The Bundespolizei-Inspectorate Ebersbach reported on 2 February that officers in Zittau thwarted two separate attempts to enter Germany without authorisation. A 40-year-old Polish national with an active entry ban was caught on 30 January crossing the Neisse footbridge, while a 26-year-old Ukrainian driving a BMW was intercepted on 1 February at the B178n control point without a valid residence permit. Both individuals were turned back to Poland and face proceedings under § 95 of the Residence Act.
The cases illustrate how Germany’s extended land-border controls—re-introduced in 2024 and currently slated to run until at least March 2026—continue to generate daily enforcement actions. According to Federal Police statistics, almost 68 000 unauthorised crossings were registered in 2025, with roughly two-thirds resulting in on-the-spot refusals.
![Federal Police stop multiple illegal entries at German-Polish border over weekend]()
Whether you are a cross-border commuter, an HR officer moving talent, or a business traveller unsure which documents to carry, VisaHQ can streamline the process. The platform provides end-to-end assistance with Schengen visa applications, German residence permits and invitation letters, reducing the risk of being turned back at the frontier. Full details and online tools are available at https://www.visahq.com/germany/
For cross-border commuters and corporate shuttle services operating between Poland and Saxony, the incident is a reminder that identity checks remain the norm. Mobility managers should advise third-country assignees to carry passports, residence cards and assignment letters, even on short hops, to avoid secondary inspections and delays.
The Zittau stops also feed into wider EU debates: Poland argues that prolonged German controls violate Schengen rules, while Berlin says the measure is necessary until the bloc’s new Entry/Exit System is fully operational.
The cases illustrate how Germany’s extended land-border controls—re-introduced in 2024 and currently slated to run until at least March 2026—continue to generate daily enforcement actions. According to Federal Police statistics, almost 68 000 unauthorised crossings were registered in 2025, with roughly two-thirds resulting in on-the-spot refusals.
Whether you are a cross-border commuter, an HR officer moving talent, or a business traveller unsure which documents to carry, VisaHQ can streamline the process. The platform provides end-to-end assistance with Schengen visa applications, German residence permits and invitation letters, reducing the risk of being turned back at the frontier. Full details and online tools are available at https://www.visahq.com/germany/
For cross-border commuters and corporate shuttle services operating between Poland and Saxony, the incident is a reminder that identity checks remain the norm. Mobility managers should advise third-country assignees to carry passports, residence cards and assignment letters, even on short hops, to avoid secondary inspections and delays.
The Zittau stops also feed into wider EU debates: Poland argues that prolonged German controls violate Schengen rules, while Berlin says the measure is necessary until the bloc’s new Entry/Exit System is fully operational.
