New Delhi:In a major relief for Indian travellers, theEmbassy of Francein India has announced that Indian nationals will no longer require an airport transit visa when passing through French airports, effective April 10. Under the new rules, Indian passport holders travelling to a third country can transit through the international zones of airports in France without obtaining an Airport Transit Visa (ATV), provided they do not exit the airport’s international transit area during their layover.
In a statement, the Embassy of France in India said, "With effect from 10 April 2026, Indian nationals possessing an ordinary passport are no longer required to hold an airport transit visa when passing through the international zone of airports located on French territory. This measure applies to passengers remaining in the international zone during a layover at a French airport en route to a third country."
Statement by Embassy of France in India
Meanwhile, India has welcomed visa-free transit for Indian nationals from French airports.
The move marks a significant shift in France’s visa policy. Until recently, Indian travellers were required to apply for an ATV even for short layovers without entering French territory. The new exemption removes that additional layer of paperwork, reducing both travel time and costs for passengers.
Earlier in 2026, French authorities had announced a pilot programme to allow visa-free airport transit for Indian nationals.
Officials have clarified that the exemption applies strictly to airside transit. Travellers who wish to leave the airport or enter the Schengen area will still need a valid short-stay visa, as per existing rules. The policy is expected to particularly benefit Indian passengers flying to destinations such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom via major French hubs like Paris, making transit smoother and more accessible.
The development has been widely welcomed in India, with travel experts calling it a “practical and long-overdue step” that aligns France with more traveller-friendly transit policies seen in other global aviation hubs.
Megha Rawat is an Assistant News Editor at Times Now, where she drives the national news narrative with sharp political reporting, election coverage a...View More
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