Visa query for flight changes in CDG airport [duplicate]

I hope someone can help me out with some info as I'm getting a lot of conflicting info.

I am landing in Terminal 1 on 3 January with United Airlines from New York and need to take a flight on Air France in Terminal 2E to South Africa. This is not a connecting flight as I have two separate tickets. I will need to collect my baggage from the carousel and then check in for an Air France flight.

I have a South African Passport, my Schengen Visa will have expired on 24 December, but I will have a valid US visa for that trip.

Will I need a visa to be in the airport to collect luggage from one airline and check in at another different airline to fly back home to South Africa?

The embassy says I don't need a Visa if I have a South AFrican Passport and am not leaving the International Zone of the airport. What is considered the "International Zone"?

TIA

Best Answer

As @kebs said, since you have to pick up your luggage as well, you need to clear immigration for that: http://easycdg.com/travelling-terminal-1-terminal-2-cdg-airport/

I would say you definitely need a visa C (case 3 in the link provided by @Bhushan Kale definitely answers your question).

More info here:

https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en_US/web/france-visas/short-stay-visa

https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en_US/web/france-visas/airport-transit-visa

http://easycdg.com/passenger-information/connecting-flight-connections-paris-cdg-airport/transit-information/

http://easycdg.com/passenger-information/immigration-passport-paris-cdg-airport/

(edited based on the comment)

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Do I need a visa for a connecting flight in France?

If you have a connection between two airports in the Schengen Area, or if the airport through which you wish to enter the French territory is closed overnight for the duration of the transit, you must hold a valid short-stay Schengen visa.

Do I need a transit visa for a connecting flight in Paris?

Passengers travelling between non-Schengen countries do not need a visa for connecting flights at Paris-CDG. Non-EU nationals entering France or travelling to a Schengen country may need a visa, depending on their nationality and on the rules in the country where they wish to travel to.

Can I transit through Charles de Gaulle airport Covid?

Paris A\xe9roport are open and welcome connecting passengers between flights. You must get tested before traveling as they will not be able to get tested during their transfer if a RT-PCR test or antigenic is required by your final destination.

How do I change airports in Paris?

There is a direct rail connection between the airports, using the Paris regional train, the RER. The route is RER B via the city center. Trains run regularly, and the travel time is around one hour.

Visa check at Paris Airport?

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