Important Travel Document Information – Please Read
A Transit Schengen Visa is a document that allows people to enter the Schengen area solely to change modes of transportation. For travelers who must switch flights at a Schengen airport, it allows passengers to pause and wait for their aircraft to their final destination in the international transit section of a Schengen airport.
Aside from Schengen Transit (A-Visas), you may also apply for the following:
An Airport Transit Schengen Visa is a document that allows travelers to change planes at a Schengen airport. It allows them to wait for their flight to their destination country in the international transit section of a Schengen airport.
This visa, however, does not allow the holder to leave an airport’s international transit area, even if the tourist must remain overnight.
You will no longer be eligible for an Airport Transit Visa if you need to transit through more than one airport inside the Schengen Area. Instead, you should apply for a standard Schengen Visa (C Type).
This is due to the fact that flights between two or more Schengen nations are considered “domestic” flights, even if they are just used for transit.
In the event that you need to leave the airport to catch a flight in another country, you will also need to apply for a regular Schengen Visa (C Type).
When transiting through the international transit section of any Schengen country airport, nationals of the following countries require an airport transit visa:
Even if you are from one of the above-mentioned countries, you may be excused from the airport visa requirement if you:
The following are the documents needed to apply for an Airport Transit Schengen Visa:
A Visa is required for any third national wishing to enter or trasnit through any Schengen country. It could be a short-stay Schengen C-visa for stays of up to 90 days or a national D-visa / residence permit for longer stays in the Schengen zone.
Youll need a Transit Visa for Seafarers if you’re a national of a third-world country where visas are required and you plan to:
Submit your application for a Transit Schengen Visa at least 15 days before your trip to the Schengen Zone. It is strongly advised that you submit your application as soon as possible, but no later than three months before your intended departure date.
Within two weeks, you should receive a response to your Transit Schengen Visa application.
This period may be extended up to 30 or 60 calendar days in the event of particular or extreme circumstances. As a result, it is strongly advised that you submit your application well in advance. You cannot, however, submit an application more than three months before your travel.
An Airport Transit Schengen visa is only valid in the international transit area of a Schengen airport for 24 hours. If you need to depart or stay in this area for more than one day, you must apply for a standard Schengen visa instead.
A Transit Schengen Visa for Seafarers, on the other hand, allows its holder to stay in Schengen territory for a maximum of five days before exiting the Schengen area.
If your connecting flight is cancelled, you will need to contact the airline to rebook your flight. If you are unable to rebook your flight, you may need to apply for a short-stay visa for the Schengen country where you are transiting.
If you have a layover of more than 24 hours in a Schengen airport, you will need to apply for a transit visa. This is because you will be considered to be entering the Schengen Area even if you do not leave the airport’s international transit area.
No, you do not need a transit visa if you are only changing planes in a Schengen airport and you do not leave the airport’s international transit area. However, you must have a confirmed onward ticket to a non-Schengen destination and you must not be staying in the Schengen Area for more than 24 hours.
