A transit visa is a visa issued for the period required for transit (transfer) through a country's territory, in accordance with tickets and with the right to stop at the transfer point for no more than three days (72 hours).

Required

β€” When flying with a layover, if an airport change or transfer from one terminal to another is required. There are certain exceptions, read about them below.

For example, you are flying on the Moscow-Paris-London route. In Paris, during your layover, you must transfer from Terminal 2A to Terminal 3.

Since the transit zone is only within one terminal, you must leave it to transfer to another terminal. Upon exiting this zone, you must pass through immigration control and present a Schengen visa.

β€” When flying to a third country via Berlin, except for Air Berlin passengers.

β€” If two or more transfers are planned within the Schengen area.

For example, you are flying on the Moscow β€” Vienna β€” Frankfurt β€” New York route. The Vienna β€” Frankfurt segment will be completed within the Schengen area, meaning you will need to leave the airport's transit zone.

For flights with two or more transfers within the Schengen area, a transit visa is obtained at the embassy of the first country, i.e., in this case, at the Austrian embassy.

β€” If a transfer is planned in the UK, except for cases described here.

β€” When transferring in Australia, Canada, or the USA, even if you do not intend to leave the airport's transit zone.

β€” When making a transfer at an airport that does not have a transit zone.

 Not required

β€” If, during a transfer within the Schengen area, you do not leave the airport's transit zone.  The layover duration must be no more than 24 hours. Additionally, you must have boarding passes to your destination country and a visa (if required).

Please note that not all airports have a transit zone.

For example, in Germany, it is only available at Frankfurt am Main, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, and DΓΌsseldorf airports. The transit zone in most airports does not operate 24/7, which means that if your flight arrived at 23:00 and the next one departs only at 7:40, and the airport does not operate overnight, you will need to obtain a transit Schengen visa and it is advisable to book a hotel for the night, as not all airports (terminals) allow overnight stays.

If you booked 2 separate airline tickets, for example, when flying from Moscow to London via Frankfurt: Moscow β€” Frankfurt and Frankfurt β€” London, then you will have to obtain a transit visa, as you must collect your luggage, exit the transit zone, and check in for the next flight.

In some cases, typically when airlines are part of the same alliance, you are given boarding passes only for the first flight segment, and your luggage is checked through to the final destination (i.e., you do not need to collect it and re-check it during the transfer). You receive boarding passes for the second segment at the Transfer Desk in the transit airport. In this case, you do not need to obtain a transit visa, as you do not leave the transit zone.

β€” You are an Air Berlin passenger and are transiting through Berlin to a third country (to the USA, Dominican Republic, Dubai, or Cuba with a visa for the respective country)

β€” When transferring in London from one airport to another. The difference between the two flights must be no more than 24 hours.

In case of disputed situations, airline staff clarify visa information in Timatic (www.timaticweb.com); unfortunately, access to it is paid. However, Timatic is integrated into the websites of some airlines and alliances, where you can get visa information:

Visa requirements depend on citizenship and, in some cases, on the type of residence permit in a particular country.