The Interior Ministry of the German state of Brandenburg issued an alert on 18 December that Poland will reinstate controls at its land border with Germany next Monday, a move expected to clog major crossings such as Frankfurt (Oder) and Świecko. State Interior Minister René Wilke said the measures "mirror the traffic nightmare we experienced on the German side" when Berlin re-imposed Schengen checks last year.
An estimated 200,000 cross-border commuters—many employed by German logistics and manufacturing firms—could face hour-long waits. Companies with just-in-time supply chains have been told to prepare contingency plans, including staggered shift starts and remote-work options, to offset potential delays for Polish and German staff alike.
![Brandenburg warns of traffic chaos as Poland introduces border checks]()
Although the federal government in Berlin has not yet announced reciprocal checks, the Bundespolizei confirmed it will "scale resources" if traffic backs up onto the A12 motorway. Logistics associations warned that even short-term congestion could cost the region millions in lost productivity during the critical pre-Christmas period.
Whether employees need clarity on acceptable IDs or companies want a quick way to confirm visa and passport validity for urgent trips, VisaHQ offers an easy self-service portal that tracks the latest border policies and processes travel documents for Germany and neighboring countries; visit https://www.visahq.com/germany/ for details.
Mobility managers should advise travellers to carry passports or residence permits, as Polish officers may require documents even from EU citizens during spot checks. Employers can also use the situation to test emergency communication channels to staff who cross the border daily.
An estimated 200,000 cross-border commuters—many employed by German logistics and manufacturing firms—could face hour-long waits. Companies with just-in-time supply chains have been told to prepare contingency plans, including staggered shift starts and remote-work options, to offset potential delays for Polish and German staff alike.
Although the federal government in Berlin has not yet announced reciprocal checks, the Bundespolizei confirmed it will "scale resources" if traffic backs up onto the A12 motorway. Logistics associations warned that even short-term congestion could cost the region millions in lost productivity during the critical pre-Christmas period.
Whether employees need clarity on acceptable IDs or companies want a quick way to confirm visa and passport validity for urgent trips, VisaHQ offers an easy self-service portal that tracks the latest border policies and processes travel documents for Germany and neighboring countries; visit https://www.visahq.com/germany/ for details.
Mobility managers should advise travellers to carry passports or residence permits, as Polish officers may require documents even from EU citizens during spot checks. Employers can also use the situation to test emergency communication channels to staff who cross the border daily.
