The Transit Schengen Visa is a document that has been established by the Schengen Area Member States with the sole purpose of facilitating traveling for non-EU/EEA nationals who have to land at an airport located in the Schengen Area, in order to take a flight to their non-Schengen destination country.
The document permits its holder to transit through a Schengen country to their non-Schengen destination country, without leaving the transit area of the airport.
However, travelers that need to land in more than one airport of the Schengen territory, should apply for a regular Schengen visa, instead of a Transit Schengen visa.
If the traveler is going to a Schengen member country, i.e in Finland, and has to transit through another Schengen country, i.e. Germany, then there is no need to obtain a Transit Visa, since the Schengen visa already permits the traveler to enter any Schengen country.
Do I Need to Apply for a Schengen Transit Visa for Europe?
Countries whose nationals are required to be in possession of an airport transit visa when passing through the international transit area of airports situated on the territory of each Schengen Member State are the following:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Iran
- Iraq
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
Country specific list of citizens who require a Transit visa
On the other side, the Schengen Territory member states have the right to make the obtaining of a Transit Schengen Visa a must, for nationals of specific countries. Countries as the Czech Republic, France, and Spain have a longer list of countries the citizens of which must obtain this type of visa in order to be able to transit through their airports. Whereas, there are also 14 other countries of the Schengen Zone, which besides the countries listed above, do not require a transit visa from any other country.
| Visa issuing country | Countries whose citizens need an ATV for a specific Schengen member state |
|---|---|
| Austria | Syria |
| Belgium | Dominican Republic, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Nepal, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria |
| Switzerland | Syria, Turkey |
| Czech Republic | Chad, Egypt, India, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Yemen, Palestinians |
| Germany | India, Jordan, Lebanon, Mali, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey |
| Denmark | Syria |
| Greece | Sudan, Syria |
| Spain | Cameroon, Côte D'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Jordan, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Syria, Togo |
| France | Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte D'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Guinea, Haiti, Mali, Mauritania, Philippines, Russia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Palestinians |
| Italy | Senegal, Syria |
| Luxembourg | Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Nepal, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Togo |
| Netherlands | Cuba, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Nepal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria |
| Portugal | Guinea, Senegal |
Whereas, the below listed Schengen Area member states do not require an airport transit visa from any other country, aside from the common list of third countries:
- Estonia
- Finland
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Latvia
- Malta
- Norway
- Poland
- Sweden
- Slovenia
- Slovakia
- Liechtenstein
For more information about the policies of European countries with regard to ATVs, visit the following articles:
- Belgium Airport Transit Visa Guide
- Czechia Airport Transit Visa Guide
- France Airport Transit Visa Guide
- Netherlands Airport Transit Visa Guide
- Iceland Airport Transit Visa Guide
- Italy Airport Transit Visa Guide
- Poland Airport Transit Visa Guide
- Spain Airport Transit Visa Guide
- Switzerland Transit Visa Guide
Schengen Airport Transit Visa Exemptions
The Schengen Zone member countries have agreed on common exemptions for Airport Transit Visa for people that belong to one of the categories listed below:
- Holders of diplomatic passports.
- Holders of a valid uniform visa, national long-stay visa, or residence permit issued by a Schengen Member State.
- Third-country nationals with a valid residence permit issued by Andorra, Canada, Japan, San Marino, or the United States of America, which guarantees unconditional readmission.
- Third-country nationals who hold a valid visa or residence permit for a country in the Schengen Area, the EU, or the EEA.
- Third-country nationals who hold a valid visa for Canada, Japan, or the United States of America or when they return from those countries after having used the visa.
- Family members of citizens of the Union as referred to in Article 1(2)(a) of the Visa Code.
- Flight crew members on duty who are nationals of a contracting Party to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation (ICAO).
How Much Does a Schengen Transit Visa Cost?
The general price for a Schengen transit visa is €90. However, the overall cost of a Schengen transit visa can change depending on different factors, such as the Schengen country you are applying to, your nationality, and the processing fees set by the embassy or consulate.
Where to Apply for a Schengen Transit Visa?
You should submit your application for a transit visa to the embassy or consulate of the Schengen country where you will have your transit. For example, if you have to transit in Germany, then you will need to submit your application at the diplomatic missions of Germany, where your transit airport is located.
You can also submit your Schengen transit visa application at one of the following:
- A visa center of a third party to which this country has outsourced visa submission.
- The embassy/consulate of another country to which this country has outsourced visa submission.
What Documents Are Required for an Airport Transit Visa?
Here are the documents you need to submit when applying for an airport transit Schengen visa in addition to the standard required documents for any type of Schengen visa:
- Your valid passport.
- Schengen A-Visa application form.
- Two identical photos that meet Schengen guidelines.
- Proof of paid Schengen visa fees.
- Biometric Data. Children, handicapped persons, and government officials are exempt from this requirement.
- Copies of previous visas (if applicable).
- A personal cover letter addressed to the embassy. You should explain the details of your travel plan as to when you plan to visit the country, where you will stay and what you will do.
- Reservation of inbound and outbound flights.
- Visa for the final destination (if required).
How Long Does It Take To Get a Schengen Airport Transit Visa?
You can expect to receive a response regarding your application for a Transit Schengen Visa within 15 days. However, in exceptional or unusual circumstances, the processing time may be extended to 30 or 60 calendar days. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you submit your application well in advance.
*Please note that you cannot submit an application more than three months before your intended trip.
How Long Is the Transit Schengen Visa Valid For?
A Schengen Airport Transit visa allows you to stay within the international transit area of a Schengen airport for a maximum of 24 hours. If you plan to leave this area or stay longer than one day, you will be required to apply for a regular Schengen visa instead.
Can I Get a Schengen Transit Visa on Arrival?
Visas on arrival are not a regular practice in Europe. Schengen transit visas must be obtained in advance from the embassy or consulate of the Schengen country where you will have your transit. Therefore, obtaining a Schengen transit visa on arrival is not possible.
Exemptions exist only for emergencies and family members of EU citizens.
Can I Land in More Than One Airport With a Transit Visa?
No, you cannot. Travelers that need to land in more than one airport of the Schengen territory should apply for a regular Schengen visa instead of a transit Schengen visa.
If you are going to a Schengen member country, i.e., Finland, and have to transit through another Schengen country, i.e., Germany, then there is no need to obtain a Transit Visa since the Schengen visa already permits you to enter any Schengen country.
Can I Leave the Airport Transit Area?
No, you are not allowed to leave the international transit area of the airport. However, there may be some exceptions depending on the specific circumstances and the airport’s facilities. In certain cases, airports may have designated areas or specific programs that allow transit passengers to temporarily leave the airport under certain conditions, such as guided tours or transit sightseeing programs. These opportunities are usually limited, and travelers should check with the airport authorities or their airline for any available options.
Do I Need an Airport Transit Visa if I Have a Schengen Visa?
No, if you already have a valid Schengen Visa, you do not need an airport transit visa to transit through the international transit area of a Schengen Member State airport. Holders of valid Schengen visas can transit through the Schengen airport without leaving the international transit area as long as their connecting flight is within the validity period of their Schengen visa.
Other Types of Schengen Visas
- Business Schengen Visa
- Cultural Schengen Visa
- Tourist Schengen Visa
- Visitor Schengen Visa
- Medical Schengen Visa