Border controls with Poland: travelers warned of high penalties!

Border controls with Poland: travelers warned of high penalties!

On Sunday, July 6, 2025, Polish police checks at the border crossing near Lubieszyn (Linken) caused confusion among drivers. Travelers were stopped by Polish authorities and had to show their identification documents. However, it is unclear whether the controls, which were officially announced from Monday, began at the weekend. The NDR reports on almost nationwide checks, while a spokesman for the Neubrandenburg police headquarters confirmed no such checks. According to German police, random checks in Poland on Sundays are considered “normal” and have been carried out there for years.

The federal government has extended border controls with Poland, among other things to counteract irregular migration. Poland plans to carry out its own controls on the border with Germany and Lithuania from Monday with the aim of reducing the “uncontrolled flow of migrants”. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk made this announcement after a cabinet meeting in Warsaw, stressing that this will have consequences for people's freedom of movement, such as ZDF today reported.

The effects of the controls

In the Schengen area, which includes both Germany and Poland, there are normally no fixed identity checks at internal borders. However, the federal government has now ordered controls at all German borders to combat irregular migration. The federal police have the authority to turn away asylum seekers, although this is legally controversial. The controls must be previously notified and approved by the EU Commission, while informal contacts between Polish authorities and the EU Commission indicate an imminent notification of the controls, such as daily news reported.

Drivers and travelers at the border can expect delays and waiting times. The Foreign Office warns that passports or ID cards must be carried at all times for all fellow travelers. In addition, aiding and abetting illegal entry and transit can be severely punished in Poland, with high prison sentences and fines, which is particularly important to take into account when taking unknown people with you.

Political reactions and concerns

Politically, the decision to introduce border controls has met with mixed reactions. While Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder shows understanding for the Polish measures, the SPD criticizes the controls as a setback for the free movement of people and goods in Europe. The Greens also blame Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt for the “domino effect” that was set in motion by stricter migration policies. Poland would be the 12th country to introduce such controls in the Schengen area, while Belgium also plans to introduce controls in the summer.

Developments on the border between Western Pomerania and Poland were nevertheless calm on Sunday. Demonstrators from Poland, who have been protesting against Germany's refugee policy for over a month, allowed drivers to pass unhindered. The German side reported no traffic jams or other undesirable effects at this time.

In the current situation, it is important to keep your eyes open and find out about the regulations before traveling in order to avoid possible difficulties at the border.