Business travelers driving or taking the train between Switzerland and Germany will face continued police spot-checks after Berlin confirmed an extension of its **temporary internal border controls** for another six-month period.
According to a notice published on 27 February 2026, the German interior ministry has prolonged controls on all nine of its land frontiers, including the busy crossings at Basel/Weil-am-Rhein, Konstanz/Kreuzlingen and the Lake Constance ferry terminals. The decision is justified by “persistent irregular migration pressures and security concerns” and is permissible under Article 25 of the Schengen Borders Code, which allows internal checks in exceptional circumstances. The current authorisation runs through **15 September 2026** and can be renewed only if Brussels accepts that “serious threats” still exist.
For commuters, logistics firms and multinational companies with staff shuttling between Zurich and southern Germany, the practical impact is longer journey times and possible ID inspections aboard ICE/IC trains or on major motorways such as the A5 and A81. Industry groups estimate average delays of 15-30 minutes, but unannounced mobile patrols make planning difficult. Freight operators complain that each extra hour at the frontier costs roughly €100 per truck, eroding just-in-time supply chains for the Swiss automotive and life-science clusters.
![Germany extends internal checks on Swiss land border until at least 15 September 2026]()
For companies that want to keep documentation up to date and avoid hassles at these surprise checkpoints, VisaHQ’s Switzerland team can help. Its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) streamlines passport renewals, Schengen visa applications, and residence-permit services, giving mobility managers a single dashboard to track validity and make sure employees can cross the border without delays.
Swiss authorities have said they will not introduce reciprocal checks but are liaising with the Bundespolizei to minimise disruption. Companies are advised to ensure that employees carry valid passports or national ID cards even when travelling within Schengen; third-country assignees should also keep Swiss residence permits on hand. Cross-border workers (Grenzgänger) remain exempt from work-permit quotas, but those whose permits are up for renewal should submit applications early, as random inspections have uncovered several cases of expired documents.
From a strategic perspective, the extension underscores how migration politics are influencing intra-Schengen mobility. While the forthcoming **Bilaterals III** package between Bern and Brussels promises deeper regulatory alignment, unilateral safeguards such as Germany’s remain a reality that HR and global mobility teams must factor into travel policies and relocation timelines.
According to a notice published on 27 February 2026, the German interior ministry has prolonged controls on all nine of its land frontiers, including the busy crossings at Basel/Weil-am-Rhein, Konstanz/Kreuzlingen and the Lake Constance ferry terminals. The decision is justified by “persistent irregular migration pressures and security concerns” and is permissible under Article 25 of the Schengen Borders Code, which allows internal checks in exceptional circumstances. The current authorisation runs through **15 September 2026** and can be renewed only if Brussels accepts that “serious threats” still exist.
For commuters, logistics firms and multinational companies with staff shuttling between Zurich and southern Germany, the practical impact is longer journey times and possible ID inspections aboard ICE/IC trains or on major motorways such as the A5 and A81. Industry groups estimate average delays of 15-30 minutes, but unannounced mobile patrols make planning difficult. Freight operators complain that each extra hour at the frontier costs roughly €100 per truck, eroding just-in-time supply chains for the Swiss automotive and life-science clusters.
For companies that want to keep documentation up to date and avoid hassles at these surprise checkpoints, VisaHQ’s Switzerland team can help. Its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) streamlines passport renewals, Schengen visa applications, and residence-permit services, giving mobility managers a single dashboard to track validity and make sure employees can cross the border without delays.
Swiss authorities have said they will not introduce reciprocal checks but are liaising with the Bundespolizei to minimise disruption. Companies are advised to ensure that employees carry valid passports or national ID cards even when travelling within Schengen; third-country assignees should also keep Swiss residence permits on hand. Cross-border workers (Grenzgänger) remain exempt from work-permit quotas, but those whose permits are up for renewal should submit applications early, as random inspections have uncovered several cases of expired documents.
From a strategic perspective, the extension underscores how migration politics are influencing intra-Schengen mobility. While the forthcoming **Bilaterals III** package between Bern and Brussels promises deeper regulatory alignment, unilateral safeguards such as Germany’s remain a reality that HR and global mobility teams must factor into travel policies and relocation timelines.
