France lifts airport transit visa rule for Indian
In a major boost to travel convenience, France has officially lifted the airport transit visa requirement for Indian nationals, effective April 10, the MEA in India announced on Thursday. Under the new rule, Indian citizens holding ordinary passports will no longer need an airport transit visa when passing through the international zones of French airports during layovers en route to a third country. The move is expected to significantly simplify travel logistics and reduce paperwork for thousands of Indian passengers transiting through France each year.
The decision follows a decree amending France’s 2010 regulations on foreign entry requirements. The updated rules were formally adopted and published in the French Official Gazette on April 9, 2026.
The Ministry of External Affairs welcomed the development, calling it a positive step in strengthening India-France ties. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the move fulfills an understanding reached earlier this year between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.
“We welcome the operationalisation of visa-free transit for Indian nationals transiting through French airports,” Jaiswal said, noting that the decision reflects growing cooperation and trust between the two nations.
The visa-free transit facility applies specifically to Indian travellers who remain within the international transit zone of airports in mainland France and do not enter French territory.
The policy change follows President Macron’s announcement during his visit to India in February, where he emphasized measures to make travel smoother and more accessible for Indian citizens.
With this step, France joins a growing list of countries easing travel norms for Indians, marking another milestone in enhancing mobility, tourism, and people-to-people connections between the two countries.
