1- What is an airport transit visa ?

With an airport transit visa you are only allowed to remain in the international zone of the airport, but not to go through immigration control.

This visa may be required when you are travelling from the United States to a non Schengen State, through France.

The airport transit visa is issued by the consulate of the country where the transit airport is located.

If the arrival and the departure take place in 2 different airports (Paris-Roissy and Paris-Orly), or if your trip includes a flight between two schengen airport, you need to qualify for a schengen short stay visa (see « short stay visa »).

NOTA :

 If you travel from the USA via a FRENCH AIRPORT to enter another SCHENGEN COUNTRY or if you have a second transit in another SCHENGEN STATE AIRPORT:

The passport control is done at the first point of entry in the Schengen area. All flights between two or more Schengen States are considered to be «domestic» flights. Depending on your nationality, you might need a transit visa (see « short stay visa »).

If you transit through a French airport and if you need a visa for the Schengen state which is your main destination, you must apply for a short stay visa at the consulate representing that country.

 If you travel from the USA via a French airport to enter Switzerland by Bale or Geneva, you have to apply for a transit visa depending on your nationality (check short stay visa).

2- Do I need an airport transit visa ?

If you hold one of the following documents, you DO NOT NEED an airport transit visa, whatever your nationality :

 diplomatic passport,
 service passport,
 green card,
 re-entry permit (which is a specific kind of travel document ; the advance Parole is NOT a re-entry permit),
 residency permit in one of the countries of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Monaco, Andorra, Holy See, San Marino, Canada or Japan.

If you do not hold one of those documents, you DO NEED an airport tansit visa, if you are citizen of one of the following countries :

Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bengladesh, Burkina Faso (*), Cameroon (*), Colombia ( from december 23rd 2006) (*),Cuba (*), Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti(*), Erythrée, Ethiopia, Gambia (*), Ghana, Guinea(*), Guinea Bissau(*), Haïti, India (*), Irak, Iran, Ivory Coast (*), Liberia, Libya, Mali (*), Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal (*), Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria(*), and Palestinians holders of a travel document for refugee which has been issued by Egypt, Lebanon or Syria.

(*) exception : no airport transit visa is required from the citizen of Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, India, Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal, Syria and Togo, if they have a valid US visa stamped in their passport (see the expiration date printed on the US visa), when travelling.

Crew members/Flight attendants, citizens of a country which signed/party to the Chicago Convention (1944), do not need an airport transit visa.

3- Requirements

You have to apply with the French Consulate in Washington Dc, only if you reside in one of the following states :

Deleware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia.

If you do not reside in one of those states, you have to apply with another French Consulate, depending on where you live in the United states. To know where to apply, click here.

 Passport valid at least three months beyond the applicant’s last day of stay in the airport. Please make sure your passport has a blank page to affix the visa.

 1 short stay application form completely and clearly filled out. Please print in black. Indicate your phone numbers and e-mail.

 2 photographs (more informations about the photograph) . All photos must be recent, identical, passport size - 1,4" x 1,7" (3,5cm x 4,5cm) and showing face front the forehead hairline and ears on a white background, the face must take up 70-80% of the photograph.

 If you are not a US citizen, a proof of your status in the USA (valid US visa along with a copy of valid I-20 or valid I-AP66, B1/B2 visas, advance parole…) (+ 1 copy).

 Detailed reservation and itinerary. Round trip airline tickets with confirmed reservations at the time of issuance of the visa (+ 1 copy).

 For a minor, if travelling alone, a notarized parental authorization) signed by both parents or guardian. If the minor travels with 1 parent, an authorization signed by the 2nd parent is required (+ 1 copy).

 Processing fees : by credit card (Visa, Mastercard only), cash (only if you apply in person), money order or certified check made out to "Consulate General of France".

IMPORTANT : You can apply by security mail under your own responsibility. Please allow 2 to 3 weeks processing time for all visa applications submitted by mail. If you do so, you have to send us the original passport, along with all the above mentionned (original + copy) documents. You also have to send a self-addressed pre-paid envelope (Express mail…), in order to get your passport back.

4- Frequently asked questions

Q : I am an Indian citizen. I will fly from Newark to Mumbay through Paris. I will stay within the airplane during the 2 hours stop. The US visa stamped in my passport is not valid anymore. I do not have a green card.

A : If you do not have a valid US visa stamped in your passport (look at the "expiration date") or a green card, you do need an airport transit visa even if you stay in the airplane.

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Q : I am an Indian citizen. I have a US F-1 visa valid in my passport, but my status changed and I have to go back to India to get my H-1B. I will fly from the US to India and have to go through Charles de Gaulle for a couple of hours. Do I need an airport transit visa ?

A : As long as you have a valid US visa stamped in your passport, you do not need an airport transit visa, even if your status has changed.