Which Schengen countries are reintroducing or maintaining border controls in 2026?

Reminder: Travel insurance is mandatory to obtain a Schengen visa

Written by the AXA Schengen team
Last update: 01/05/2026

Can we still travel freely within the Schengen Area?

While the Schengen area is, by definition, a zone of free movement of people between member States, more and more Schengen countries ave decided to reintroduce temporary internal border control.

What motivated this decision? How long will these controls be maintained? The AXA Team examines the situation and brings you some answers.

 

When can Schengen countries reintroduce border control?

The Schengen Borders Code (SBC) is the legal framework establishing the rules of management of the Schengen area borders. One of these rules specifies that a member State can temporarily reintroduce internal border control in case of threat to public policy or internal security.

This prerogative of the member States cannot be disputed by any European authority or other State. However, when border control is re-established, the country in question must notify simultaneously the European Parliament, the European Council, the European Commission, and all the Schengen countries.

4 situations in which internal border control can be reintroduced

The reintroduction of internal border control can occur in the following circumstances:

  1. Incidents or threats in connection with terrorism or organised crime.
  2. High-scale public health emergency.
  3. Massive and unauthorised movements of third-country nationals between Schengen States.
  4. Major or high-level international events.

A supervised and time-limited measure

The Schengen Borders Code stipulates that reintroducing border control must be a last resort measure used in exceptional circumstances.

Its scope and duration must be proportionate to the level of threat and restricted to what is absolutely necessary to contain it. If the threat persists, the measure can be extended following strict procedures but cannot be maintained longer than 2 years.
 

Measures adapted to each type of situation

The SBC outlines different types of situations including:

  • Foreseeable cases of serious threat to public policy or internal security:

The member State can re-establish border control for a duration of 30 days, renewable per periods of 30 days but no longer than 6 months. In exceptional circumstances, that period can be prolonged up to 2 years maximum. Other member States and the Commission must be notified at least four weeks before.

  • Unforeseeable threats demanding immediate action:

A member State can immediately and without prior notification reintroduce control at its borders for 1 month . This decision can be renewed for several periods but cannot exceed 3 months. Other member States and the Commission must be informed as soon as possible.

Did you know?

  • If the Commission considers that a threat could jeopardize the overall functioning of the Schengen area, it can recommend that one or several member States reintroduce their internal border checks.
  • Internal border control can also be re-established during major international events such as the G7 and G20 international forums, or sports events such as the European Football Championship and the Olympic Games.

 

Which Schengen border controls will be in place in 2026 and why?

In recent years, temporary internal border controls have increasingly been reintroduced in the Schengen area. This decision has been the consequence of exceptional circumstances such as the Covid pandemic between 2020 and 2022, the 2015 migrant crisis, and during the series of terrorist attacks that struck several Schengen member States (France, Belgium, Norway…).

In a tense international context combining general political instability, active war zones in the East (Ukraine) and South (Middle East and Africa) of Europe, the ensuing migration flows as well as safety issues, many European countries have decided to reintroduce border controls.

PRO-TIP: The following abbreviations indicate hereafter which borders are concerned: land (L), air (A) and sea (S). When nothing is mentioned, the measure is applied to all the different types of borders.

 

Border controls in Austria

Which borders? Czech Republic (L), Slovakia (L,), Hungary (L), Slovenia (L).
End date? June 15, 2026.
Why?

  • Threats associated with high levels of irregular migration.
  • Strain on the asylum reception system and basic services.
  • Ongoing war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine.
  • Security situation in the Middle East and intensifying threat from terrorist groups.

 

Border controls in Denmark

Which borders? Germany (L, S), but "may extend to all internal borders."
End date? May 11, 2026.
Why?

  • Serious threats to public policy and internal security due to possible sabotage actions from Russia.
  • Continuous threat of terrorism and organised crime in connection with the Israeli-Hamas conflict and group radicalisation which could lead to attacks on Jewish and Israeli targets.

 

Border controls in France

Which borders? All internal borders (Air and Sea borders)
Belgium (L), Germany (L), Luxembourg (L), Spain (L), Italy (L), Switzerland (L).
End date? April 30, 2026.
Why?

