Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior has quietly prolonged the spot checks it re-introduced on all nine of the country’s land frontiers in September 2024, publishing a notice in the Federal Gazette late on 29 December. Under the extension, identity controls at the borders with Austria, Czechia, Poland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France and Switzerland will now run until at least 15 March 2026—the longest period the current Schengen Borders Code allows without a specific waiver from the European Commission.
For travellers the measure means that police patrols can stop any car, coach or train and request a passport or national ID card, proof of residence, evidence of accommodation and (for third-country nationals) financial means of support. Commercial road hauliers report that random checks typically add 15-45 minutes to a cross-border run, but delays can escalate quickly if traffic is heavy or secondary inspections are ordered. Rail operators Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB confirmed that mobile teams are boarding long-distance trains at the first German station to verify documents, occasionally detaining entire carriages while individual passengers are questioned.
The ministry argues that the controls remain essential to curb irregular migration and disrupt human-smuggling networks. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser pointed to a 25 % year-on-year fall in detected illegal entries (see separate story below) as evidence that the policy is working. Critics counter that Germany is stretching the definition of “temporary” and undermining the passport-free Schengen area at a time when business travel and cross-border commuting are rebounding.
![Germany Extends ‘Temporary’ Land-Border Checks Until 15 March 2026]()
If you are unsure whether your passport, residence card or supporting paperwork will satisfy officers during one of these random checks, VisaHQ can help. Via its Germany portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) the service provides live updates on ID requirements, step-by-step application support and a document pre-check feature that allows travellers and mobility managers to confirm compliance before departure.
Corporate mobility managers must factor the checks into travel schedules, especially for time-sensitive assignments that involve goods or specialist technicians crossing by road. While EU citizens only need a national ID card, third-country assignees should carry their passport, residence permit and copies of assignment letters to avoid secondary screening. Employers are also advised to brief shuttle-bus drivers who collect commuters from neighbouring countries about possible spot checks and the importance of carrying passenger manifests.
The extension coincides with the EU’s planned spring launch of the Entry/Exit System (EES). Unless Brussels grants a further derogation, Germany will need to decide by mid-March whether to end the controls, seek a fresh six-month prolongation or negotiate an alternative compliance pathway with the Commission.
For travellers the measure means that police patrols can stop any car, coach or train and request a passport or national ID card, proof of residence, evidence of accommodation and (for third-country nationals) financial means of support. Commercial road hauliers report that random checks typically add 15-45 minutes to a cross-border run, but delays can escalate quickly if traffic is heavy or secondary inspections are ordered. Rail operators Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB confirmed that mobile teams are boarding long-distance trains at the first German station to verify documents, occasionally detaining entire carriages while individual passengers are questioned.
The ministry argues that the controls remain essential to curb irregular migration and disrupt human-smuggling networks. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser pointed to a 25 % year-on-year fall in detected illegal entries (see separate story below) as evidence that the policy is working. Critics counter that Germany is stretching the definition of “temporary” and undermining the passport-free Schengen area at a time when business travel and cross-border commuting are rebounding.
If you are unsure whether your passport, residence card or supporting paperwork will satisfy officers during one of these random checks, VisaHQ can help. Via its Germany portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) the service provides live updates on ID requirements, step-by-step application support and a document pre-check feature that allows travellers and mobility managers to confirm compliance before departure.
Corporate mobility managers must factor the checks into travel schedules, especially for time-sensitive assignments that involve goods or specialist technicians crossing by road. While EU citizens only need a national ID card, third-country assignees should carry their passport, residence permit and copies of assignment letters to avoid secondary screening. Employers are also advised to brief shuttle-bus drivers who collect commuters from neighbouring countries about possible spot checks and the importance of carrying passenger manifests.
The extension coincides with the EU’s planned spring launch of the Entry/Exit System (EES). Unless Brussels grants a further derogation, Germany will need to decide by mid-March whether to end the controls, seek a fresh six-month prolongation or negotiate an alternative compliance pathway with the Commission.
