The temporary reintroduction of checks at the EU’s internal borders means that inspections can be carried out when people want to cross the border. Travellers and commuters are therefore asked to have official identification (national ID card, passport) with them. This applies to all travel across the border.

The Federal Police will carry out checks at Germany’s borders as needed in the border regions. The extent, intensity, specific location and length of border checks depend among other things on how the situation develops and on the local traffic infrastructure. The checks may therefore vary between regions and over time.

The Federal Police will work with its partner agencies in Germany and abroad to ensure that the border checks have as little impact as possible on commuters, trade and travel.

In view of the migration and security policy challenges, the Federal Minister of the Interior and Community has decided that the temporary checks at Germany’s land border with Austria will go into effect for six months, starting 12 November 2023, based on Articles 25 and 27 of the Schengen Borders Code.

In view of the migration and security policy challenges, the Federal Minister of the Interior and Community has decided that the temporary checks at Germany’s land borders with the Republic of Poland, with the Czech Republic and with Switzerland, which went into effect on 16 October 2023, will continue beyond 25 October 2023 for an additional 20 days, based on Article 28 of the Schengen Borders Code.

During border checks too, nationals of non-EU countries who request protection will be taken to an initial reception centre to have their asylum case reviewed, and, if applicable, may be transferred to another EU member state in accordance with the Dublin Regulation.