The governments of Poland and Germany reintroduce border checks despite Schengen rules. Travelers should expect delays and tighter controls aimed at curbing illegal migration.
The temporary border closure between Poland and Germany took effect this Thursday, backed by a massive deployment of security forces and strict checks at key crossing points.
The measure, a response to mounting migration pressures and political tensions in the region, could be extended beyond the initial 30-day period set by Warsaw.
Around 800 border guards, 300 police officers, 200 gendarmes, and 500 soldiers from the Territorial Defense Forces have been deployed to secure Poland’s borders with Germany and Lithuania. The decision comes despite the Schengen Area’s principle of free movement across much of Europe, which does allow temporary reintroduction of checks in cases of “serious threats to public order or internal security.”
Authorities reported that border traffic is moving relatively smoothly, with only minor delays so far. Checks are focused on suspicious vehicles, particularly buses with tinted windows or larger groups of passengers. Heavy international freight transport is not the main focus, though it may also be subject to inspections.
Within hours of the new controls, an Estonian national was detained while attempting to cross the Lithuanian border with four Afghan migrants traveling illegally. The migrants will be sent back to Lithuania, while investigators examine whether the suspect acted alone or as part of a wider smuggling network.
Officials emphasized that the border may only be crossed at designated points: 52 with Germany and 13 with Lithuania. Attempting to cross elsewhere carries penalties of up to 500 zlotys (about €118) or, in more serious cases, prison sentences of up to three years under Polish law.
Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak defended the decision, stressing that it targets illegal migration rather than European citizens. “The Border Guard and other services will do everything possible to make these checks as light as possible,” he said.
The decision was first announced by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on July 1, in coordination with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz—though not without friction. “Our decision is irrevocable, regardless of emotions in other capitals,” Tusk declared.
The Polish government has already signaled that it may request an additional 30-day extension of the suspension of Schengen free movement, leaving regular cross-border commuters and residents in limbo.
Tusk also revealed that he had repeatedly warned the German chancellor about Poland’s growing impatience with migration pressures. The reintroduction of border checks highlights not only a security challenge but also a new chapter in the often complex relationship between Warsaw and Berlin, two of the most influential players in the European Union.
While Schengen has long been a cornerstone of integration in Europe, its rules explicitly allow temporary exceptions if justified. Experts caution, however, that if Poland and Germany prolong the restrictions, it could set a troubling precedent for other EU member states, especially as migration and political tensions continue to rise.
For now, travelers should expect extra document checks and possible delays at border crossings. Whether normal conditions return will depend both on migration patterns and on the political will of Poland and Germany to lift the restrictions after the initial 30-day period.