  • Persistent jihadist threats to public policy, internal security and public order and rise in antisemitic attacks.
  • Expanding criminal networks facilitating irregular migration and smuggling.
  • Irregular migration flows towards the Franco-British border, with risks of infiltration of radicalised individuals.
  • Rising violence among migrants in northern coastal areas (i.e., Dunkirk, Calais).

 

Border controls in Germany

Which borders? France (L), Luxembourg (L), Belgium (L), Netherlands (L), Denmark (L), Austria (L), Switzerland (L), Czechia (L), Poland (L).
End date? March 15, 2026.
Why?

  • Serious threats to public security and order due to high levels of irregular migration and migrant smuggling.
  • Strain on the asylum reception system.
  • Impact of the global security situation, including Russia's war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, on security and migration.

 

Border controls in Italy

Which borders? Slovenia (L)
End date? June 18, 2026.
Why?

  • High level of irregular migration, including a strong presence of criminal smuggling and trafficking networks.
  • Risks of terrorist infiltration through irregular migration flow, particularly along the Western Balkan route, due to the crises in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
  • Enhanced risks for public safety during the celebrations of the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 

Border controls in Norway

Which borders? All ports with ferry connections to the Schengen area.
End date? May 11, 2026.
Why?

  • Threats targeting the energy sector.
  • Risks of sabotage in connection with the war in Ukraine.
  • Measures to increase protection of infrastructures.

 

Border controls in the Netherlands

Which borders? Germany (L), Belgium (L) and intra-Schengen air borders.
End date? June 8, 2026.
Why?

  • Serious threat to public policy due to high levels of asylum applications, irregular migration, migrant smuggling and secondary movements.
  • Overburdening of the migration and asylum systems, particularly reception capacity.

 

Border controls in Poland

Which borders? Germany (L), Lithuania (L)
End date? April 4, 2026.
Why?

  • Irregular migration and migrant smuggling from Belarus at the Lithuanian-Polish border creating persistent migratory pressure.
  • Serious threat to public policy and internal security due to an increased number of illegal migrants on the Polish side of the German-Polish border.

 

Border controls in Slovenia

Which borders? Croatia (L), Hungary (L).
End date? June 21, 2026.
Why?

  • Threats to public policy and internal security due to the Winter Olympics in Italy.
  • High level of terrorist threats and organised crime.
  • Risk of terrorist infiltration through the migratory flow from the Western Balkans.
  • Hybrid threats from Russia and Belarus.
  • Instability due to Russian aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and Africa.

 

Border controls in Sweden

Which borders? All internal borders (L/A/S) and Denmark (L).
End date? May 11, 2026.
Why?

  • Serious threats to public policy and internal security stem from organised cross-border crime and other criminal activities.
  • Involvement of foreign state actors leveraging criminal gangs.
  • Persistent threats from violent Islamist groups and individuals.

 

Important!
Depending on the evolution of the risks and threats, these temporary reintroductions of border controls can be extended. If you are travelling to Europe, make sure to check what border controls are in place as additional verifications can lead to longer waiting time.

 

How are these border controls carried out?

The reintroduction of internal border control does not mean complete closure - as was the case during the Covid-19 pandemic - but a temporary suspension of free movement within the Schengen area.

These controls, which mainly aim at limiting illegal immigration and fighting the threat of terrorism, are random and non-systematic. They are carried out by law enforcement in case of suspected breach.

During these controls, all travellers must be able to present a valid ID document.

Border authorities then use the Schengen Information System (SIS) to check available data. They make sure no alerts have been issued against the traveller or that they have not been banned from entering the Area. They can also verify visa validity dates.

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FAQ

When was the Schengen area created?

Signed on June 14, 1985, the Schengen Agreement marked the birth of the widest zone of free movement in the World: the 4 million km2 Schengen area, home to 420 million people.

Do I need travel insurance to be allowed in the Schengen area?

Yes. Travel insurance is compulsory for Schengen visa applicants and highly recommended for other travellers for obvious reasons of safety and serenity.

What is considered a valid passport?

To be considered as valid, a passport must be issued within the last 10 years and remain valid 3 months after your date of departure from the Schengen area.