Welcome
Airport transit visas (A visas)
An airport transit visa might be required if you fly via Germany to get to your final destination. The vast majority of travellers do not need a visa when transiting through Germany. For travellers who do require a visa please see below.
Do I need a visa to transit through Germany?
If you do not require a visa to visit Germany you also do not require a visa to transit through Germany. This includes British citizens.
Irrespective of your nationality you do not need a visa to transit through Germany if hold a UK 1951 Convention Travel Document for Refugees or a UK 1954 Convention Travel Document for Stateless Persons.
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana (except holders of service passports)
- India
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan (exceptions apply for transit to and from Australia and New Zealand)
- Lebanon
- Mali
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Turkey (except holders of service and special passports)
- You hold a valid visa issued by a Schengen member state, Cyprus, Ireland, Japan, Canada, the United States of America or a visa for certain overseas countries and territories of the Netherlands. You must, however, stay in the international transit area.
- You hold a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen member state or a valid residence permit for certain overseas countries and territories of the Netherlands. You must, however, stay in the international transit area.
- You hold a valid residence permit listed in Annex V of the Visa Code, issued by Andorra, Canada, Japan, San Marino or the United States of America, guaranteeing the holder's unconditional readmission. You must, however, stay in the international transit area.
- You are a family member of a union citizen exercising your right to freedom of movement within the meaning of Article 2 (1) Visa Code (meaning that the union citizen resides in or travels to a Member State other than their country of origin). You must, however, stay in the international transit area.
- We strongly advise you to check in advance with your airline whether you will be boarded without a visa otherwise required.
- You hold a Diplomatic passport. This rule applies irrespective of your nationality. You must, however, stay in the international transit area.
- You are both a flight crew member and a national of a contracting party to the Convention on International Civil Aviation dated 7 December 1944. You must, however, stay in the international transit area.
All other passengers benefit from what is known as “transit privileges”. If during transit through a German airport, you do not leave the international transit area you do not need a transit visa. However, if for any reason you do need to enter the Schengen area during transit you may require a C visa.
- Frankfurt International Airport (FRA)
- München / Munich International Airport (MUC),
- Berlin Airport (BER, 06:00am to 11:00pm only)
- Hamburg Airport (HAM, 04:30am to 11:30pm only)
- Düsseldorf Airport (DUS, 06:00am to 09:00pm only). Transit only possible if the carrier has arranged for transit facilities with the Federal Police beforehand. Please check with your airline!
- Your final destination is within the Schengen member states.
- You have to pick up your baggage and/or have to check in again (please verify with your airline)
- You have to pass passport control (please verify with your airline)
- You are transiting through two or more airports in Germany or other Schengen countries (examples: London-Frankfurt-Munich-Mumbai or London-Paris-Frankfurt-Lagos)
- You do not hold a confirmed airline ticket for the journey to your destination.
How to apply?
The following documentation is required for an airport transit visa application:
- Please complete the online visa application form, print the form including the barcodes and sign the form.
Valid passport signed by the holder, issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 3 months. The passport needs to have at least 2 consecutive blank pages (i.e. a blank double page spread).
Plus 1 photocopy of the passport biodata page- Proof of a valid residence permit for the United Kingdom:
- Biometric residence card (BRP) or residence permit endorsed in the passport and one photocopy of the BRP (front and back) or endorsement.
- If your BRP expires on 31 December 2024: please submit the UKVI outcome letter confirming until when you have been granted permission to stay in the UK. Please also provide the share code for your “right to work” or “Prove your immigration status”.
- If you hold a UK Residence Card for EU/EEA family members issued before Brexit: please provide the share code for your EU Settlement Scheme status. The printout is available from UKVI's “Prove your immigration status”.
- If you have not been issued a biometric residence card, please provide the share code for either your EU Settlement Scheme status or your immigration status. The printout is available from UKVI's “Prove your immigration status”.
- Biometric residence card (BRP) or residence permit endorsed in the passport and one photocopy of the BRP (front and back) or endorsement.
In all other cases, the biometric residence card must be submitted.
Please note that your residence permit must be valid for at least one month after the end date of the trip to the Schengen member states.
- A fully biometric passport photo, size 35 x 45 mm. Consult our FAQs for detailed requirements.
- Confirmed airline ticket. When reserving/ booking a ticket, please be aware that filing a complete application does not guarantee that a visa will be granted. It may be advisable to book a fully refundable ticket.
- Proof of address in UK (i.e. latest council tax bill, utility bill, bank statement, pension certificate or similar)
MINORS - Additional documents needed:
- Separate application form for each child
- Applications need to be signed by both parents/all guardians. Should one parent/guardian be unable to sign, please provide additional information. If sole custody has been awarded to one parent, please provide evidence.
- Original passports from both parents and copy or certified copy of the biodata page of the passports.
- Original birth certificate of each child and copy
- United Kingdom school certificate, if applicable
- Visa fees apply
- Processing time: The processing time for a Schengen visa is 15 calendar days according to the Schengen Visa Code. Please arrange your appointment to submit your application as early as possible.
Where to apply
All applications for airport transit visas must be applied for through a Visa Application Centre run by our external service provider, TLScontact.
TLScontact operates from both London and Edinburgh with two distinct jurisdictions and your place of residence determines which Visa Application Centre you will need to contact to apply for your visa. Please refer to our consular district map for details.
