Germany will keep its temporary Schengen-area border controls in place until at least 15 September 2026, pushing the measure five months beyond the previous 15 March expiry date. The decision, confirmed in a government notice highlighted by expatriate information portal IamExpat on 27 February, means police will continue random ID inspections at all land crossings, including the busy Frankfurt (Oder)–Słubice and Görlitz–Zgorzelec routes. (iamexpat.de)
Berlin argues the extension is necessary to curb irregular migration, yet Polish logistics firms warn that spot checks already add up to 45 minutes to transit times, jeopardising just-in-time deliveries to German factories. Cross-border commuters—estimated at 17,000 daily—face longer queues and are advised to carry passports or national ID cards rather than relying solely on digital documents.
For business-travel planners the persistence of controls complicates rail and coach timetables. Operators such as Polregio and FlixBus have inserted buffer time into schedules, but delays remain unpredictable. Companies with frequent cross-border meetings may wish to shift some engagements online or budget extra overnight stays.
![Germany extends border checks until mid-September—Polish commuters and hauliers warned to expect delays]()
Legally, the checks do not re-introduce a visa requirement, yet they do revive the need for physical documentation when crossing an internal EU frontier. Multinationals should circulate an updated travel advisory and verify that third-country nationals on assignment possess appropriate residence cards, as non-compliance can lead to on-the-spot fines or denial of entry.
For travellers who remain unsure about exactly which papers to carry, VisaHQ’s Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) offers a quick way to check entry rules, order official letters, and even arrange courier delivery of replacement documents. The service can be particularly useful for mixed-nationality teams or non-EU dependants who might need extra authorisations once random border inspections resume.
Polish officials criticised the move, arguing that sustained controls undermine Schengen principles. Nonetheless, Warsaw has little leverage to force a reversal and instead urges citizens to plan journeys carefully. With German state elections approaching, most analysts expect the controls to persist well into 2027. (iamexpat.de)
Berlin argues the extension is necessary to curb irregular migration, yet Polish logistics firms warn that spot checks already add up to 45 minutes to transit times, jeopardising just-in-time deliveries to German factories. Cross-border commuters—estimated at 17,000 daily—face longer queues and are advised to carry passports or national ID cards rather than relying solely on digital documents.
For business-travel planners the persistence of controls complicates rail and coach timetables. Operators such as Polregio and FlixBus have inserted buffer time into schedules, but delays remain unpredictable. Companies with frequent cross-border meetings may wish to shift some engagements online or budget extra overnight stays.
Legally, the checks do not re-introduce a visa requirement, yet they do revive the need for physical documentation when crossing an internal EU frontier. Multinationals should circulate an updated travel advisory and verify that third-country nationals on assignment possess appropriate residence cards, as non-compliance can lead to on-the-spot fines or denial of entry.
For travellers who remain unsure about exactly which papers to carry, VisaHQ’s Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) offers a quick way to check entry rules, order official letters, and even arrange courier delivery of replacement documents. The service can be particularly useful for mixed-nationality teams or non-EU dependants who might need extra authorisations once random border inspections resume.
Polish officials criticised the move, arguing that sustained controls undermine Schengen principles. Nonetheless, Warsaw has little leverage to force a reversal and instead urges citizens to plan journeys carefully. With German state elections approaching, most analysts expect the controls to persist well into 2027. (iamexpat.de)
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