Just in time for the Christmas travel rush, the Federal Ministry of the Interior confirmed in the Federal Gazette that the “temporary” land-border checks re-introduced in mid-September will now run until at least 15 March 2026—the maximum period currently allowed by the European Commission. Spot controls will therefore continue on roads and rail lines from Austria, Czechia, Poland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France and Switzerland. Bundespolizei officers will verify identity documents, accommodation details and, where relevant, proof of funds.
Context: Germany revived internal-Schengen controls in September amid a spike in secondary movements along the Balkan route and a series of people-smuggling cases. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the extension is necessary because “organised smuggling networks quickly adapt to seasonal patterns; suspending controls now would be irresponsible.” Business-lobby group BDI called the decision “a necessary inconvenience,” noting that supply-chain predictability outweighs minor delays at freight crossings.
![Germany Extends Land-Border Checks Through 15 March 2026]()
If you need help deciphering the changing document requirements or arranging fast renewals, VisaHQ can assist. Its corporate portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) delivers up-to-date guidance on German entry rules, automated validity alerts for passports and residence cards, and end-to-end logistics for visa and document processing, easing the burden on mobility teams while border checks remain in force.
Implications for mobility managers: Coach operators must continue to pre-upload passenger manifests to the police gateway, and companies sending staff on same-day trips should allow at least 30 extra minutes for potential border stops. HR teams arranging cross-border commuter contracts (common in the tri-border ‘DACH-BENELUX’ region) should remind employees to carry residence cards or EU-ID cards even on short hops. Non-EU assignees transiting by car should keep passport and residence permit within easy reach; failure to present them can trigger refusals of entry.
Looking ahead: The Interior Ministry will review the measure in early March. If irregular entries fall below the 2023 monthly average, controls may be lifted or localised to high-risk crossings. Otherwise, Berlin will have to request a fresh authorisation from Brussels—an option that could face political headwinds in the run-up to the June 2026 European Parliament elections.
Context: Germany revived internal-Schengen controls in September amid a spike in secondary movements along the Balkan route and a series of people-smuggling cases. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the extension is necessary because “organised smuggling networks quickly adapt to seasonal patterns; suspending controls now would be irresponsible.” Business-lobby group BDI called the decision “a necessary inconvenience,” noting that supply-chain predictability outweighs minor delays at freight crossings.
If you need help deciphering the changing document requirements or arranging fast renewals, VisaHQ can assist. Its corporate portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) delivers up-to-date guidance on German entry rules, automated validity alerts for passports and residence cards, and end-to-end logistics for visa and document processing, easing the burden on mobility teams while border checks remain in force.
Implications for mobility managers: Coach operators must continue to pre-upload passenger manifests to the police gateway, and companies sending staff on same-day trips should allow at least 30 extra minutes for potential border stops. HR teams arranging cross-border commuter contracts (common in the tri-border ‘DACH-BENELUX’ region) should remind employees to carry residence cards or EU-ID cards even on short hops. Non-EU assignees transiting by car should keep passport and residence permit within easy reach; failure to present them can trigger refusals of entry.
Looking ahead: The Interior Ministry will review the measure in early March. If irregular entries fall below the 2023 monthly average, controls may be lifted or localised to high-risk crossings. Otherwise, Berlin will have to request a fresh authorisation from Brussels—an option that could face political headwinds in the run-up to the June 2026 European Parliament elections.
