Schengen's Border-Free Zone Temporarily Suspended in Several Countries
Schengen's passport-free zone remains the norm, but temporary border controls are allowed when a country faces a serious threat. The Schengen Borders Code (SBC) ensures these checks are restricted, time-limited, and monitored by the European Commission.
Germany maintains border controls at the Austrian border due to public order and security concerns. Meanwhile, Poland extends its temporary border controls with Germany and Lithuania until April 4, 2026, to combat migration and smuggling issues.
Any Member State can reintroduce border controls when facing a serious threat to public policy or internal security. However, they must notify EU institutions, conduct risk assessments, and file reports to keep these controls temporary and targeted. The SBC caps durations based on the threat type, ranging from 1 to 6 months. Several countries, such as Poland, Germany, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and France, have currently reintroduced internal border controls for specific reasons and time frames.
Travelers and cross-border workers should keep valid ID handy and check the latest national notifications before traveling, as temporary border controls may affect them.
While Schengen remains border-free by default, targeted, short-term checks are allowed when a country faces a serious threat. The SBC provides safeguards to ensure these controls are temporary and targeted, not a new normal. Several countries have currently reintroduced border controls, but the European Commission monitors and assesses the need and proportionality of these measures.
