Visitors traveling via Germany may need airport transit visa.

[Murali]

AirPort Transit Visa required at Germany ?
Dated : Feb 28 2005.

Lately there are different stories and confusion around the Transit Visa at Germany.
Visitors traveling via Germany may need an airport transit visa. Following URL list the countries who need to have airport transit visa.
http://www.germany-info.org/relaunch/info/consular_services/visa/countrylist.html

1. If you are Indian citizen and USA Green Card holder you don't need this airport transit visa.
2. If you hold any US non-immigrant visa , you would need a airport transit visa. You can also contact nearest German consulate to get answer if you have any question in this regard.
Here is the URL listing German consulate/embassies in USA http://www.germany-info.org/relaunch/info/missions/consulates.html URL for German consulate India:
http://www.germanembassy-india.org/en/willkommen/visa/transit.html

[saras]

Hi All,
I recently contacted Lufthansa Airlines in India and got confirmation that travelers(visitors) from India dont have to get transit visa prior to departure. Rather ,on arrival at the German Airport,the transit visa will be issued to them there itself and it is free of cost.

Thats the update as of Feb 25th 2005.

I can post the entire email conversation with them if you want.Also if you personally want to confirm,you can email them,they are very prompt in their response.

I am still unaware of the requirement for returning from US to India.

[theGCwait]

Hi,
Could you give us the details of the email conversation...I am getting all different views from the German consulate and Lufthansa emails and phones. Anyone who has a recent experience to share?

[saras]

GCwait,

See this:

Raghuvennam's reply (http://forum.path2usa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5311)

Raghuvennam is right.There was a brief period when Lufthansa itself did not know if they needed transit visa or not.They have expressed their concern to German Govt.
Thereafter Govt came to a decision that all travellers do need a transit visa but that will be issued at the German Airport itself on arrival,free of cost.They need not get it prior to departure from embassy.
I guess the only trouble here is they have to wait there in another line and get it done before entering the transit lounge :rolleyes:

I know this because I had emailed them exactly before decision was made.They asked me to wait for a couple of days before they can communicate the final decision to me.

Hope this helps!
Saras

[scoobychennai]

My airline(air india) told me that i do not need transit visa but when i askes german consulate they said i need one.They said that if u have a valid visa (not approval notice) or green card you do not need otherwise everyone needs to get it from the consulate before their departure.

[raghuvennam]

One thing let me clear, when you call german consulate you ask about airport transit visa not just transit visa. There is a difference between them, airport transit visa you can not stay in international airport more then 24 hrs.

When i first called consulate, i made the same mistake.

[scoobychennai]

Yes i told them airport transit visa.Today i even submitted my passport as german consulate for visa.i filled in the application as airport transit visa.

[theGCwait]

ScoobyChennai,
Which Geman consulate did you apply in? Boston?? I ask since I dont have 2 days to wait to get my pasport with stamped visa..My parents leave this wednesday, and I cant apply before Monday..

Saras and Raghuvenaam,
standing in line at frankfurt is a better problem to have than applying to the consualte here and lose your passport 2 days before your parents leave :) . Raghuvenaam, did the fellow pasengers get the ATV issued in Frankfurt, without problems..What was the procedure, if you have an idea, and share with us..

BTW I called frankfurt airport today, they said I need a transit visa and they dont issue it in Frankfurt airport. I dont think the guy knows anything about the rules, but he mananged to scare me all the same...I dont have time to apply for a air transit visa at the consulate too, it seems now..What do my parents do now, (be staranded at Frankfurt airport??).

I hope I am not scaring the rest of you...With just 3 -5 days left before my parents depart and with so many unsurities/confusions, I am getting paranoid...Thanks for all the replies so far, They have helped a lot as always. Pls. advisce..

Hibhagya, what are you going to do, apply at the consulate or go for the Frankfurt stamping option.
Its right, I think, this is just for generating revenue and harass passengers...

Thanks again.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related Links:

http://forum.path2usa.com/forum/showthread.php?p=14179#post14179
http://forum.path2usa.com/forum/showthread.php?p=14178#post14178

[saras]

Hi GCWait,
I understand your frustration.I dont know why they want to bring in new rules without time for implementation ,no proper information.....If they want money,let them get it at the airport itself and get lost! :mad:

Anyway,I would suggest that you take a print out of the page from

http://www.germany-info.org/relaunch/info/consular_services/visa/countrylist.html?

underline the exceptions where it says ATV will be issued by competent authoritis...blah blah and give it to them,What else can we do?? :confused: :mad:

Raghuveenam,
We are all waiting for your reply here!!!! Did things go on smoothly for your relatives??ATV issued at the airport itself??Pls update!

Thanks!
Saras

[hibhagya]

i got a reply from germany emabassy that i need a visa...but i dont think i am gonna apply now.
I guess the link is up to date.
i just want to take a chance.
as Raghuveenam went trhough that stage just 5 days back ,i am confident that he is right.
Besides i guess they wont change rules just like that.
This is what my opinion is,if they need to take air transit visa i guess they will get in Frankfort.

hope our visitors will be fine if they are travelling with in couple of weeks.

[scoobychennai]

I applied in german consulate,los angeles.check this link for boston
http://www.germany-info.org/relaunch/info/missions/consulates/boston/boston.html

[raghuvennam]

i talked to my wife, she said that she has not seen people with not airport transit visa been issued visa at airport. They are just seeing the US visa and ticket.

[gcseeker]

My parents came into US in Lufthansa on 3-4-05 and they did not take any Airport Transit Visa in India before their departure. They probably checked in Frankfurt (I did not see any stamps though), but nothing much. I also talked to German Consulate in NY before my parents arrival and they told that we should really check in the embassy in India, but she also told that as far as she knows it is done at the Airport.

[jmsum]

Sara

Can you please send me complete email from german consulate which you have received for Airport Transit visa. Also If you can provide me email address for german consulate.

Thanks

jm

[peace]

AirPort Transit Visa required at Germany ?
Dated : Feb 28 2005.

Lately there are different stories and confusion around the Transit Visa at Germany.
Visitors traveling via Germany may need an airport transit visa. Following URL list the countries who need to have airport transit visa.
http://www.germany-info.org/relaunch/info/consular_services/visa/countrylist.html

1. If you are Indian citizen and USA Green Card holder you don't need this airport transit visa.
2. If you hold any US non-immigrant visa , you would need a airport transit visa. You can also contact nearest German consulate to get answer if you have any question in this regard.
Here is the URL listing German consulate/embassies in USA http://www.germany-info.org/relaunch/info/missions/consulates.html URL for German consulate India:
http://www.germanembassy-india.org/en/willkommen/visa/transit.html
Could you pl. update whether passengers in transit need visa.