As of early 2026, many nationalities—including Indian passport holders following a landmark January 2026 agreement—can transit through German airports like Frankfurt or Munich without a "Type A" Airport Transit Visa, provided they stay within the International Transit Area. Generally, citizens of countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia have always enjoyed this privilege. For those who traditionally required a transit visa, the 2026 rules allow visa-free transit if you hold a valid visa or residence permit from a Schengen country, the US, Canada, or Japan, and your layover is less than 24 hours without leaving the "airside" zone. If you have to collect luggage and re-check it, or if your connection requires changing terminals that are not linked airside, you are technically entering the Schengen Area and will need a full Schengen Visa. Because rules can shift based on bilateral agreements (like the recent 2026 Friedrich Merz-Modi summit), it is always best to verify your specific flight path and passport requirements with your airline 48 hours before departure.