Do I Need An Airport Transit Visa?

I am planning to travel to Nigeria next month via Airfrance.  I will be having a stop-over in Paris before proceeding to Lagos.  I will like to know if I am going to need to obtain a transit visa to France before the trip.

I am resident in the UK on a temporary resident permit.  I do not want to have the same experience I had in Amsterdam in 2007 when I travelled via KLM and was not allowed to return to Nigeria after my Schegen via expired.  Please someone should help to answer this question before I make my reservations with Airfrance.

Thanks Funkybaby for your response.  I am still using a Nigerian passport.

I have made several attempts to ask the staff at the French embassy here in the UK without success.  The embassy staff are so rude and do not even understand their own immigration rules.  That is why I have decided to post my question on Nairaland.  Though, I have sent an e-mail to the embassy since the last one week and till now I have not gotten any response.  Guess I have given up on them.

Concerning the cancellation of ATV by Airfrance, is it possible for an Airline company to do such? Or was the cancellation made by the French government?

You are welcome.

The french government must have authorised the cancellation of the transit visa thingy.

Truth be told, foreign airlines make soo much money from the Nigeria-UK route and the airfrance transit visa policy has stopped so many people from flying with them including myself.

Agreed, the cost of their return tickets  are slightly lower than other airlines but by the time i add up the cost of obtaining the transit visa, stress of going to the embassy, etc. . . . it cancels out the supposedly cheap fare.

If you do not want to take the risk, then go for another airline. But in my opinion, in line with the 'no transit visa' policy, you are safe to travel with them.

The staff at Airfrance told me they've been instructed not to give any advice with regard to visas.  They directed me to the embassy.

I will print a copy of the article on the cancellation and take it with me to the airport as I dont think most of the Airfrance staff and the immigration officers have heard of it.

Thanks for your advice

 For any country,
  Just follow this link and fill in your travel details, You'll get all the answers you want.
  I use it many times and its very useful for me.

   http://skyteam.com/about/travelhelp/travelinfo.html

@ poster

from experience, you do not need a transit visa.

National Nigeria (NG)           /Residence Venezuela (VE)
Embarkation Venezuela (VE)      /Transit France (FR)
Destination Nigeria (NG)        /Visited Venezuela (VE)
ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW


France (FR)


TWOV (Transit Without Visa):
Visa required, except for Those continuing their journey to a

third country by the same or a connecting aircraft, provided

arriving and departing from/to non-Schengen countries, and not

leaving the airport transit area.
- Nationals of Nigeria may use the TWOV facility mentioned

   above if holding a visa for an E.E.A. country, Canada,
   Japan, Switzerland or the U.S.A.(SEE NOTE 31613) .
     NOTE 31613: This visa may have been used, provided
    transiting France on the return journey.

Additional Information:

- All passengers must hold proof of repatriation, e.g.

  onward/return ticket and documents for return/onward

  journey, and sufficient funds for maintenance during their
  stay;
Warning:
- Non-compliance with entry/transit requirements may result in
  fines up to EUR 5,000.-.




No vaccinations are required to enter France from any country.



Nigeria (NG)



Passport required.
- Nationals of ECOWAS countries may enter with travel

  documents valid on arrival.
Passport Exemptions:

- Holders of Emergency Travel Certificates (ETC), issued to

  nationals of Nigeria.


VISA NOT REQUIRED.




Vaccination required against Yellow Fever if coming from

countries with infected areas.

Exempt from Yellow Fever vaccination:

- Children under 1 year of age.
- Transit passengers not leaving the airport in the infected
  countries concerned.
Recommended:
- Malaria prophylaxis. Malaria risk - mainly in the malignant
  (P. falciparum) form - exists throughout the year in the
  whole country. Chloroquine and
  sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine-resistant P. falciparum reported.
  Recommended prevention: IV.

   LOL
   You dont seem to understand the statement. It means that U can use TWOV provided that you hold a visa for an E.E.A. country, Canada,
   Japan, Switzerland or the U.S.A. even though if its expired but i dont think u have any of those VISA, So u'll need to obtain a transit Visa.