German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on 11 December that his government intends to phase out the temporary police checks re-introduced on all land borders in 2024, including the busy crossings with Austria. The announcement follows the political agreement EU interior ministers reached this week on the new Pact on Migration and Asylum, which tightens controls at the Union’s external frontiers and accelerates returns of rejected applicants.
For Austrian businesses the change cannot come soon enough. Automotive suppliers in Upper Austria and Styria report parts deliveries reaching Bavarian plants up to six hours late when queues build at the Walserberg and Suben crossings. Logistics firms estimate current controls add €90–€120 to every truck run. If Germany reverts to random spot checks by mid-2026—as federal police officials now envisage—just-in-time supply chains and cross-border assignment schedules should regain predictability.
Commuters will also benefit. Roughly 16,000 Austrian residents work in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, many in the life-sciences and IT sectors clustered around Munich, Regensburg and Ulm. Daily document checks have forced drivers to carry passports and allowed times for inspection stops. Employers anticipate lower travel-time buffers and fewer lost work hours once systematic controls end.
![Berlin Signals End to Germany–Austria Border Checks After EU Migration Pact, Easing Freight and Commuter Delays]()
For companies and travelers who still need to juggle visas, posted-worker notices or residence permits during this transition, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. The service’s portal at https://www.visahq.com/austria/ keeps requirements for Austria and Germany in one place, offers real-time updates, and arranges document submissions—helping cross-border staff stay compliant even as border regimes evolve.
Merz cautioned that Germany will maintain the legal authority to re-impose checks if irregular arrivals spike, and companies must still verify employees’ right to work. Mobility managers should keep contingency routing plans and ensure posted-worker notices remain in order. Nevertheless, the expected shift marks a symbolic return to friction-free Schengen travel—an important consideration for multinationals weighing investments along the Danube corridor.
Austria’s Interior Ministry welcomed the signal, noting that Vienna continues to staff mobile units on its own side but prefers "proportionate, intelligence-led" measures. The two neighbours are now coordinating on a timeline that could see full dismantling of fixed checkpoints once the EU pact enters force in June 2026.
For Austrian businesses the change cannot come soon enough. Automotive suppliers in Upper Austria and Styria report parts deliveries reaching Bavarian plants up to six hours late when queues build at the Walserberg and Suben crossings. Logistics firms estimate current controls add €90–€120 to every truck run. If Germany reverts to random spot checks by mid-2026—as federal police officials now envisage—just-in-time supply chains and cross-border assignment schedules should regain predictability.
Commuters will also benefit. Roughly 16,000 Austrian residents work in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, many in the life-sciences and IT sectors clustered around Munich, Regensburg and Ulm. Daily document checks have forced drivers to carry passports and allowed times for inspection stops. Employers anticipate lower travel-time buffers and fewer lost work hours once systematic controls end.
For companies and travelers who still need to juggle visas, posted-worker notices or residence permits during this transition, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. The service’s portal at https://www.visahq.com/austria/ keeps requirements for Austria and Germany in one place, offers real-time updates, and arranges document submissions—helping cross-border staff stay compliant even as border regimes evolve.
Merz cautioned that Germany will maintain the legal authority to re-impose checks if irregular arrivals spike, and companies must still verify employees’ right to work. Mobility managers should keep contingency routing plans and ensure posted-worker notices remain in order. Nevertheless, the expected shift marks a symbolic return to friction-free Schengen travel—an important consideration for multinationals weighing investments along the Danube corridor.
Austria’s Interior Ministry welcomed the signal, noting that Vienna continues to staff mobile units on its own side but prefers "proportionate, intelligence-led" measures. The two neighbours are now coordinating on a timeline that could see full dismantling of fixed checkpoints once the EU pact enters force in June 2026.
