KUALA LUMPUR - Germany has announced a visa-free airport transit facility for Indian passport holders travelling through its airports, a step expected to significantly ease international travel and strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries.

The decision was outlined in the India–Germany joint statement issued on Monday following German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s official visit to India from January 12 to 13.

The visit marked Merz’s first trip to India and his inaugural visit to Asia since taking office as Federal Chancellor.

Under the visa-free transit facility, Indian travellers transiting through German airports en route to third countries will no longer be required to apply for a separate transit visa.

The change is expected to make journeys smoother, faster and less paperwork-intensive for Indian nationals.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his appreciation to Chancellor Merz for the announcement of the visa-free transit facility.

The joint statement noted that the step “will not only facilitate and ease travel of Indian nationals, but will further intensify people-to-people links”.

Both leaders reiterated that “strong people-to-people ties constitute a vital pillar of the Strategic Partnership”.

India and Germany also welcomed the growing exchange of students, researchers, skilled professionals, artists and tourists between the two countries.

The leaders recognised the “valuable contribution of the Indian community to Germany’s economy, innovation and cultural life”.

They stressed the need to expand cooperation in education, research, vocational training, culture and youth exchanges to deepen mutual understanding.

Education and skills cooperation featured prominently in the discussions, with both sides noting the rising number of Indian students in Germany.

The leaders also highlighted the expansion of joint and dual degree programmes and closer collaboration between higher education institutions.

They welcomed initiatives supporting the integration of Indian students and graduates into the German job market, as well as institutional linkages between Indian Institutes of Technology and German technical universities.

Both sides agreed to develop an Indo-German Comprehensive Roadmap on Higher Education, while Prime Minister Modi invited leading German universities to establish campuses in India under the New Education Policy.