite fees, and the German airport transit visa will be delivered to you via postal mail at your specified address.
To find a German visa authority within your country, proceed to use the official German Mission finder here.
