Schengen Transit Visa (Airport Transit Visa – Type A): Requirements, Rules & Common Pitfalls
Transiting through a Schengen airport is often perceived as a simple layover, yet it is one of the most misunderstood travel situations in Europe. Every year, thousands of travellers face denied boarding, unexpected document checks or last-minute itinerary changes because they assumed that “transit” never requires a visa. In reality, Schengen transit rules depend on precise administrative criteria that vary according to nationality, airport configuration and travel itinerary.
Whether you need a Schengen transit visa is not determined by the duration of your layover alone. Staying airside or leaving the international transit area, travelling on one ticket or separate tickets, checking baggage, or transiting overnight can completely change your visa obligations. Understanding these elements in advance is essential to avoid refusal at check-in, financial losses and travel disruptions.
- ✈️ A Schengen transit visa (Type A) only allows you to stay inside the international transit area of the airport
- 🛂 Leaving the transit zone — even briefly — means entering the Schengen area and usually requires a Type C visa
- 🎟️ Self-transfers, separate tickets, checked baggage and overnight layovers are the most common risk factors
- 📊 In 2024, around 20% of Schengen airport transit visa applications were refused, a higher rate than standard tourist visas
- 🧾 Airlines enforce visa rules strictly at check-in and may deny boarding even before border control
- 🛡️ Travel insurance is not always mandatory for a transit visa (Type A), but it is strongly recommended (and sometimes asked by authorities) in case of medical emergencies, missed connections or unexpected entry into the Schengen area.
- 💶 Typical costs to consider: the Schengen transit visa fee is €90 for adults, and travel insurance varies by provider but often starts at a modest daily rate — worth comparing via platforms like HelloSafe to find a policy that fits your itinerary.
Do you need a Schengen transit visa?
Whether a Schengen transit visa is required depends primarily on your nationality and on how your transit is structured. The Schengen area applies a specific visa regime for airport transit, known as the Airport Transit Visa (ATV – Type A), which only concerns travellers who remain in the international transit area of a Schengen airport.
At EU level, there is a common list of nationalities whose citizens must hold an airport transit visa when passing through a Schengen airport, even for a short layover and even if they do not leave the airport. This list is defined by European regulations and applies across all Schengen States.
In addition to this EU-wide list, each Schengen country may impose additional airport transit visa requirements for certain nationalities, depending on the transit airport or the itinerary. This means that two travellers with the same nationality may face different obligations depending on the country where they transit.
To clarify the most common situations, the table below summarises when a Schengen transit visa is generally required:
Traveller situation | Is a transit visa required? |
|---|---|
🌍 Nationality on the EU airport transit visa list | Yes |
🛂 Visa-exempt nationality | No |
🚪 Transit involving entry into the Schengen area | Type C required |
EU common list of nationalities subject to the Schengen Airport Transit Visa (Type A):
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka.
In addition to this EU-wide list, some Schengen countries apply extra transit visa requirements for specific nationalities depending on the transit airport or itinerary. This is why checking the rules of the exact transit country remains essential.
As a result, checking only the length of your layover is not sufficient. What matters is whether you are subject to the airport transit visa regime and whether your itinerary keeps you strictly airside throughout the transit.
As a result, checking only the length of your layover is not sufficient. What matters is whether you are subject to the airport transit visa regime and whether your itinerary keeps you strictly airside throughout the transit.
What is a Schengen Airport Transit Visa (Type A)?
A Schengen Airport Transit Visa, known as Type A, is a visa specifically designed for travellers who pass through a Schengen airport without entering the Schengen area. It applies only to transit between two non-Schengen destinations and strictly limits what the traveller is allowed to do during the layover.
What does a Type A visa allow?
A Type A visa authorises you to:
- Transit exclusively through the international transit zone of a Schengen airport
- Wait for your onward flight without passing passport control
- Remain in the airport for the duration of your connection, as long as you stay airside
This type of visa does not count as entry into Schengen and has no impact on the 90/180-day rule, since you never cross the external border.
The 90/180-day rule limits stays in the Schengen area to a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day period for short-stay visas (Type C) and visa-free travellers. Because airside transit does not involve entering the Schengen area, time spent in the international transit zone is not counted toward this limit.
What does a Type A visa not allow?
A Schengen Airport Transit Visa does not allow you to:
- Leave the airport or pass border control, even briefly
- Stay overnight outside the international transit area
- Travel within the Schengen area, including onward flights to another Schengen country
In practice, if your itinerary requires any form of border crossing — for example to change airports, collect baggage or stay in a hotel — a Type A visa is no longer sufficient and a Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) may be required instead.
What is the difference between airside and landside transit?
The distinction between airside and landside transit is one of the most important elements in determining whether you need a Schengen transit visa or a full Schengen visa. In simple terms, airside transit means you remain inside the international transit area of the airport, while landside transit means you must pass border control and officially enter the Schengen area.
Transit becomes entry into Schengen as soon as you are required to leave the international transit zone. This can happen even if your layover is short and even if you never intend to visit the country. Factors such as ticket structure, baggage handling or overnight stays often force travellers to cross the external border, triggering different visa obligations.
