Is transit allowed in Frankfurt airport?

Depending on your nationality, you may require a transit visa. If in doubt, please contact an embassy or consulate of your country. You are arriving from outside the Schengen Area and your destination is in a non-Schengen country: Usually no passport check is mandatory, provided that you do not leave the transit zone.



Transiting through Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is fully allowed and is, in fact, one of the most common activities at this major European hub. As a primary gateway for Lufthansa and the Star Alliance, the airport is specifically designed to handle high volumes of connecting passengers. If you are arriving from a non-Schengen country and departing to another non-Schengen country, you can typically stay within the international transit zone without clearing customs or immigration. However, if your connection involves a flight to a Schengen area country, you will be required to pass through passport control. In 2026, it is important to check if you require an Airport Transit Visa (ATV) based on your nationality, as some citizens must have this document even if they do not leave the terminal. For long layovers, the airport offers excellent amenities, including nap zones, showers, and even transit hotels like the MY CLOUD Transit Hotel located directly within Terminal 1, Gate Z. Always ensure your bags are checked through to your final destination to avoid the need to exit the secure area to reclaim and re-check luggage.

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By default all connecting passengers have to go through security and plenty of airports do this for everyone regardless of where you come from (London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Doha (DOH), etc.)

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If during transit through a German airport, you do not leave the International Airport Area and if your destination is not within the Schengen area, you do not need a transit visa.

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Do I need a visa? The vast majority of foreign travellers benefit from the “transit privilege” - if during a stopover at a German airport, you do not leave the International Airport Area and if the destination is not in a Schengen country, you do not need a transit visa.

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For connecting domestic flights, you almost never have to exit and reenter security, though there are some exceptions at airports where the terminals aren't all connected. For domestic-to-international connection, it's still pretty rare that you have to exit and reenter security, even if you're changing terminals.

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For connecting domestic flights, you almost never have to exit and reenter security, though there are some exceptions at airports where the terminals aren't all connected. For domestic-to-international connection, it's still pretty rare that you have to exit and reenter security, even if you're changing terminals.

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Also, if your transit time does not exceed 12 hours, you will not need a German transit visa. Note that if you need to stop at more than only one airport within the Schengen area, you will then need to apply for a regular Schengen visa.

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Usually the best time is to arrive at a minimum of 2 hours, baring in mind that if you arrive to Frankfurt on an international flight then you will have to go through security as you have arrived to your first port of the EU.

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I use this airport every year on flights from and to the US, and I like to have up to 2 hours. The minimum connecting time for a flight in Frankfurt is 45 minutes. However, it is always a good idea to allow more time, especially if you are traveling during peak hours or if you are flying to a different terminal.

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If you are a US citizen planning to fly from the US to Germany as a tourist, for business trips, or simply for airport transit, you can easily do so without having to obtain a visa.

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Required Documents for a German Airport Transit Visa Application
  • German Transit Visa Application form. The form for a German airport visa is the same as for a German Schengen Visa. ...
  • A signed Declaration of Accuracy of Information.
  • Proof of onward journey: ...
  • Complete travel itinerary.
  • Proof of purchased travel insurance.


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A direct flight is identified by a unique flight number. A transit flight, with a connection, has two distinct flight numbers. A flight that is not direct, or connecting flight, involves a change of aircraft.

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A connecting flight is two or more subsequent flights. To put it simply, having a connecting flight means you will have to change planes. You will not be flying directly from A to B, but there will also be C. You will fly from A to C, and then from C to B.

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Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

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The minimum connecting time for a flight in Frankfurt is 45 minutes. However, it is always a good idea to allow more time, especially if you are traveling during peak hours or if you are flying to a different terminal.

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Airport guidelines also suggest a minimum of 45 minutes for international connections, but given the size of the airport, allowing 60-90 minutes would provide a more comfortable buffer.

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All concourses at both terminals are connected (both landside and airside) by a free Sky Train (monorail). There is also a free shuttle bus. Luggage carts are not allowed on the Sky Train. The transfer between Terminal 1 and 2 on foot takes around 15 minutes.

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