1- What is an airport transit visa ?

With an airport transit visa you are only allowed to remain in the international zone of the airport, but not to go through immigration control.

This visa may be required when you are traveling from the United States to a non Schengen State, through France.

The airport transit visa is issued by the consulate of the country where the airport of transit is located.

If the arrival and the departure take place in 2 different airports (Paris-Roissy and Paris-Orly), you need a transit visa (see short stay visa ).

NOTA :

 If you travel from the USA via a FRENCH AIRPORT to enter another SCHENGEN COUNTRY or if you have a second transit in another SCHENGEN STATE AIRPORT:

The passport control is done at the first point of entry in the Schengen area. All flights between two or more Schengen States are considered to be «domestic» flights. Depending on your nationality, you might need a transit visa (see [http://www.consulfrance-houston.org/spip.php?article340]).

If you transit through a French airport and if you need a visa for the Schengen state which is your main destination, you must apply for a short stay visa at the consulate representing that country.

 If you travel from the USA via a French airport to enter Switzerland by Bale or Geneva, you have to apply for a transit visa depending on your nationality (check short stay visa ).

2- Do I need an airport transit visa ?

1 - If you hold one of the following documents, you DO NOT NEED an airport transit visa, whatever your nationality :

You DO NOT NEED an airport transit visa if you are :

 an holder of a valid uniform visa, national long-stay visa or residence permit issued by one of the countries of the European Union;

 a third-country national holding a valid residence permit issued by Andorra, Canada, Japan, San Marino or the United States of America guaranteeing the holder’s unconditional readmission. For the US, valid residence permits are :

• Form I-551 Permanent resident card (valid for 2 to 10 years),
• Form I-551 Alien registration receipt card (valid for 2 to 10 years),
• Form I-551 Alien registration receipt card (no expiry date),
• Form I-327 Re-entry document (valid for two years — issued to holders of a I-551),
• Resident alien card (valid for 2 or 10 years or no expiry date. This document guarantees the holder’s return only if his/her stay outside the USA has not exceeded one year),
• Permit to re-enter (valid for two years. This document guarantees the holder’s return only if his/her stay outside the USA has not exceeded two years). The advance parole is NOT a re-entry permit.
• Valid temporary residence stamp in the passport (valid for one year from the date of issue);

- a third-country national holding a valid visa for one of the countries of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Monaco, Andorra, San Marino, Canada, Japan or the United States of America, or when you return from those countries after having used the visa;

- a family member of citizens of the European Union;

- an holder of diplomatic passports;

- a flight crew member who is national of a contracting party to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.

 .

2 - If you do not hold one of this document listed above, and you are citizen of one of the nationality listed below YOU DO NEED an airport transit visa.

Afghanistan	Albania (*)	Angola (*)
Bangladesh	Burkina Faso (*)	Cameroun (*)
Chad (*)	Columbia (*)	Congo, Republic (Brazzaville) (*)
Congo, Democratic Republic (kinshasa)	Cuba (*)	Djibouti (*)
Dominican Republic (*)	Eritrea	Ethiopia
Gambia (*)	Ghana	Guinea
Guinea Bissau (*)	Haïti (*)	India (*)
Iraq	Iran	Ivory Coast (*)
Liberia (*)	Mali (*)Nigeria (*)	Mauritania (*)
Nigeria	Pakistan	Palestinian holders of a refugee travel document, which has been issued by Egypt, Lebanon, or Syria
Perou (*)	Russia (**)	Senegal (*)
Sierra Leone (*)	Somalia	Sri Lanka
Sudan (*)	Togo (*)

- Exceptions :

(*) Airport transit visa is not required for official passport holders.

(**) Russian citizens : if you are transiting through Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Belarus, Ukraine, Egypt, Turkey, Moldova, please contact us.

3- Frequently asked questions

Q : I am an Indian citizen. I will fly from Newark to Mumbay through Paris. I will stay within the airplane during the 2 hours stop. The US visa stamped in my passport is no more valid. I do not have a green card.

A : If you do not have a valid US visa stamped in your passport (look at the "expiration date") or a green card on hand (not an advance parole paper), you do need an airport transit visa even if you stay in the airplane.

Q : I am an Indian citizen. I have a US F-1 visa valid in my passport, but my status changed and I have to go back to India to get my H-1B. I will fly from the US to India and have to go through Charles de Gaulle for a couple of hours. Do I need an airport transit visa ?

A : As long as you have a valid US visa stamped in your passport, you do not need an airport transit visa, even if your status has changed.

Q : I am a Nigerian citizen. Do I need an airport transit visa?

A : You don’t need an airport transit visa if you have a green card, as long as you stay in the airport.

If you still have any doubt, please contact the visa section at the following e-mail address : visa@consulfrance-houston.org

4- Requirements

You have to apply with the French Consulate Houston, only if you reside in one of the following states : Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

If you do not reside in one of those states, you have to apply with another French Consulate, depending on where you live in the United states. To know where to apply, click here.

You have to come with all the required documents in original + ONE COPY of each document. The visa section does not make any copies.

IN ORDER TO IMPROVE OUR SERVICES, IT IS MANDATORY TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON LINE TO GET A VISA. NO APPOINTMENT WILL BE GIVEN BY PHONE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

 Passport valid at least three months beyond the applicant’s last day of stay in the airport. Please make sure your passport has a double blank page to affix the visa.

 1 short stay application form clearly filled out. Please print in black. Indicate your phone numbers and e-mail.

 1 recent passport size photograph. DO NOT ATTACH to the form.

 If you are not a US citizen, a proof of resident status in the USA (valid US visa along with a copy of valid I-20 or valid I-AP66, B1/B2 visas…) (+ 1 copy).

 Detailed reservation and itinerary. Round trip airline tickets with confirmed reservations at the time of issuance of the visa (+ 1 copy).

 For a minor, if traveling alone, a notarized parental authorization) signed by both parents or guardian. If the minor travels with 1 parent, an authorization signed by the 2nd parent is required (+ 1 copy).

 Processing fees: by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) cash or money-order only. Personal checks or American Express are not accepted.

Personal appearance is required. IN ORDER TO IMPROVE OUR SERVICES, IT IS MANDATORY TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON LINE TO GET A VISA. NO APPOINTMENT WILL BE GIVEN BY PHONE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.