The table below summarises the most common situations and their consequences:
Situation | Airside transit | Entry into Schengen |
|---|---|---|
Same booking, no baggage re-check | ✅ | ❌ |
Separate tickets (self-transfer) | ❌ | ✅ |
Checked baggage to collect | ❌ | ✅ |
Overnight stay outside the airport | ❌ | ✅ |
In practice, travellers are often surprised to learn that self-transfers and checked baggage almost always imply border control, regardless of the length of the connection. This is why understanding the airside versus landside distinction is essential before booking any itinerary that transits through a Schengen airport.
Which transit scenarios most often cause problems?
Certain transit situations create repeated difficulties for travellers passing through Schengen airports. These scenarios are responsible for the majority of denied boarding cases, unexpected visa requirements and last-minute itinerary disruptions, even when the layover itself is short.
Does travelling on separate tickets change visa requirements?
Yes, travelling on separate tickets (also known as a self-transfer) often changes the visa assessment. When flights are not booked under a single reservation, airlines may not issue a boarding pass for the onward flight at the departure airport. As a result, the traveller may be required to exit the international transit area to check in again, which automatically implies entry into the Schengen area.
This is why airlines and border authorities treat self-transfers differently: without a confirmed onward boarding pass, there is no guarantee that the traveller can remain airside for the entire connection.
Does checked baggage force entry into Schengen?
In many cases, yes. If your baggage is not checked through to the final destination, you will usually need to collect it at the transit airport and re-check it for the next flight. This process takes place landside and requires passing border control.
Checked baggage is therefore one of the most common triggers for denied boarding during Schengen transit. Travellers are often unaware of this rule when booking flights on different airlines or separate tickets, assuming that baggage handling will remain airside.
Are overnight layovers allowed without entering Schengen?
Not always. While some large international airports allow passengers to remain airside overnight, many Schengen airports close their international transit zones during the night or impose operational restrictions.
In such cases, travellers may be required to leave the airport, stay in a hotel and return the next day, which constitutes entry into the Schengen area. Without the appropriate visa, this situation can lead to denied boarding at the departure airport or refusal by airline staff before travel.
What are the requirements for a Schengen transit visa (Type A)?
Applying for a Schengen Airport Transit Visa (Type A) requires meeting a set of clearly defined administrative conditions. Although this visa does not allow entry into the Schengen area, authorities still assess whether the traveller will remain strictly in transit and continue their journey as planned.
Which documents are usually required?
The exact list may vary slightly depending on the consulate and the transit country, but the following documents are commonly requested:
- A valid passport, issued within the last 10 years and valid beyond the transit date
- A confirmed onward flight ticket showing departure from the Schengen airport
- Proof of admission to the final destination, such as a visa or residence permit if required
- Supporting documents when requested, which may include proof of funds or travel details to assess transit intentions
Providing clear and consistent documentation is essential, as doubts about your ability to continue your journey are a frequent reason for refusal.
Steps to get a Schengen transit visa
The application process for a Schengen Airport Transit Visa generally follows these steps:
- Identify the competent consulate based on the Schengen airport where you will transit
- Check whether a transit visa is required for your nationality and itinerary
- Prepare the required documents, ensuring consistency between flights and destination
- Book an appointment with the consulate or authorised visa centre
- Submit biometric data, if required
- Wait for a decision, which usually takes up to 15 calendar days but may be extended
Applying early and presenting a coherent transit itinerary significantly reduces the risk of refusal.
Discover more in our guide on how to get a Schengen visa.
How much does a Schengen transit visa cost and how long does it take?
The main administrative parameters of a Schengen transit visa are set at EU level and are identical across Schengen States:
Item | Data |
|---|---|
Visa fee (adult) | €90 |
Standard processing time | 15 calendar days |
Maximum processing time | Up to 45 days |
Validity | Limited to the transit dates |
Processing times may increase during peak travel periods or if additional checks are required, which is why applying well in advance of your trip is strongly recommended.
Is travel insurance useful for a Schengen transit?
Travel insurance is not always at the forefront of travellers’ concerns during a simple layover, yet it can play an important role in Schengen transit situations. Its usefulness depends largely on how the transit is structured and on the level of risk associated with the itinerary.
Is insurance mandatory for a transit visa?
For a Schengen Airport Transit Visa (Type A), travel insurance is not systematically required under EU rules, since the traveller does not officially enter the Schengen area. Many applications are therefore assessed without requesting proof of medical insurance.
However, insurance is often expected in more complex or borderline cases, such as itineraries involving long layovers, a higher risk of missed connections, or situations where authorities want reassurance that the traveller could cope with an unexpected entry into Schengen.
Why is insurance still recommended?
Even during transit, unforeseen events can occur. Medical emergencies at the airport, flight delays, cancellations or missed connections may force a traveller to stay longer than planned or, in some cases, to enter the Schengen area temporarily.
For this reason, having Schengen-compliant travel insurance provides an additional layer of protection and credibility to your file. Comparing policies through a neutral platform such as HelloSafe allows travellers to identify suitable coverage online, tailored to transit or short-stay situations, without over-insuring or committing to unnecessary options.
