Germany has officially removed the airport transit visa requirement for Indian nationals travelling onward to a third country through German airports, effective June 3, 2026. According to reports from CN Traveller, the decision came into effect following a notice published in Germany's Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt) on June 2. Under the new rules, Indian passport holders transiting through German airports no longer need a separate airport transit visa for connecting international flights, provided they remain within the airport transit area. Previously, Indian nationals generally required a Category A visa when changing flights at German airports without formally entering Germany. Only travellers holding valid visas or residence permits from countries including the US, UK, Canada, Japan, Ireland and Schengen member states were previously exempt from this requirement. The removal of the €60, five-to-seven-day documentation requirement that had long pushed Indian travellers away from Frankfurt and Munich represents a significant policy shift that will directly strengthen the commercial case for routing Indian passengers through German hubs.
The Lufthansa Group currently operates more than 70 weekly flights between India and Europe and has been present in the Indian market for over six decades. As reported by CN Traveller, in its 100th anniversary year, the Group is further deepening its commitment to India through sustained investment and network expansion. India is identified as the Lufthansa Group's largest intercontinental market in the Asia-Pacific region and plays a pivotal role in the Group's global network. The Group operates as a worldwide aviation group with over 100,000 employees from 164 nations worldwide, carrying more than 135 million passengers and generating revenue of €39.6 billion in 2025. The Lufthansa Group and Air India currently offer codeshare flights on 146 routes to 22 countries, with a joint network comprising 15 Indian and 27 European destinations.
To meet growing demand, Lufthansa and SWISS are implementing several service enhancements. According to the latest reports, Lufthansa is deploying its award-winning Allegris cabins on additional Boeing 787-9 services from Delhi and Hyderabad. SWISS is launching its first-ever direct service between Bengaluru and Zurich in the 2026 Winter schedule, marking the airline's first-ever destination in southern India. The new service will operate five times weekly between Zurich Airport and Kempegowda International Airport, beginning in October 2026. Additionally, the companies are adding capacity with extra SWISS A330 frequencies between Delhi and Zurich and enhanced Lufthansa Airbus A380 services between Mumbai and Munich. The policy shift follows commitments made during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to India in January this year, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcoming the proposal to simplify travel and deepen bilateral cooperation.
The visa policy change comes as India and Germany mark 75 years of diplomatic ties and 25 years of their Strategic Partnership. According to CN Traveller, India's Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the operational rollout, with MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stating: "We welcome the operationalisation by Germany of the announcement waiving the requirement of transit visa for Indian nationals transiting through Germany, exclusively by air, with effect from June 03, 2026." Beyond mobility and travel, both countries are expanding cooperation in education, climate initiatives, renewable energy, defence and technology. Germany has additionally committed €1.24 billion under the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership to support renewable energy, green hydrogen projects and climate-resilient urban infrastructure initiatives in India. During Chancellor Merz's January visit, PM Modi also invited German universities to establish campuses in India as part of a broader Indo-German roadmap focused on higher education, student exchanges and professional integration.
