Poland has formally extended its temporary controls on the border with Germany and on its border with Lithuania through to March 2027, the Polish government confirmed in early September 2026. The controls - introduced in 2024 and renewed multiple times - allow Polish border guards to conduct selective document checks on travellers crossing those land borders.
What the Controls Mean in Practice
Despite the Schengen Area’s free-movement principle, EU member states can invoke a temporary reintroduction of border checks under Article 25 of the Schengen Borders Code for reasons of public security or significant threats at the internal border. Poland has cited irregular migration pressure as the basis for its controls on both borders.
For most travellers, the day-to-day effect is modest:
- EU/EEA passport holders can cross freely; checks are selective and brief
- Non-EU travellers should carry a valid passport at all times when crossing at the German or Lithuanian land border - a national ID card may not be accepted without additional documentation in all cases
- Road crossings: Delays are typically a few minutes unless a lane is subject to a more thorough check
- Rail crossings: Trains on the Warsaw–Berlin and Kraków–Berlin routes may experience short stops at the border; Polish and German border police board trains for selective document inspection
- Coach crossings: International coaches, particularly on Berlin–Warsaw and Hamburg–Gdańsk routes, are subject to the same selective checks
Which Borders Are Affected
The extended controls apply specifically to:
- The Poland–Germany land border (not airports or sea ports)
- The Poland–Lithuania land border (Ogrodniki/Lazdijai and Budzisko/Kalvarija crossings)
The Poland–Czech Republic and Poland–Slovakia borders are not currently subject to equivalent controls by the Polish side (though note that neighbouring countries may have their own measures in place).
Practical Advice for Travellers
If you’re entering Poland from Germany by train or coach, keep your passport in your carry-on rather than in the overhead luggage rack. Document checks are typically brief and professional, but needing to retrieve a document from a bag in the hold creates unnecessary friction.
For driving, the main crossing points between Germany and Poland (Frankfurt (Oder)/Słubice, Görlitz/Zgorzelec, Cottbus/Forst/Zasieki) remain open 24 hours; wait times are generally short outside peak holiday periods.
The majority of visitors to Poland - whether flying directly into Warsaw Chopin, Kraków’s John Paul II Airport, or Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa - are completely unaffected by land border controls. See our flights to Poland guide for current route options into Kraków and other major Polish cities.
Border delays that cause missed connections or require unplanned overnight stays are covered under most travel insurance for Poland policies - it’s worth having in place before you travel, particularly if using road or rail entry from Germany.