Exactly six months after Poland re-introduced temporary controls along its western frontier, the Border Guard has issued its first performance report. Between July 2025 and December 2025 officers screened 558 000 travellers and 261 000 vehicles, refusing entry to 352 foreign nationals and arresting 165 individuals attempting irregular crossings into Germany. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-10/pl/six-month-report-polands-border-checks-with-germany-refused-352-entrants-and-made-165-arrests/))
The checks were imposed after Berlin tightened its own side of the border amid concerns about secondary asylum flows. EU partners initially criticised Warsaw for undermining Schengen free movement, but Polish officials say the numbers vindicate targeted inspections. Freight traffic remains mostly unaffected because the focus is on passenger cars and minibuses. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-10/pl/six-month-report-polands-border-checks-with-germany-refused-352-entrants-and-made-165-arrests/))
If you are unsure whether your documents will satisfy the evolved checkpoint rules, VisaHQ can help by providing real-time guidance, passport renewal services and visa support for travelers starting from Poland or transiting to Germany—everything is explained on their dedicated page: https://www.visahq.com/poland/.
![Six-month data show Poland’s border checks with Germany refused 352 entrants and made 165 arrests]()
For cross-border commuters and business travellers, the practical impact is sporadic 20-minute stops. Mobility managers are now advising employees to carry passports even on routine intra-Schengen trips, keep Polish residence cards handy and allow extra buffer time for client visits across the Oder River. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-10/pl/six-month-report-polands-border-checks-with-germany-refused-352-entrants-and-made-165-arrests/))
The current mandate for the German-border checks expires in early April 2026, but Warsaw has not ruled out another extension. Companies operating shuttle services between Lower Silesia or Lubuskie and Berlin should monitor announcements and adjust schedules if inspections intensify. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-10/pl/six-month-report-polands-border-checks-with-germany-refused-352-entrants-and-made-165-arrests/))
In the bigger picture, the data feed the ongoing EU debate on how to balance Schengen free movement with national security concerns, a question likely to dominate the 2026 Justice and Home Affairs agenda.
The checks were imposed after Berlin tightened its own side of the border amid concerns about secondary asylum flows. EU partners initially criticised Warsaw for undermining Schengen free movement, but Polish officials say the numbers vindicate targeted inspections. Freight traffic remains mostly unaffected because the focus is on passenger cars and minibuses. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-10/pl/six-month-report-polands-border-checks-with-germany-refused-352-entrants-and-made-165-arrests/))
If you are unsure whether your documents will satisfy the evolved checkpoint rules, VisaHQ can help by providing real-time guidance, passport renewal services and visa support for travelers starting from Poland or transiting to Germany—everything is explained on their dedicated page: https://www.visahq.com/poland/.
For cross-border commuters and business travellers, the practical impact is sporadic 20-minute stops. Mobility managers are now advising employees to carry passports even on routine intra-Schengen trips, keep Polish residence cards handy and allow extra buffer time for client visits across the Oder River. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-10/pl/six-month-report-polands-border-checks-with-germany-refused-352-entrants-and-made-165-arrests/))
The current mandate for the German-border checks expires in early April 2026, but Warsaw has not ruled out another extension. Companies operating shuttle services between Lower Silesia or Lubuskie and Berlin should monitor announcements and adjust schedules if inspections intensify. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-10/pl/six-month-report-polands-border-checks-with-germany-refused-352-entrants-and-made-165-arrests/))
In the bigger picture, the data feed the ongoing EU debate on how to balance Schengen free movement with national security concerns, a question likely to dominate the 2026 Justice and Home Affairs agenda.
