This paper presents a geometrically nonlinear formulation for the axi-symmetric transition finite elements using total lagrangian approach. The basic element is formulated using properties of the axi-symmetric solids and the axi-symmetric shells. A novel feature of the formulation presented here is that the restriction on the magnitude of the rotations for the shell nodes of the transition element is eliminated. This is accomplished by retaining true nonlinear functions of nodal rotations in the definition of the element displacement field. Such transition elements are essential for geometrically nonlinear applications requiring both axi-symmetric solids and the axi-symmetric shells. They ensure proper connection of the axi-symmetric solid portion of the structure to the shell like portion of the structure. It is shown that the selection of different stress and strain components at the integration points does not effect the overall linear response of the element. However, in the geometrically nonlinear formulation, it is necessary to select appropriate components of the stresses and the strains at the integration point for accurate and converging element behavior. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate such characteristics of the transition elements.