Germany has served as a flash stop for travellers moving to Canada and other countries in North America. This is peculiar to travellers from sub-Saharan Africa. However, visitors visiting other Schengen countries will require a transit visa if Germany will help in their transit. A German transit visa is for those who need to land at a German airport to get another flight to their destination country. It allows you to switch your flight from Germany to head out to a non-Schengen country.
Holders of the German transit visa can stay in the airport’s international transit area for up to 24 hours. Leaving the airport’s international transit area with this visa is strictly prohibited and illegal.
REQUIREMENT
- Applying for the transit visa to Germany need applicant will need the following
- Complete the application form (in English or German only) & declarations duly signed
- 2 passport photographs
- Valid for at least three more months beyond the date of your transiting through Germany, and no older than ten years. It must have at least one blank page to be able to affix the visa sticker. It also must be undamaged.
- 1 copy of your passport’s data page (A4 size copy)
- Confirmed airline ticket to the final destination and one copy
- Copy of the valid visa/residence permit for your final destination, if applicable
- Your driver’s license and/or utility bill in your name as proof of residence in the consular where you plan to apply.
- If employed: letter by your employer confirming your employment, the beginning of your employment, your monthly salary, the beginning of vacation and resumption of work. An original letter signed with blue ink.
- If self-employed: Biz-File issued by ACRA(Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority)
- If student: university letter. An original letter signed with blue ink.
- If dependant spouse without own income: letter by your spouse’s employer confirming the employment, beginning of employment and monthly salary and marriage certificate
- If a minor child: birth certificate, school letter and marriage certificate of parents (originals with one copy). Both parents have to sign the application form personally at the Embassy!
- Extra documents required for Airline staff:
- Staff member ID Card of Airline Company.
- An official letter from the airline company.
- A valid work contract with the Airline Company.
COST GETTING A TRANSIT VISA TO GERMANY.
The German government has listed the fee for an adult transit visa as 90 euros, while the fee for children ages 6–11 is 45 euros. Children 0–5 years old are exempt from the fee.
GERMAN TRANSIT VISA EXEMPTION CONDITION.
- If you are a national of any of the countries listed below, you will be exempt from the transit visa requirement if you are a:
- A holder of a valid US visa.
- A holder of a valid visa for a Schengen Member State, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Japan, or Romania.
- Turkish holder of a Service or Official Turkish passport.
- Jordanian national who has a visa to Australia, Israel, or New Zealand, and your transit time in Germany does not exceed 12 hours.
- A partner (married, common-law or same-sex) or child of an EU/EEA/EFTA national and you hold a British “Residence Card of a Family Member of an EEA National.”
- A holder of Diplomatic Passports.
AIRPORT WITH TRANSIT VISA ENABLE
Germany has over 60 airports but only six of them have an international transit area Therefore, visitors wishing to pass through Germany can use any of the following airports.
- Frankfurt Airport.
- Munich Airport
- Hamburg AirportBetween 4.30 am to 11.30 pm.
- Dusseldorf Airport Between 6.00 am to 9.00 pm under an organized transit of Airline Company with the Federal Police.
- Cologne/ Bonn Airport Between 4.30 am to 11.00 pm.
- Berlin Airport Between 6.00 am to 11.00 pm if you are an Air Berlin passenger, and under an organized German transit of Airline Company with the Federal Police.
WHERE TO APPLY
The applicant will have to apply at the German visa application centre, embassy, or consulate in their country of residence. The process for a transit visa usually lasts five working days at most.