In a significant step towards easing travel for Indian citizens, Germany has announced the removal of the airport transit visa requirement for Indian nationals travelling through German airports to third-country destinations.
The decision was published in Germany’s Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt) on June 2, 2026, and will come into effect from June 3, 2026. As a result, Indian passport holders will no longer need an airport transit visa when changing flights at German airports while travelling onward to another country.
Outcome of Chancellor Merz’s India Visit
According to the German Embassy in New Delhi, the measure implements a key outcome of German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to India in January 2026. The move is intended to make travel easier for Indian nationals while reinforcing broader bilateral engagement between the two countries.
“This implements a result of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s trip to India in January of this year,” the embassy said in a press note issued on June 2. It added that the decision “underlines the Federal Government’s commitment to deepening German Indian relations, facilitating the movement of people, and further strengthening economic ties.”
The visa facilitation measure is expected to benefit Indian travellers using Germany’s major international hubs, including Frankfurt and Munich, for onward connections to destinations across Europe, North America and other regions.
