If you have a connection between two airports in the Schengen Area, or if the airport through which you wish to enter the French territory is closed overnight for the duration of the transit, you must hold a valid short-stay Schengen visa.

Whether you need a transit visa for a layover in Amsterdam and Paris depends on your nationality and whether your flights stay within the "international transit zone." In 2026, if you have two stops within the Schengen Area (e.g., New York to Paris, then Paris to Amsterdam, then Amsterdam to Mumbai), you are technically entering the Schengen Zone at your first stop. This means you must clear passport control in Paris to board the "internal" flight to Amsterdam. If you are a citizen of a country that requires a Schengen Visa (like India, China, or many African nations), you will need a full Short-Stay Schengen Visa (Type C), not just an Airport Transit Visa (Type A). However, if you have a single layover and stay "airside" without entering the country, you might only need the Type A visa (or none at all if your country is exempt). US, Canadian, and UK citizens do not need a visa for this itinerary. Always check the "Netherlands Worldwide" or "France-Visas" official portals, as rules for specific nationalities can change with little notice.