Which European countries have reinstated border controls this year? 
 

Reminder: Travel insurance is mandatory to obtain a Schengen visa

Written by the AXA Schengen team
Last update: 20/08/2025

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, Schengen countries are increasingly choosing to reintroduce 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.

How can Schengen countries reintroduce border control?
 

According to ​​the Schengen Borders Code (SBC), which supervises the management of ​​the Schengen area borders, 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 simultaneously notify the European Parliament, the European Council, the European Commission, and all​​ the Schengen countries.

4 situations in which internal border control can be reintroduced
 

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 specifies 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 Schengen Borders Code distinguishes different types of situations, among which are: ​​​

  • 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, renewal per period of 30 days but no longer than 6 months. In exceptional circumstances, that period can be extended to a maximum of 2 years. Other member States and the Commission must be notified at least four weeks before.
  • Unforeseeable threats demanding immediate action: a member State can immediately reintroduce control at its borders for 10 days without prior notification. This decision can be renewed for 20-day periods maximum. The measure cannot be extended longer than 2 months. Other member States and the Commission must be informed without delay.

Did you know?

  • If the Commission considers that a threat could, without internal border control, jeopardize the overall functioning of the Schengen area, it can recommend that one or several state Members reintroduce their internal border control.
  • 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 countries have recently reintroduced border control?
 

According to the European Commission, internal border control has already been reintroduced temporarily in the Schengen area. This is due to 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, and the ensuing migration flows and 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? *October  15th 2025 and **November 11th  2025
Why?

  • Threats associated with high levels of irregular migration and migrant smuggling across Austria’s southern borders.
  • Strain on the asylum reception system and basic services
  • Ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
  • Security situation in the Middle East (and intensifying threat from Islamist extremism and terrorism).

Border controls in Denmark
 

Which borders? Germany (L, S), but “may extend to all internal borders.”
End date? November 11th, 2025.
Why?

  • Threats linked to terrorism and organised crime,
  • Espionage and sabotage attempts in connection with the war in Ukraine,
  • Impact of the conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Africa on migratory pressure, irregular entries and infiltration by radicalised individuals.

Border controls in France
 

Which borders? All internal borders (L, A, and S) with Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland.
End date? October 31st, 2025.
Why?

  • Persistent jihadist threats and rise in antisemitic attacks.
  • Expanding criminal networks linked to irregular migration and smuggling.
  • Irregular migration flows towards the Franco‑British border, with risks of radicalised individuals.
  • Increased 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?September 15th, 2025.
Why?

  • Serious threats to public security and order from 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? December 18th, 2025.
Why?

  • High level of irregular migration, including a strong presence of criminal smuggling and trafficking networks.
  • Risks of terrorist activities and infiltration through irregular migration flow, particularly along the Mediterranean Sea and the Balkans, due to the crises in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
  • Enhanced risks for public safety during the celebrations of the Universal Jubilee of the Catholic Church.

Border controls in Norway
 

Which borders? All ports with ferry connections to the Schengen area.
End date? November 11th, 2025.

Why?

  • Threats targeting the energy sector.
  • Risks of sabotage in connection with the war in Ukraine.
  • Increased protective measures of infrastructures.

Border controls in the Netherlands
 

Which borders? Germany (L, A), Belgium (L, A).
End date? December 8th, 2025.
Why?

  • High levels of asylum applications, irregular migration, and secondary movements.
  • Migrant smuggling.
  • Overburdening of the migration and asylum systems
  • Pressure on public services, including housing, health care, and education

Border controls in Poland


Which borders? Germany (L), Lithuania (L)
End date? October 14th, 2025
Why?

  • Continued persistent migratory pressure along the borders with the Republic of Lithuania and the Federal Republic of Germany

Border controls in Slovenia
 

Which borders? Croatia (L), Hungary (L).
End date? December 21st, 2025.
Why?

  • Hybrid threats from Russia and Belarus
  • Instability in the EU neighbourhood, including Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and instability following the fall of Assad’s regime in Syria
  • Rising organised crime in the Western Balkans
  • Overburdened asylum and migration system management

Border controls in Sweden
 

Which borders? All internal borders (L/A/S) and Denmark (L).
End date? November 11th, 2025.
Why?

  • Serious threats to public policy and internal security stem from organised cross‑border crime and terrorism.
  • Attacks have involved military‑grade explosives targeting foreign institutions and the public.
  • Foreign state actors have leveraged criminal gangs to conduct such attacks.
  • Persistent threats also come from violent Islamist groups and individuals.

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

How are the 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 against the threat of terrorism, are random and non-systematic. They are carried out by law enforcement in the case of suspected breach.

All travellers must be able to present a valid ID document. Border authorities check the data using the Schengen Information System (SIS), for example. They make sure no alerts have been issued against the holder or that they have not been banned from entering. They can also check, if necessary, the validity of the traveller’s visa.

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