Following the restoration of routine international flights, Indians who do not have a transit or regular Schengen visa will be denied boarding at the origin in India on European Union (EU) carriers such as Lufthansa, Air France, and KLM, which are scheduled to fly to the United Kingdom via their respective hubs in Frankfurt or Munich, Paris, and Amsterdam.
As per top airline operators, the EU has decided to “punish” the UK by compelling non-EU citizens to obtain a transit Schengen visa in order to fly to the UK on its airlines’ transit flights. Despite not being a member of the EU, Switzerland is exempt from this law for its airline Swiss.
Passengers on one-stop flights from India to the United Kingdom do not need a transit visa to pass through the Gulf or Switzerland. Further options include nonstop flights from Air India, Vistara, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic.
A Schengen visa is a short-term visa that permits its holder to freely travel throughout the Schengen area, which includes 26 countries or “The Schengen States” with no immigration restrictions.
This is an authorization provided by a Schengen State for the following purposes: a scheduled stay in the Schengen States for no more than 90 days in any 180-day period (“short-stay visa”) and passage via the international transit regions of the Schengen States (“airport transit visa”).
Meanwhile, according to airline officials, the most recent change occurred on January 1, last year. At the time, India had a bubble system for international connection, with stringent restrictions governing which nations could fly on which aircraft and how many one-stop flights they could make. The bubble system was specifically intended for point-to-point travel between India and other countries, with some conditional connections authorized.
As a result, most travels between India and the UK were done on direct flights or via destinations such as the Gulf, where airlines did not completely adhere to the no-transit policy for Indian travellers. Now since commercial flights have resumed, many passengers, particularly those without transit Schengen visas who have booked Lufthansa or Air France-KLM flights from India to the UK, are being caught off guard when denied boarding at the Indian origin airport.
Moreover, an EU official stated that travellers should be notified of the travel restrictions because reimbursements are contingent on the terms of the purchased ticket. Fearful of losing business, certain EU carriers are alleged to have asked foreign governments to raise this matter with the Union.
International airlines will be permitted to offer one-stop connections between India and the rest of the globe once India restarts scheduled international flights. Following the Russia-Ukraine crisis, this one-stop business in the India-US-India sector has grown dramatically.
United Airlines has cut India’s nonstop flights in half due to lengthier routes and higher fuel costs; Delta has not restarted India flights that were discontinued in March 2020, and the US has only one daily flight (Delhi-New York).
Air India has stated that it will not be able to launch more nonstop flights to the United States until its fleet is increased. As a result, commerce for this route is increasing in the Gulf and European regions.
Application Process For Schengen Visa
To get a Schengen Visa a passenger should follow a few steps:
- Determine whatever sort of Schengen visa you require. Depending on your reason for travelling from India to Europe, there are numerous Schengen visa categories available.
- Learn where in India you may apply for a Schengen visa. Take note of the embassy/consulate/VAC of the country where you need to apply, as well as the jurisdiction under which you fall.
- The earliest you can apply for a Schengen visa in India is three months before your planned trip, and the latest is at least 15 working days before your trip to Europe.
- Collect the required Schengen visa paperwork for Indian citizens.
- Make an appointment for an interview at an Indian visa application centre. Depending on the country, you can schedule an appointment online, by phone, or in person.
- Attend the interview on the date and time specified. Keep in mind that the interview is a critical component of your visa application.
- The visa fee must be paid. Visa fees are standardized and synchronized throughout all Schengen nations.
- Allow some time for your visa to be processed. After the interview, you will receive a response to your application within 15 days.
Finally, keep in mind that the visa application form, two recently taken photos, a valid Indian passport, evidence of legal residence in India, travel insurance, a cover letter indicating the purpose of the visit, reservation details of flights from India to Europe and back, evidence of lodging for the entire length of the intended stay, proof of civil status, and documents to verify sufficient financial resources are all required for the visa application.
Transit Schengen Visa
It is a form of visa (Type-A) that permits travellers to access a specified airport in the Schengen area in order to transit through the area on their way to a final destination outside of the Schengen area. In this instance, even if a tourist does not leave the terminal, they may be required to get a Schengen Airport Transit Visa if they pass through a Schengen airport. The conditions for entering a Schengen Airport as a third-country national are determined by their residential status and citizenship.
Legal Disclaimer: This article is provided for information purposes only.
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