Recently, the Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission in Gandhinagar directed the German airline Lufthansa to pay INR 1 lakh in compensation and a refund of INR 67,000 to an Indian student who was denied admittance on a flight from Mumbai to Toronto, on the basis that the passenger did not have the required transit visa for when the plane landed in Munich and Frankfurt. The commission criticised the airline for failing to inform the student about the visa requirement, calling it a clear deficiency in service.
The case has highlighted how Indian travellers can unwittingly fall foul of transit visa requirements when passing through an international destination. Here’s what you should know about transit visas and which countries require Indian nationals to apply for one.
A transit visa is a document specifically designed for travellers passing through a country en route to their final destination for a short duration. Each country has its own transit visa requirements, with some waiving away the need for one while others mandating it. You should always check with your airline first whether you need a visa in a transit country.
In airports, a transit zone is a designated area where you can stay until your flight to your destination is ready to board. Transit zones allow you to wait in the airport without going through immigration provided you don’t leave the airport. You require a transit visa if you leave the transit area. However, nationals from specific countries will need a transit visa regardless of whether they leave the transit area or not.
There’s also a difference between being a transit passenger and a transfer passenger. As a transit passenger, you will be continuing your journey on the same aircraft. As a transfer passenger, you will continue your flight in another aircraft or airline. This could mean changing terminals or even airports. Usually for transfers, you must check in again at the airport.
Indian nationals require transit visas if they pass through the United States of America (with exceptions if they hold certain valid business or tourist visas); the United Kingdom; specific countries of the Schengen Zone like the Czech Republic, France, Germany and Spain; Canada; and Japan.
(With inputs from multiple news sources)