Germany has announced that citizens of 20 countries must obtain an airport transit visa before passing through its airports, even if they intend to remain inside the terminal.
The affected travellers cannot use the transit privilege available to most foreign nationals whose flights connect through Germany to destinations outside the Schengen area.
The Category A airport transit visa is required regardless of the traveller’s final destination.
Countries affected by the requirement
According to the German Federal Foreign Office, the following nationals must apply for a transit visa before travelling through Germany:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Mali
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Turkey
Most foreign travellers can pass through Germany without a visa if they remain in the international transit area and their onward destination is outside the Schengen zone.However, citizens of the 20 listed countries do not qualify for that exemption.
Five German airports have international transit areas
Germany has also confirmed that only five airports provide an International Transit Area where passengers can change flights without formally entering the Schengen area.
They are:
- Frankfurt/Main
- Munich
- Hamburg
- Düsseldorf
- Berlin-Brandenburg
The transit facility at Hamburg Airport operates from 4:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily. At Düsseldorf Airport, the facility is available from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., but only when the airline has made prior arrangements with the Federal Police.
Travellers who must enter the Schengen area during their journey may require a separate entry visa. This could apply when changing terminals or travelling to a final destination within the Schengen zone.
The German government advised affected passengers to apply for the correct visa well ahead of their planned travel dates.
