German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told reporters on 10 December 2025 that the federal government "expects to lift temporary controls at our land borders in the near future" following the political agreement on the EU’s new Migration & Asylum Pact reached in Brussels this week. Since September 2024, Germany has carried out passport checks on nine neighbouring frontiers – an unprecedented suspension of Schengen free movement that was repeatedly extended amid record asylum numbers.
Merz argued that the pact’s tougher external-border screening and plans for third-country “return hubs” will allow Germany to redeploy police resources where they are most needed. He stopped short of giving a date, saying Berlin first wants to see “operational clarity” on how the EU measures will work.
For companies and individuals needing up-to-date guidance on travel documents while Germany phases out the controls, VisaHQ offers real-time visa and passport assistance, helping clients confirm whether they still need identification at specific crossings and preparing any paperwork required for onward trips within Schengen. More information can be found at https://www.visahq.com/germany/.
![Merz signals end of German internal border checks after EU migration pact breakthrough]()
Business impact: • Abolishing the checks would restore just-in-time supply chains for manufacturers in Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia that rely on daily truck crossings. • Commuter and business-traveller delays – averaging 30 minutes at peak times – would disappear, improving productivity. • Logistics firms should monitor for a phased rather than overnight removal; some spot controls could remain for smuggling investigations.
Political context: The opposition Greens welcomed the announcement but cautioned that ad-hoc re-introductions cannot become the “new normal”. The AfD accused the Chancellor of “caving in to Brussels” and vowed to campaign for permanent national controls during the February 2026 election.
Next steps: Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt will present an implementation timetable to the Bundesrat in January. Companies should brief mobile employees that passport requirements may still apply during a transition period.
Merz argued that the pact’s tougher external-border screening and plans for third-country “return hubs” will allow Germany to redeploy police resources where they are most needed. He stopped short of giving a date, saying Berlin first wants to see “operational clarity” on how the EU measures will work.
For companies and individuals needing up-to-date guidance on travel documents while Germany phases out the controls, VisaHQ offers real-time visa and passport assistance, helping clients confirm whether they still need identification at specific crossings and preparing any paperwork required for onward trips within Schengen. More information can be found at https://www.visahq.com/germany/.
Business impact: • Abolishing the checks would restore just-in-time supply chains for manufacturers in Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia that rely on daily truck crossings. • Commuter and business-traveller delays – averaging 30 minutes at peak times – would disappear, improving productivity. • Logistics firms should monitor for a phased rather than overnight removal; some spot controls could remain for smuggling investigations.
Political context: The opposition Greens welcomed the announcement but cautioned that ad-hoc re-introductions cannot become the “new normal”. The AfD accused the Chancellor of “caving in to Brussels” and vowed to campaign for permanent national controls during the February 2026 election.
Next steps: Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt will present an implementation timetable to the Bundesrat in January. Companies should brief mobile employees that passport requirements may still apply during a transition period.
