Do i have to get a Airport transit visa to travel via Paris (CDG) to India? (Need to know as soon as possible)

[jaspaladil]

You need to check with Air India and CDG. The WestJet customer service agent is likely not familiar with what would happen in Paris.

I am checking with CDG and Air India.
Just now I called WestJet customer care and they reconfirm me that it's not an issue for them since I have a connecting flight in the next 7 hours from Paris.
So, if WestJet allows me to board the plane, then probably I can manage the terminal transfer at CDG.

 

[jaspaladil]

You need to check with Air India and CDG. The west jet customer service agent is likely not familiar with what would happen in Paris.

Ok, so called Air India customer care and they said that for all the visa-related queries I have to consult with the French Embassy and they can't help in this case.
The French Embassy here in Canada asked me to contact VFS for visa-related queries.
This was the reply - "The Visa service of the Consulate General of France in Montreal processes all applications submitted by VFS but does not provide any information relating to visas either by telephone or by email during the entire process"

While this is the VFS reply -
"Thank you for contacting VFS Global France Visa Helpdesk.

In order to determine if you need a French visa we recommend you to check the virtual visa wizard that you can find on the French Visa website. By filling out the virtual visa wizard with your information you will be able to confirm whether or not you need a visa.

Please visit the following link to confirm the information."

 

[jaspaladil]

You need to check with Air India and CDG. The west jet customer service agent is likely not familiar with what would happen in Paris.

Received this reply from CDG -
"Dear Sir,

If you don't have to collect checked-in baggage, you won't have to clear immigration.

You will be able to stay airside and take a transit shuttle (blue line)."


So now I think there is no issue as I would not be required to clear the immigration and I would do the web check-in for my second flight and have my boarding pass ready before my first flight to Paris.

 

[canuck78]

Received this reply from CDG -
"Dear Sir,

If you don't have to collect checked-in baggage, you won't have to clear immigration.

You will be able to stay airside and take a transit shuttle (blue line)."


So now I think there is no issue as I would not be required to clear the immigration and I would do the web check-in for my second flight and have my boarding pass ready before my first flight to Paris.

Did you clarify you booked separate tickets?

 

[steaky]

Did you clarify you booked separate tickets?

Perhaps the poster has no check-in baggage (only a carry on and/or personal item allowable on both flights). Hence no need to clear immigration. Can go directly to the other boarding gate to board the second flight.

 

[armoured]

So now I think there is no issue as I would not be required to clear the immigration and I would do the web check-in for my second flight and have my boarding pass ready before my first flight to Paris.

If you're comfortable with it, go ahead and good luck. I believe from perspective of the airlines it will be your problem if any difficulties occur, your responsibility.

 

[mon2_v]

Hi @jaspaladil , how did things worked out while taking this WestJet to Air India transfer at Paris. I too booked a similar ticket and would like to know if there is a need of Transit Visa which otherwise is not required due to Canadian PR holders.
Does one has to go through Immigration at CDG Airport Paris for this route?

 

[Copingwithlife]

You may not be able to avoid going through immigration and getting checked in again by the next airline if booked separate tickets even if you have no checked bags. You’ll need to research this more carefully and verify with the airlines.

I know Paris has a transit desk , more than likely just go there for the onward boarding pass

 

[mon2_v]

Couple of things I would like to add related to this situation for me which might be common for few others as well:
1. I did not book separate flights, just made one booking and the travel portal presented the option for Westjet from Canada to Paris and then Air India from Paris to India.
2. The travel portal say that you may have to recheck in your baggage and may need a Transit Visa.
3. As per France guidelines, Canada PR holders are exempted from needing a Transit Visa to transit thru France.
4 The other aspect is that Transit Visa only applies if you remain air side, otherwise, one needs a Schengen Visa.

This is where I have confusion- if I have to recheck in the baggage and go thru Passport Control, would the exemption for Transit Visa for Canada PR holders work or would one need Schengen Visa?

Unfortunately, most of people at airline or travel portal would just read from script and that’s why I was hoping someone who took this flight connection may be able to share their experience.

 

[jaspaladil]

Hi @jaspaladil , how did things worked out while taking this WestJet to Air India transfer at Paris. I too booked a similar ticket and would like to know if there is a need of Transit Visa which otherwise is not required due to Canadian PR holders.
Does one has to go through Immigration at CDG Airport Paris for this route?

Hi @mon2_v My flight is scheduled for 22nd November. I think since you have one booking so most probably you are not required to recheck your baggage. In my case, I have two separate tickets so if I have check-in bags then I have to recheck that and thus I am not taking any check-in bags with me.

 

[jaspaladil]

Hi @jaspaladil , how did things worked out while taking this WestJet to Air India transfer at Paris. I too booked a similar ticket and would like to know if there is a need of Transit Visa which otherwise is not required due to Canadian PR holders.
Does one has to go through Immigration at CDG Airport Paris for this route?

Hi,
Sorry for the delayed response.

The journey went smoothly without any issues. I contacted WestJet customer service a couple of times before my flight, and they assured me that as long as I had my Canadian PR and no checked baggage, there would be no problems. I received my boarding pass for Paris directly from the WestJet counter in Regina. Once in Paris, I simply changed terminals and boarded my Air India flight. Everything went perfectly without any complications.

 

[jaspaladil]

Hi,
Sorry for the delayed response.

The journey went smoothly without any issues. I contacted WestJet customer service a couple of times before my flight, and they assured me that as long as I had my Canadian PR and no checked baggage, there would be no problems. I received my boarding pass for Paris directly from the WestJet counter in Regina. Once in Paris, I simply changed terminals and boarded my Air India flight. Everything went perfectly without any complications.

Also to add here, if you don't have any checked baggage, then you don't need to pass through any Immigration at CDG airport.

 

[armoured]

Also to add here, if you don't have any checked baggage, then you don't need to pass through any Immigration at CDG airport.

To clarify: if your bags are checked through to the final destination (eg India in your case) then you also do not pass through immigration at CDG. You only do so if you need to cllect and re-check your bags.

 

[jaspaladil]

To clarify: if your bags are checked through to the final destination (eg India in your case) then you also do not pass through immigration at CDG. You only do so if you need to cllect and re-check your bags.

That will not happen in the case of split ticket. So, if you have two different tickets with separate PNR, then you can't check your baggage to the final destination.

 

[armoured]

That will not happen in the case of split ticket. So, if you have two different tickets with separate PNR, then you can't check your baggage to the final destination.

Agreed generally. However sometimes airlines can book them through (depends on their systems and other aspects ). But one should never assume it can be done unless booked through a single booking.