If you are travelling from Australia to India or going to France or other European countries, then do you need a transit visa? It is one of the most common questions that Indian nationals ask. In this article, we look at how transit visa works, whether transit visa is applicable for Indians and what are the things to remember while on transit.

Life is indeed wonderful and Paris is a cultural hotbed and a mecca for lovers of art, beauty, fashion and gastronomy. A visit to the City of Lights would leave you mesmerized for every bit of your life. It is a place where you can fall in love in so many ways. Whether it is the Eiffel tower, the romantic alleys of Latin quarter or the striking Arc de Triomphe, your love for Paris will be eternal. But with love comes pain! Literally and figuratively! Your heart will ache while you are in Paris as there are no direct flights from India to France.

Do Indian Nationals Need Transit Visa For Paris

Airport Transit Visa

You remain in the airport’s international zone while waiting for the transfer flight to your final destination, and your final destination is located outside the Schengen area.

Airport transit visa

1/ You are travelling from an airport in a country located outside the Schengen Area and staying in the international zone of an airport located in metropolitan France while waiting for your connection to your final destination, which is also located outside the Schengen Area.

You must apply for an “A” airport transit visa (ATV) if you hold:

• An ordinary, service or special passport issued by: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, or Sri Lanka;
• An ordinary passport issued by: Angola, Bolivia, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, India, Mali, Mauritania, Nepal, the Philippines (except in the case of seafarers holding a seaman’s book issued in accordance with international conventions), the Republic of Guinea, the Republic of the Congo, Russia (if you are travelling from an airport located in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Turkey or Egypt), Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria or Turkey
• A service passport issued by the Republic of Guinea;
• A travel document for Palestinian refugees;
• A travel document for Palestinian refugees issued by the Egyptian, Lebanese or Syrian authorities.

This requirement does not apply to holders of diplomatic passports.

You do not require an airport transit visa if you are:

• An aircraft crew member or national of a country that is party to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation (except China);
• A holder of a valid residence permit issued by a Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area;
• A holder of a residence permit guaranteeing the right of return and issued by Monaco, the Principality of Andorra, Japan, Canada, the United States or the Republic of San Marino, by one or more countries or public bodies from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius);
• A holder of a valid visa for a Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area, Canada, the United States or Japan, by one or more countries or public bodies from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius);
• A family member of a national of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland;
• A holder of a valid Schengen visa, a national long-stay visa, or a residence permit issued by a Schengen country.

There are three types of airport transit visa (ATV):

• A one-way ATV, which authorizes one-way transit through a Schengen country;
• A return ATV, which authorizes return airport transit through one or two Schengen countries;
• A multiple ATV, which authorizes several transits through one or more Schengen countries.

Holders of ATVs are not authorized to enter the Schengen Area. If you have a connection between two airports in the Schengen Area, or if the airport through which you wish to enter the French territory is closed overnight for the duration of the transit, you must hold a valid short-stay Schengen visa.

2/ You are travelling from an airport in a third country and you will remain in the international zone of an airport located in a French overseas department, community or territory while waiting for your connection to your final destination, which is also located in a third country.

The same rules apply as for transit through metropolitan France (see above). If you wish to leave the international zone and enter the French overseas department, community or territory in which the airport you are transiting through is located, you must hold a valid short-stay visa for the territory concerned.

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French Visa for Airport Transit

Who needs an Airport Transit French Visa (ATV)?

This short-stay visa type is destined for foreigners who want to temporarily stay in the international zone of a French airport, between connecting flights to travel to another international zone/s of another Schengen country/ies. Apart from the international zone of a French airport, this visa type does not allow its holders to have access to the Schengen territory, before flying back to their final destination.

Such a visa is needed because Schengen Area does NOT allow foreigners to stay or travel from the French international zone without the appropriate French Visa.

Foreigners who NEED an Airport Transit French Visa to transit through a French airport to another destination are citizens of the following countries:

• Afghanistan,
• Angola,
• Bangladesh,
• Cameroon,
• Chad,
• Cuba,
• The Republic of Congo,
• The Democratic Republic of Congo,
• The Dominican Republic,
• Eritrea,
• Ethiopia,
• Ghana,
• Guinea,
• Guinea Bissau,
• Haïti,
• India
• Irak,
• Iran,
• Ivory Coast,
• Libya,
• Mali,
• Mauritania,
• Nigeria,
• Pakistan,
• Senegal,
• Somalia,
• South Sudan,
• Sri Lanka,
• Sudan,
• Syria,
• Togo and
• Palestinians holders of a travel document for a refugee which has been issued by Egypt, Lebanon or Syria.

Foreigners who DO NOT NEED an Airport Transit French Visa, regardless their nationality are the following cases:

• Holders of a diplomatic, or, service passport;
• holders of green card,
• French re-entry permit holders,
• residency permit in one of the countries of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Monaco, Andorra, Holy See, San Marino, Canada, Japan or the United States of America,
• holders of the valid US visa;
• spouse or minor child of an EU national;
• as well as flight crew members.

Which are the additional visa application requirements for such visa type?

Apart from the general requirements, the following are the specific additional documents to apply for this French visa type:

• Supporting documents that indicate that the visa applicant does not plan to stop over in the Schengen Area
• Supporting documents that prove the legitimacy and authorization to travel (for third-country nationals)
• Proof of Status in US or UK (for non-US or non-UK citizens living in US or UK)**
• Visa for the country of last destination

*Note: General requirements to apply for a French Airport Visa include:

• Setting Up An Appointment with the French Diplomatic Office

And submitting the following documents:

• A Valid Passport (with at least three months beyond the return date, having at least two blank pages)
• Two Copies of The Passport Photo Page with The Address of The Applicant
• 2 Newly Made Photographs