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Schengen Visa - Airport Transit
The vast majority of foreign travellers benefit from what is known as “transit privileges”. If during transit through a German airport, you do not leave the international airport area and if your final destination is outside the Schengen area, you do not need a transit visa.
However, if for some reason you need to enter the Schengen area during transit (for example to change terminals or airports or if your final destination is within the Schengen area), you may require a C-Visa.
Only five airports in Germany have an international transit zone enabling you to transit without formally entering the Schengen area:
- Frankfurt International Airport (FRA)
- München/ Munich International Airport (MUC)
- Berlin Airport (BER, 6am to 11pm only)
- Hamburg Airport (HAM, 4:30am to 11:30pm only)
- Düsseldorf Airport (DUS, 6am to 9pm only). Only if the carrier has arranged for transit facilities with the Federal Police beforehand. Please check with your airline!
Nationals of the following countries do not yet enjoy transit privileges and therefore require an airport transit visa (category A) for transit at a German airport even if they remain airside and do not have to enter the country:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana (except holders of diplomatic and service passports)
- India (except holders of diplomatic passports)
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan (exceptions apply for transits to and from Australia and New Zealand)
- Lebanon
- Mali
- Nigeria
- Pakistan (except holders of diplomatic passports)
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Turkey (except holders of diplomatic, service and special passports)
The following nationals of the countries listed above are nonetheless exempt from airport transit requirements, if they are
- Holders of valid visas and national residence permits issued by any EU and Schengen country,
- Holders of certain national residence permits issued by the following countries: Andorra, Japan, Canada, San Marino, United States of America,
- Holders of valid visas issued by an EEA country (all EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) or visas issued by Japan, Canada or the United States of America.
Required documents
Please bring the following documents plus one copy of each to your appointment at VFS Global and keep the following order of the documents. Documents in languages other than German, English or French must be translated.
Further documentation may be requested in each individual case
One application form (Schengen VIDEX) duly completed and signed.
1 recent biometric passport photo, 35 x 45 mm, no older than three months. Digitally altered passport photos cannot be accepted. Please ensure that your photo adheres to German biometric requirements and is taken in front of a white/bright background.
Do not stick or staple the photo to the application form.
Original passport or travel document valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Schengen area. The passport/travel document must contain at least two blank pages and must have been issued within the last 10 years. Please attach 1 photocopy of the passport data page to your application.
Proof of legal residence in Qatar, valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended date of departure from the Schengen territory.
Applicants must prove that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance, covering emergency medical, hospitalisation and repatriation (including in case of death). The minimum cover should be of 30,000 EUR. This insurance must be valid for the entire Schengen area and throughout the duration of the stay.
Applicants for a uniform visa for more than two entries (multiple entries) shall be in possession of travel medical insurance covering their stays; at the time of application, they need to prove that they have a travel medical insurance covering the period of their first intended visit, and sign the related statement in the application form.
Flight reservation or confirmed ticket
Visa/ residence permit for final destination outside Schengen Area, if applicable.