Get your Schengen travel insurance certificate in 2 minutes
Why do airlines deny boarding during Schengen transit?
For many travellers, problems related to Schengen transit arise before reaching Europe, directly at the airport check-in counter. Airlines play a central role in enforcing visa rules and are often more restrictive than travellers expect.
What obligations do airlines have?
Airlines are financially liable for transporting passengers who do not meet entry or transit requirements. If a traveller is refused entry or transit upon arrival, the airline may be required to cover return costs, accommodation and administrative penalties.
As a result, airlines apply conservative document checks at check-in, relying on international databases and internal compliance procedures. When there is any uncertainty about visa requirements — especially in transit situations involving self-transfers, checked baggage or overnight layovers — airlines may choose to deny boarding rather than take the risk.
What issues do travellers face in practice?
In practice, travellers often experience boarding refusals despite short or seemingly straightforward layovers. Many report being denied boarding even when official government websites suggest that a visa may not be required in their specific case.
This situation is made worse by conflicting information between airlines and official sources, which leaves travellers with little room for negotiation at the airport. Understanding airline enforcement practices is therefore just as important as understanding the legal visa rules when transiting through the Schengen area.
What are the Schengen transit visa refusal rates and statistics?
Understanding how often Schengen transit visas are refused — and why — helps put the administrative risk into perspective. Contrary to common assumptions, airport transit visas are not automatically granted and are subject to strict assessment.
What do official Schengen figures show?
According to the most recent consolidated Schengen statistics, more than 8,600 airport transit visa (Type A) applications were filed in 2024 across Schengen consulates worldwide. Of these, around one in five applications was refused, resulting in a refusal rate close to 20%.
This rate is significantly higher than that of standard Schengen short-stay (tourist) visas, which highlights how sensitive transit cases are, despite the fact that travellers do not intend to enter the Schengen area.
Get to know more on Schengen Visa Rejection Rates.
What are the most common refusal reasons?
Refusals are rarely linked to a single missing document. They usually stem from doubts about the feasibility or credibility of the transit itself, including:
- A perceived risk of leaving the international transit area, intentionally or due to itinerary constraints
- Insufficient proof of onward travel, such as unclear flight connections or missing confirmation
- Doubts about transit-only intentions, especially when the itinerary appears complex or fragile
In most cases, authorities assess whether the traveller can realistically remain airside for the entire connection. Any uncertainty on this point substantially increases the likelihood of refusal.
What should you check before booking a Schengen transit?
Before booking any itinerary that includes a layover in a Schengen airport, it is essential to verify a few key points. Most transit-related problems arise at the booking stage, when travellers assume that visa requirements will be the same as for a simple connection elsewhere.
Checkpoint | What to verify |
|---|---|
🌍 Nationality | Confirm whether your nationality is subject to the Schengen airport transit visa regime and whether additional national rules apply |
🎟️ Ticket type | Check if your journey is booked on a single ticket or involves separate tickets and self-transfers |
🧳 Baggage rules | Verify whether your baggage is checked through to the final destination or must be collected and re-checked |
🛡️ Travel insurance | Consider appropriate coverage in case of delays, missed connections or unexpected entry into Schengen |
This checklist helps identify potential risk points early and reduces the likelihood of denied boarding or visa-related issues during transit.
FAQ
A Schengen transit visa is required only in specific situations. It mainly depends on your nationality and on whether you remain inside the international transit area of the airport for the entire layover. Some nationalities are subject to the airport transit visa (Type A) even for short connections, while others are visa-exempt. If your itinerary requires you to leave the transit area for any reason, a Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) may be required instead.
No. A Schengen Airport Transit Visa (Type A) does not allow you to pass border control or leave the airport. It only authorises you to remain in the international transit zone while waiting for your onward flight. Leaving the airport, even briefly, is considered entry into the Schengen area and requires a different type of visa.
No. Time spent in airside transit does not count toward the 90/180-day rule because you do not officially enter the Schengen area. This rule only applies to stays authorised under a Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) or visa-free entry.
If your baggage is not checked through to your final destination, you will usually need to collect it and re-check it at the transit airport. This process takes place outside the international transit area and requires passing border control. In such cases, a Schengen transit visa is no longer sufficient and a Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) may be required.
Yes. A valid Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) allows both transit and entry into the Schengen area, as long as it is valid on the date of travel. Travellers sometimes rely on a Type C visa for transit when their itinerary involves border control, overnight stays or self-transfers that cannot be completed airside.
Yes. Airlines are responsible for verifying that passengers meet transit and entry requirements before departure. If there is any doubt about your ability to transit legally through a Schengen airport, the airline may deny boarding at check-in, even for a short layover.
A Schengen transit visa is not automatically granted. In 2024, around one in five airport transit visa applications was refused. Authorities assess whether the traveller can realistically remain in transit and continue their journey without entering the Schengen area.
Yes. While there is an EU-wide framework for airport transit visas, individual Schengen countries may apply additional requirements for certain nationalities or itineraries. This is why it is essential to check the specific rules of the country where you will transit.
