 "Germany announces visa-free transit for Indian passport holders during Merz’s India visit")
As German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is on an official visit to India, Germany has announced a visa-free transit facility for Indian passport holders travelling through its airports. The move is expected to ease international travel for Indian nationals and further strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries.
Decision announced during Merz’s India visit
The announcement was made in the India–Germany joint statement issued on Monday following Merz’s visit to India from January 12 to 13. This is the German Chancellor’s first visit to India and his first trip to Asia since assuming office.
Under the new arrangement, Indian travellers transiting through German airports to a third country will no longer be required to obtain a separate transit visa, reducing paperwork and making journeys smoother and quicker.
Modi welcomes move to ease travel
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Chancellor Merz for the decision, noting that the measure would significantly benefit Indian travellers.
The joint statement said the step “will not only facilitate and ease travel of Indian nationals, but will further intensify people-to-people links”, underlining that strong people-to-people ties remain a vital pillar of the India–Germany Strategic Partnership.
Focus on people-to-people ties
Both sides welcomed the growing exchange of students, researchers, skilled professionals, artists and tourists, and acknowledged the “valuable contribution of the Indian community to Germany’s economy, innovation and cultural life”. They also stressed the need to expand cooperation in education, research, vocational training, culture and youth exchanges to deepen mutual understanding.
Education and skills cooperation
Education and skills development featured prominently in the discussions. The leaders noted the rising number of Indian students in Germany, the expansion of joint and dual degree programmes, and closer collaboration between higher education institutions in both countries.
They also welcomed initiatives aimed at supporting the integration of Indian students and graduates into the German job market, as well as stronger institutional linkages between Indian Institutes of Technology and German technical universities. Both sides agreed to develop an Indo-German Comprehensive Roadmap on Higher Education, and Prime Minister Modi invited leading German universities to establish campuses in India under the New Education Policy.
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