Germany’s Federal Interior Ministry has quietly prolonged the “temporary” controls it re-introduced last September on all nine land borders, including crossings from Czechia, until 15 March 2026—the maximum period currently authorised by Brussels. The extension was published in the Federal Gazette on 29 December and confirmed by Czech officials on New Year’s Day.
Under the measure Bundespolizei officers may stop motorists, coach passengers and rail travellers at random to verify identity documents, accommodation details or proof of funds. Although passports are not stamped, entry can be refused on migration or security grounds. On the Prague–Berlin EuroCity line, operators report delays of up to 30 minutes when entire carriages are screened.
For travellers unsure whether their documents will pass muster, VisaHQ’s Czech portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) consolidates up-to-the-minute Schengen entry advice and can arrange fast renewals or supplementary paperwork, giving commuters and tourists added confidence before they reach the checkpoint.
![Germany Extends Land-Border Checks with Czechia to 15 March 2026]()
For Czech cross-border commuters—around 37 000 people daily—journey times have become less predictable. Logistics firms using the D5 (Rozvadov-Waidhaus) and D8 (Ústí-nad-Labem–Dresden) corridors also report knock-on effects, with just-in-time deliveries missing factory windows.
Travel-management companies advise adding at least 45 minutes to itineraries and carrying original work contracts or invitation letters in case officers demand proof of purpose. Holders of Czech residence cards should be reminded that plastic cards are accepted as proof of identity, but digital copies are not.
The European Commission is expected to debate a coordinated Schengen approach in February, yet political analysts see little chance of a rollback before the German regional elections in March.
Under the measure Bundespolizei officers may stop motorists, coach passengers and rail travellers at random to verify identity documents, accommodation details or proof of funds. Although passports are not stamped, entry can be refused on migration or security grounds. On the Prague–Berlin EuroCity line, operators report delays of up to 30 minutes when entire carriages are screened.
For travellers unsure whether their documents will pass muster, VisaHQ’s Czech portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) consolidates up-to-the-minute Schengen entry advice and can arrange fast renewals or supplementary paperwork, giving commuters and tourists added confidence before they reach the checkpoint.
For Czech cross-border commuters—around 37 000 people daily—journey times have become less predictable. Logistics firms using the D5 (Rozvadov-Waidhaus) and D8 (Ústí-nad-Labem–Dresden) corridors also report knock-on effects, with just-in-time deliveries missing factory windows.
Travel-management companies advise adding at least 45 minutes to itineraries and carrying original work contracts or invitation letters in case officers demand proof of purpose. Holders of Czech residence cards should be reminded that plastic cards are accepted as proof of identity, but digital copies are not.
The European Commission is expected to debate a coordinated Schengen approach in February, yet political analysts see little chance of a rollback before the German regional elections in March.
