Germany’s interior minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed on 16 February that the temporary checks re-introduced at all German land borders will be prolonged for another six months, until at least mid-September 2026.
Although the decision is aimed primarily at curbing irregular migration and tightening security along Germany’s eastern frontier, it directly affects the 70 000-plus people who cross the German-Swiss border every day for work or commerce. Since October 2023 the Federal Police have maintained fixed checkpoints on the A5 at Weil am Rhein/Basel, on the Konstanz-Kreuzlingen corridor and at dozens of secondary roads. What began as spot checks in response to migrant-smuggling routes has evolved into full passport and vehicle inspections that now slow morning rush-hour traffic by 30-45 minutes on peak days.
Business lobbies on both sides of the Rhine warn that the latest extension will cost companies millions in lost productivity and logistics delays. Swiss chemical producers in Basel rely on just-in-time truck deliveries from Germany; haulage firms report that drivers now build 90-minute buffers into schedules and frequently miss slot reservations at Basel’s trimodal terminals. Retailers in the German border towns of Waldshut and Lörrach, meanwhile, say Swiss shoppers are making fewer same-day trips, hitting local revenues.
![Germany Extends Border Controls, Adding Six-Month Headache for Swiss Cross-Border Commuters]()
Commuters and businesses looking for practical help amid the tighter checks can draw on VisaHQ’s services. The platform’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) offers fast passport renewals, second-passport applications and real-time updates on Schengen entry rules, ensuring that cross-border travellers keep paperwork in order while the additional German inspections remain in force.
Legal experts also note a brewing court battle. A Saxon resident backed by Green MEP Anna Cavazzini has asked the Administrative Court in Dresden to rule that Berlin’s prolonged controls breach Articles 22–25 of the Schengen Borders Code, which allow internal checks only as a last resort and for strictly limited periods. If judges find the measures disproportionate, other commuters—including those on the Swiss frontier—could press for compensation.
For mobility managers the message is clear: build extra time into travel itineraries, keep employees’ passports on hand even for short road hops into Germany, and monitor EU-level discussions. Brussels has already signalled that it will review the legality of repeated six-month renewals. Should the Commission push back, German controls could be scaled down earlier than September—but for now, disruption looks set to continue through the summer holiday peak.
Although the decision is aimed primarily at curbing irregular migration and tightening security along Germany’s eastern frontier, it directly affects the 70 000-plus people who cross the German-Swiss border every day for work or commerce. Since October 2023 the Federal Police have maintained fixed checkpoints on the A5 at Weil am Rhein/Basel, on the Konstanz-Kreuzlingen corridor and at dozens of secondary roads. What began as spot checks in response to migrant-smuggling routes has evolved into full passport and vehicle inspections that now slow morning rush-hour traffic by 30-45 minutes on peak days.
Business lobbies on both sides of the Rhine warn that the latest extension will cost companies millions in lost productivity and logistics delays. Swiss chemical producers in Basel rely on just-in-time truck deliveries from Germany; haulage firms report that drivers now build 90-minute buffers into schedules and frequently miss slot reservations at Basel’s trimodal terminals. Retailers in the German border towns of Waldshut and Lörrach, meanwhile, say Swiss shoppers are making fewer same-day trips, hitting local revenues.
Commuters and businesses looking for practical help amid the tighter checks can draw on VisaHQ’s services. The platform’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) offers fast passport renewals, second-passport applications and real-time updates on Schengen entry rules, ensuring that cross-border travellers keep paperwork in order while the additional German inspections remain in force.
Legal experts also note a brewing court battle. A Saxon resident backed by Green MEP Anna Cavazzini has asked the Administrative Court in Dresden to rule that Berlin’s prolonged controls breach Articles 22–25 of the Schengen Borders Code, which allow internal checks only as a last resort and for strictly limited periods. If judges find the measures disproportionate, other commuters—including those on the Swiss frontier—could press for compensation.
For mobility managers the message is clear: build extra time into travel itineraries, keep employees’ passports on hand even for short road hops into Germany, and monitor EU-level discussions. Brussels has already signalled that it will review the legality of repeated six-month renewals. Should the Commission push back, German controls could be scaled down earlier than September—but for now, disruption looks set to continue through the summer holiday peak.
