France Waives Transit Visa for Indians at Airports from 2026

Indian nationals transiting through airports in mainland France will no longer need an airport transit visa, effective April 10, 2026, following a decision by the French government to ease travel requirements. The change applies to passengers with ordinary passports who remain in the international transit zone during layovers en route to a third country, without entering French territory.

The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi confirmed the operationalization of the visa waiver on April 23, 2026. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, speaking at a weekly media briefing, described the move as a reflection of the strengthened partnership between India and France. "We welcome the announcement on the operationalisation of visa-free transit for Indian nationals transiting through French airports," Jaiswal said. He noted that the agreement originated from discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron during Macron's visit to India in February 2026.

The Embassy of France in India issued a statement detailing the policy shift. "With effect from 10 April 2026, Indian nationals possessing an ordinary passport are no longer required to hold an airport...