Do I require a transit visa at Frankfurt if travelling to the United Kingdom?
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/aamt/zugastimaa/buergerservice/faq/33-transit/606710
What I am confused about is they have mentioned the vast majority of foreign travellers benefit from 'transit privilege' which doesn't require a visa, but they have also mentioned some countries do not have 'transit privilege', which also includes India. But even Indians aren't required a transit visa if they are holders of a valid visa from the EEA countries and visas issued by Japan, Canada and the United States of America.
The UK used to be a part of EEA and EU, but its no longer part of it now because Brexit happened, and it is in transition period. So can I use airport transit privilege in Germany without a German airport transit visa if I am travelling to the UK? Do EU and EEA laws still apply during the transition period?
Best Answer
Short Answer: you can transfer airside at Frankfurt without a transit visa.
Longer Answer: Airlines check passenger documents carefully before boarding. The IATA database Timatic collects and presents this information to the airline, which is reviewed before a boarding pass is issued.
The German Federal Foreign Office presents different eligibility information in the page cited in your question. The airline, however, will check your eligibility to fly based on the Timatic database, not on the content of a governmental webpage.
Using your information in one of the many Timatic public access portals (here's one from Olympic Airways), generates the following information.
National India (IN) /Transit Germany (DE) Destination United Kingdom (GB) ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW
...
TWOV (Transit Without Visa): Visa required, except for Nationals of India transiting through Frankfurt (FRA) or Munich (MUC), arriving from a non-Schengen Member State with a confirmed onward ticket for a flight within 24 hours to a third country which is not a Schengen Member State. They must:
- have a visa issued by Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland (Rep.), Japan, Romania, USA or United Kingdom, and
- stay in the international transit area of the airport, and
- have documents required for their next destination.
The UK is not now an EU member state, having withdrawn January 31, 2020. The UK is also not a member state under the Schengen agreement.
Other requirements appear further down in the Timatic report:
Warning:
- Passports must be signed by the holder.
- This does not apply to passengers with a passport that has a fingerprint instead of a signature.
- This does not apply to passengers with a passport that has a remark stating that a signature is not required or that the holder cannot sign the passport.
- Further exemptions exist for minors, based on national laws
If you have an Indian passport valid for the duration of your trip signed by you (and not an Indian passport with a fingerprint instead of a signature, or one which recites that a signature is not required), a valid UK visa, and a ticket from FRA to the UK, your 3 hr 55 min layover in FRA qualifies you for this exception.
Thus, you do not need a transit visa for the layover in Germany.
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Do I need transit visa if I travel via Frankfurt?
German Transit Airports In these five airports in Germany, you can stay at the International Transit Area without a visa: Frankfurt/Main airport (open 24 hours) Munich Airport (open 24 hours) Hamburg Airport (4:30 a.m. \u2013 11:30 p.m. only)Do I need a UK visa for a connecting flight?
You might need a Visitor in Transit visa if you're: changing flights in the UK on your way to another country. going through UK border control, for example to check in your luggage for a connecting flight. leaving the UK within 48 hours.Can I travel from Germany to UK without visa?
Citizens of Germany do not need a visa to come to the UK. You can stay in the UK for up to 6 months without a visa. You may want to apply for a visa if you have a criminal record or you've previously been refused entry into the UK.Do I need a transit visa for a connecting flight in Europe?
A transit visa is a travel document allowing you to pass through another country until you reach your destination. For example, if you are traveling from India to the US, but you need to stop in the Schengen Zone to continue your flight for the US, you require a transit visa for the Schengen Area.Does Frankfurt require transit visa?
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