Border controls in Poland: What holidaymakers need to know

Several European countries have introduced stricter entry controls to further curb the number of unauthorized entries. Travelers can expect random checks not only on the road, but also on trains and at airports.

In Germany, entry controls have been tightened at all national borders since September 16, 2024. The then Federal Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser (SPD), had announced that the measure would initially last for six months.

Since the change of government in spring 2025, the new minister, Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), has pursued a significantly tougher stance on migration policy. Hundreds of additional federal police officers have been deployed to the borders, particularly at busy crossings such as Frankfurt (Oder) and Kiefersfelden. According to Dobrindt, the goal is to reduce the number of unauthorized entries through "clarity, consistency, and control," according to the "RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland" (RND).

But Germany's neighboring countries and some others have also introduced stricter border controls, which holidaymakers should take into account when traveling.

Germany: The borders with France, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg are affected. Stationary controls have been in place at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland since mid-October 2023. Random checks have been conducted at the border with Austria since September 2015.

With Dobrindt's inauguration, the measures were expanded. New temporary checkpoints are planned, especially at small crossings.

Poland : The country is now reacting to Germany's border controls with Poland by introducing its own. Starting July 7, 2025, random checks will be conducted, primarily on buses, minibuses, and cars with large numbers of passengers. This may lead to waiting times at the Polish border. The measure is initially in place until August 5.

Belgium: Starting in summer 2025, the country plans to follow Germany's example in curbing irregular migration and implement controls at key access roads, motorway parking lots, train stations, and airports. The focus will be on international bus services, certain trains, and intra-European flights, especially from Italy and Greece, as these countries are located on the EU's external border and are under high migration pressure. The controls are initially limited to six months.

Netherlands: Since December 9, 2024, the Netherlands has been conducting mobile random checks at the borders with Germany and Belgium. The measures are carried out by flexible, mobile teams. The checks were initially limited to six months but have now been extended until December 9, 2025.

Situation-dependent internal border controls are currently taking place at the German-Dutch border, which may vary in time and location.

In addition, Dutch authorities also conduct checks on international trains and certain flights upon entry into the Netherlands. Identification is required – even for children – when traveling within the Schengen area. Travelers should therefore always carry valid identification documents, the Federal Foreign Office summarizes.

France: France introduced random border controls on November 1, 2024.

The Federal Foreign Office writes that the borders with Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, and Spain will be controlled until October 31, 2025. Controls will be carried out on land, air, and sea routes.

Austria: Border controls will take place at all land borders with the Czech Republic and Slovakia until 15 October 2025 and at all land borders with Slovenia and Hungary until 11 November 2025.

Denmark: In particular, controls will be in place at all land and sea borders with Germany until at least November 11, 2025.

Sweden: Border controls will be in place at all land, air and sea borders until November 11, 2025.

During a border check, travelers and commuters are asked to present an identity document such as an identity card or passport. For example, anyone traveling to the Netherlands may be subject to border checks on both their outbound and return journeys.

While the impact on commuters is intended to be kept as minimal as possible, travelers must still expect longer wait times at border crossings.

At controlled crossings, delays of more than 30 minutes during peak travel times are no longer uncommon: Especially on weekends or during holiday periods, traffic jams stretching for kilometers often occur, for example in the cities of Frankfurt (Oder) and Görlitz, because the diversionary traffic flows through the city center, as the “RND” reports.

According to ADAC, the following routes are particularly affected:

• Suben (A3 Linz–Passau)
• Walserberg (A8 Salzburg–Munich)
• Kiefersfelden (A93 Kufstein–Rosenheim)
• Breitenau/Schönwald (A17 Prague–Dresden)
• Frankfurt (Oder) (A12)

Traffic jams also regularly occur at the border crossings to Switzerland – particularly at Basel, Weil am Rhein and Kreuzlingen/Konstanz – due to ongoing controls.

Border controls have been in place at all borders with Germany since September 16. Travelers require an identity card or passport.

Source: IMAGO/Depositphotos

Stationary checkpoints at the German-Czech border, especially at the Breitenau/Schönwald border crossing (A17 Prague–Dresden), also lead to significant waiting times. Further bottlenecks occur at Bavarian-Czech border crossings such as Selb, Schirnding, and Waidhaus.

In addition, traffic jams stretching for several kilometers are regularly recorded on the Polish side of the A2 at the border crossing to the A12 near Frankfurt (Oder).

The now tightened border controls could most likely also cause traffic jams and waiting times at many border crossings with France, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg during busy times.

The basic rule is: Anyone wishing to travel requires a valid ID document. Not only at the airport, but also at the land border, drivers and others are required to present either a valid ID card or passport upon request.

Citizens of EU and Schengen countries can travel without restrictions simply by carrying their identity card. Those belonging to these groups should be able to cross borders from one country to another without any checks.

With the signing of the Schengen Agreement, fixed border checkpoints were abolished. Border controls should only be reintroduced when public safety is threatened—this now appears to be the case, according to the governments of Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

Incidentally, all of Germany's neighboring countries are also members of the Schengen Agreement, so travelers from these countries only need a valid identity card at any border control. This must be valid for at least three months and have been issued within the last ten years, according to the Federal Foreign Office .

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