Poland’s Border Guard has published a rare mid-term report on the temporary controls re-introduced along the country’s western frontier with Germany in July 2025. The figures, released on 7 January 2026, show that officers—supported by Police, Territorial Defence troops and Military Police—have screened more than 558 000 travellers and 261 000 vehicles in the Lubuskie and Lower Silesia regions alone. During that time they refused entry to 352 foreign nationals, mostly for lacking valid travel documents, and detained 165 people accused of attempting to cross into Germany illegally.([strazgraniczna.pl](https://www.strazgraniczna.pl/pl/aktualnosci/15188%2CTymczasowe-kontrole-graniczne-trwaja-juz-pol-roku.html))
The controls were reinstated after Berlin tightened checks on its own side and amid concerns about secondary movements of asylum seekers using Poland as a transit route. Warsaw notified the European Commission of the derogation from Schengen free-movement rules, citing “threats to public order and internal security.” While many EU partners initially criticised the measure, Polish officials argue that the six-month data prove the necessity of targeted checks and regional cooperation.
Businesses operating cross-border supply chains report minimal freight delays because inspections focus on passenger cars and minibuses rather than commercial trucks. Business travellers, however, face occasional spot checks, so carrying passports—even on routine Schengen trips—has become essential. The majority of entry refusals involved nationals of Ukraine, Turkey, Russia and Syria, underlining the ongoing pressure of mixed migration flows in Central Europe.
![Six months on, Poland’s temporary border checks with Germany yield hundreds of entry refusals and arrests]()
For travellers uncertain about the paperwork now required to move between Poland and Germany, VisaHQ can help streamline the process. Through its dedicated Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/), the service offers real-time entry guidance, visa application handling and courier delivery of approved documents—an efficient solution for commuters, tourists and corporate assignees navigating the revived border checks.
The social impact is felt most in border towns such as Słubice and Zgorzelec, where daily labour commuters now build extra time into their journeys. Local chambers of commerce say retail sales dipped 4 % in the second half of 2025 as German shoppers balked at queues on the return leg.
Government officials have not yet said whether the controls will be extended beyond the current mandate, which legally expires in early April 2026. Mobility managers with assignees who transit by road or rail between Poland and Germany should monitor updates and remind employees to carry identity documents and, where applicable, valid residence permits.
The controls were reinstated after Berlin tightened checks on its own side and amid concerns about secondary movements of asylum seekers using Poland as a transit route. Warsaw notified the European Commission of the derogation from Schengen free-movement rules, citing “threats to public order and internal security.” While many EU partners initially criticised the measure, Polish officials argue that the six-month data prove the necessity of targeted checks and regional cooperation.
Businesses operating cross-border supply chains report minimal freight delays because inspections focus on passenger cars and minibuses rather than commercial trucks. Business travellers, however, face occasional spot checks, so carrying passports—even on routine Schengen trips—has become essential. The majority of entry refusals involved nationals of Ukraine, Turkey, Russia and Syria, underlining the ongoing pressure of mixed migration flows in Central Europe.
For travellers uncertain about the paperwork now required to move between Poland and Germany, VisaHQ can help streamline the process. Through its dedicated Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/), the service offers real-time entry guidance, visa application handling and courier delivery of approved documents—an efficient solution for commuters, tourists and corporate assignees navigating the revived border checks.
The social impact is felt most in border towns such as Słubice and Zgorzelec, where daily labour commuters now build extra time into their journeys. Local chambers of commerce say retail sales dipped 4 % in the second half of 2025 as German shoppers balked at queues on the return leg.
Government officials have not yet said whether the controls will be extended beyond the current mandate, which legally expires in early April 2026. Mobility managers with assignees who transit by road or rail between Poland and Germany should monitor updates and remind employees to carry identity documents and, where applicable, valid residence permits.
