Checks at the German and Lithuanian Borders – Until When?

Poland and Germany are running temporary checks at internal Schengen borders. Which documents to carry, what the checks look like and how long they will last.

As of: 28 September 2026

Why there are patrols inside Schengen again

Poland, Germany and Lithuania belong to the Schengen area, where as a rule there are no checks at internal borders. The Schengen Borders Code does, however, allow a country to reintroduce border controls temporarily if it considers this necessary for internal security or public order. Every such reintroduction must be notified to the European Commission, which publishes a consolidated list of notifications – the most reliable place to check whether checks are in force, and until when.

Poland reintroduced checks at its borders with Germany and Lithuania on 7 July 2025. They were originally meant to last a month but have been extended several times. The government cites illegal migration – above all the route through Belarus and the Baltic states – and the fight against people smugglers as the reason. Germany runs its own checks independently: on the border with Poland, the German Federal Police have been checking arrivals since autumn 2023, and Germany currently maintains checks at all its land borders.

For drivers, this means that on the Poland–Germany route you may encounter two different checks: a Polish one when entering Poland and a German one when entering Germany. On the Lithuanian border, only the Polish side carries out checks – Lithuania has not notified the European Commission of any reintroduction of controls on that border.

How long the checks will last

The current period of Polish checks on the German and Lithuanian borders runs from 5 April to 1 October 2026. Poland has already notified the European Commission of a further period – from 2 October 2026 to 30 March 2027 – so in practice you should expect the checks to stay at least until spring 2027. The Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA) notes that they may be lifted earlier if the situation at the borders improves.

Germany has extended its checks at all land borders, including with Poland, for the period from 16 September 2026 to 15 March 2027. Both sets of dates come from the notifications – governments can shorten them or extend them again, so before a longer trip it’s worth checking the European Commission’s list or the Polish interior ministry’s website.

What the checks look like in practice

This is not a return to the old-style border clearance where every car stopped at a barrier. The checks are selective: the Straż Graniczna (Polish Border Guard), supported by the police and soldiers of the Territorial Defence Force, stops selected vehicles at designated points on roads crossing the border. Other drivers pass through, often after slowing down before a checkpoint where traffic narrows to a single lane.

If you are stopped, the officer will ask for the documents of everyone in the vehicle and may look in the boot. The check usually takes a few minutes. It takes longer for minibuses and coaches, because all passengers are checked, and when someone in the car doesn’t hold EU citizenship – officers then also check the basis for that person’s stay.

From a queuing point of view, the key thing is that disruption is localised. On our pages for crossings such as Świecko – Frankfurt (Oder), Kołbaskowo – Pomellen, Jędrzychowice – Ludwigsdorf and Zgorzelec – Görlitz, the typical waiting pattern across the week is fairly even – there is no day on which the checks regularly cause a jam lasting hours. A tailback can build suddenly, though, when an intensive check happens to be under way at a given spot and traffic is heavy, for example on a Friday afternoon or at the start of the summer holidays.

Which documents to carry

Everyone in the car, whatever their age, should carry a document proving their identity and citizenship. For Polish citizens, a valid ID card or passport is enough. Children also need their own document – they cannot travel “on a parent’s document”.

The Polish Border Guard explicitly reminds travellers that digital versions of documents, such as the mDowód (Polish mobile ID) in the mObywatel app, do not entitle you to cross the border. You can have as many as you like on your phone, but take the physical document to the border. A driving licence is not a travel document either.

Foreign nationals – including those who live in Poland – should carry a passport and a document entitling them to stay, such as a residence card or a visa. This also applies to Ukrainian citizens living in Poland: travelling requires a passport and a document confirming the right of residence.

During a check you may also be asked for the car’s documents – the registration certificate and proof of valid third-party liability insurance – so keep them to hand.

What happens if you don’t have a document

Not having a document can end your journey or delay it considerably. A Polish citizen cannot be barred from returning to Poland, but establishing the identity of someone without a document takes time. When entering Germany, the German police may refuse entry to anyone whose identity and right of entry cannot be confirmed, and can turn back a foreign national who lacks the required documents.

If a Polish citizen loses their ID card abroad, they should report it at the nearest Polish consulate, where they can obtain a temporary passport or information on how to get home.

German and Lithuanian crossings to watch

Most cars cross the German border on motorways: the A2 at Świecko, the A4 at Jędrzychowice, the A18 at Olszyna and the A6 at Kołbaskowo. On national and local roads traffic is lighter, so a check less often causes a jam, but a detour via a smaller crossing adds distance. You’ll find an overview of all crossings on the German border page.

On the Lithuanian border, the bulk of car and truck traffic uses the S61 expressway (Via Baltica) through Budzisko – Kalvarija. The alternative is Ogrodniki – Lazdijai. We show both crossings and the current situation on the Lithuanian border page.

How to plan your crossing

Carry a physical ID card or passport for everyone in the car, children included.
Before you set off, check the current waiting time at your chosen crossing and the neighbouring ones – if the motorway is jammed, a detour may pay off.
When entering Poland, slow down before the checkpoint and follow the officers’ instructions; being stopped for a check doesn’t mean you’re under suspicion.
If you’re carrying passengers without EU citizenship, make sure they have passports and residence documents – they are the most common reason a check takes longer.
On a coach, expect the check to cover all passengers and possibly take several dozen minutes.

We show estimated waiting times at the German and Lithuanian borders based on traffic data, border-service information and history from the last 60 days. With selective checks, the actual time may differ from the estimate more than at the EU’s external border, because it depends on whether a check happens to be under way at that moment. Treat our figures as a guide and check the Polish Border Guard’s announcements before you set off.