France has officially removed the Airport Transit Visa (Visa de Transit Aéroportuaire / VTA) requirement for Indian passport holders, effective April 10, 2026. Indian nationals transiting through French airports — most commonly Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris Orly — without leaving the international transit zone will no longer need to apply for an ATV in advance.
The decision aligns France's transit policy with most other Schengen Area countries, which had already exempted Indian travellers from airport transit visa requirements. India was one of the few major nationalities still subject to French ATV rules, despite long-standing diplomatic and trade ties.
What stays the same: travellers who plan to leave the international zone, change airports, or stay overnight outside the transit area still need a short-stay Schengen visa. The exemption applies only to passengers remaining airside between connecting flights.
Expat Impact
For Indian travellers and the diaspora in France, this is a quietly significant change. Connections through Paris were among the most common routings between India and the rest of Europe, North America, and Africa, and the previous ATV requirement meant cumbersome paperwork even for travellers never officially entering France. Removal of the ATV cuts cost (typical Schengen visa fee ~€90), removes appointment-booking friction at VFS, and makes Paris CDG meaningfully more attractive as a connection hub.
For families flying relatives over from India for short visits to other Schengen states, the ATV exemption simplifies multi-leg itineraries. It also reduces the risk of denied boarding at Indian airports for travellers who previously assumed they did not need a transit visa.
If your itinerary involves leaving the transit zone — for example a long layover with a planned hotel stay, or an airport change between CDG and Orly — you still need a Schengen short-stay visa. Always check your final ticket and boarding pass for the airside-only routing before assuming the exemption applies.