As of today, stricter border controls apply at all national borders in Germany. This measure is initially limited to six months and aims, according to the Ministry of the Interior, to help curb illegal migration and improve the security situation in the country. Here are the most important pieces of information that travelers should note.
The new controls will be carried out at all German land borders. These will be random checks, which means that not every traveler will be examined. The controls are also designed to be spatially and temporally flexible in order not to unnecessarily hinder the flow of traffic.
Travelers and commuters should always carry a valid identity card or passport to avoid possible delays. Additionally, there may be longer waiting times and traffic jams at heavily frequented border crossings. In particular, delays should be factored in on busy high-speed roads. “We want to avoid larger traffic jams and closely coordinate the controls with neighboring countries,” emphasizes the Ministry of the Interior.
The new controls also affect the border between Germany and Austria. At the German-Austrian border, the measures that have been in place since September 2015 remain largely unchanged. These controls, which were originally introduced to curb illegal migration and combat black market activities, focus on random checks and will only see an extension of their scope.
Travelers should prepare for possible waiting times that can be up to half an hour or longer during peak times. On the Austrian side, however, there are still no systematic checks when entering from Germany.
The stricter border controls are a targeted response to the pressing need to effectively combat unauthorized entries and smuggling activities. Nonetheless, there are significant concerns from the business sector regarding the possible consequences for goods and travel traffic. The Dutch logistics association “TLN” warns that even a one-hour delay can incur costs of up to 100 euros per truck driver—an encumbrance that can have serious impacts on transportation companies. Such delays could significantly disrupt the entire supply chain and lead to far-reaching economic damage. Nevertheless, strengthening public safety through these measures remains an undisputed top priority.
Border commuters, who cross the border daily for work, study, or school, are particularly affected.
Travelers should pay close attention to the validity of their travel documents and consider current traffic information as well as border waiting times. This information can be accessed, for example, through the Austrian Federal Company “ASFiNAG.”