Schengen Area: Temporary Internal Border Checks Continue Across Europe

[Editor2]

Several European countries continue to maintain temporary internal border controls within the Schengen Area, creating additional considerations for travelers moving between participating countries.

Although the Schengen system is designed to allow movement without routine internal border checks, temporary controls can be introduced for national security and other exceptional circumstances.

For travelers, these measures mean that identification checks may take place even when crossing borders between Schengen countries.

Current Border Control Situation​

Germany has extended internal border checks at its borders until March 2027.

Several other countries currently have temporary internal border controls in place through various dates between September and December 2026, including:

• Austria
• Denmark
• France
• Italy
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Sweden

Following a recent incident involving Ceuta, Spain and Italy have also introduced controls affecting arrivals from each other's territory, with the current measures expected to remain in place until September 2026.

The duration and scope of individual controls can vary between countries.

What Travelers Should Expect​

Travelers crossing affected Schengen borders may be asked to present identification documents and could be subject to more detailed checks.

Travelers should therefore carry appropriate identification and travel documents when moving between Schengen countries.

This is particularly important for visa-exempt travelers, who must continue to comply with the applicable Schengen stay limits.

Schengen Stay Limits Still Apply​

Temporary internal border controls do not change the underlying rules governing the length of stay for visa-exempt travelers.

Visa-exempt nationals should remain aware of the applicable 90-day limit within a 180-day period and maintain accurate records of their time spent in the Schengen Area.

Travelers who move frequently between Schengen countries should not assume that the absence of routine border controls means that their stay is not being monitored.

Why Are Internal Border Checks Allowed?​

The Schengen framework generally aims to eliminate internal border controls so that people and goods can move freely between participating countries.

However, temporary controls can be introduced in exceptional circumstances, including national security concerns.

Several European countries have used temporary internal border controls in different forms since 2015.

These measures can create delays at border crossings and may affect mobility within the European Single Market, but they remain available to governments as a temporary security measure.

Changes to the Schengen Border Framework​

An amended Schengen Border Code came into effect in mid-2024, introducing several changes to the rules governing external and internal borders.

The updated framework:

• Allows EU-wide travel restrictions in response to large-scale public health emergencies.
• Clarifies the procedures governing Member States' use of internal border controls.
• Provides Member States with greater authority to respond to the instrumentalization of migration.
• Allows certain measures to reduce the number or operating hours of border crossing points.
• Strengthens the ability to increase border surveillance.

These changes provide governments with additional tools to respond to security, migration, and public health concerns while maintaining the overall Schengen framework.

Impact on International Travelers and Employers​

For individuals traveling regularly across Europe, temporary border controls can create additional administrative and practical considerations.

Travelers should:

• Carry valid passports or identification documents.
• Keep evidence of their immigration status where relevant.
• Monitor their Schengen stay days.
• Allow additional time when crossing affected borders.
• Check current border control arrangements before important journeys.

Employers with internationally mobile employees should also consider potential delays when planning business travel, assignments, and cross-border meetings.

Outlook​

Temporary internal border controls are likely to remain an important feature of European travel while Member States continue to respond to security and migration-related concerns.

The measures do not eliminate the Schengen system or its underlying free-movement principles, but they can temporarily change how travelers experience movement between participating countries.

Because border control measures and their expiry dates can change, travelers should check the latest requirements before crossing affected borders and remain prepared to present identification documents when requested.

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Pros and Cons Summary​

Pros​

• Provides governments with additional tools to respond to security concerns.
• Allows targeted border checks without permanently ending Schengen free movement.
• Strengthens border surveillance capabilities.
• Provides clearer procedures for introducing temporary internal controls.
• Helps authorities respond to exceptional migration, security, or public health situations.

Cons​

• Can cause delays and disruption at internal Schengen borders.
• Makes cross-border travel less predictable.
• Travelers must carry identification even when crossing normally open Schengen borders.
• Frequent travelers need to pay closer attention to their Schengen stay limits.
• Businesses may face additional uncertainty when planning cross-border travel and assignments.

 

[petter]

This is a good example of where dual / multiple nationals need to think a bit more carefully about how they travel inside Schengen, even though the core rules haven’t changed.

Some general points for people with more than one nationality:

1. Dual nationality and multiple passports
If you’re a dual (or multiple) national, you may hold more than one valid passport. That’s fine in principle, but each state considers you its own national when you are on its territory and will usually expect you to comply with its rules on entry/exit and identification.

2. Which passport to use at the border
- External Schengen border: You normally present the passport that gives you the most favourable treatment (e.g. an EU/Schengen‑state passport, or a visa‑exempt passport).
- Internal Schengen border (when controls are in place): You can usually show any passport that is valid for you, but for EU citizens it’s generally best to use the EU/EEA/Swiss passport or ID card so you are clearly treated as an EU mover, not as a third‑country visitor subject to 90/180 rules.
- Be consistent: If you enter Schengen as, say, a Canadian (non‑EU) for immigration purposes, but later present a different passport at an internal check, you may have to explain your situation and how long you’ve been in the area.

3. Schengen stay limits and mixed travel
Temporary internal checks do not change the 90/180 rule for non‑EU visa‑exempt nationals.
- If you have both an EU nationality and a non‑EU nationality, your days in Schengen as an EU citizen aren’t counted against the 90/180 rule—but this assumes you are actually exercising rights as an EU citizen (i.e. entering and residing on that basis).
- Using a non‑EU passport to enter and then “switching” to EU status mid‑stay can be messy at the practical level. Keep travel history and documentation clear so it matches the basis on which you entered.

4. Citizenship evidence and documentation consistency
With more border checks inside Schengen, it’s sensible for dual nationals to carry:
- All relevant passports (not just the one you used to enter)
- Any residence permits, registration certificates, or family‑member cards, if applicable
- Evidence of EU citizenship if name or data differ between passports (e.g. a civil status document, change‑of‑name document)
Differences in names, birth dates, or places of birth across passports can cause questions. Try to keep biographical info aligned; where it isn’t, carry supporting documents.

5. Consular protection limitations
- Inside your own country of nationality, you usually cannot rely on consular help from your *other* country of nationality. So if you’re both Italian and Canadian, and something happens in Italy, Italian authorities will normally view you only as Italian.
- Within the EU, an EU citizen who lacks an embassy of their own state may sometimes ask another EU embassy for limited help, but this can be affected if you’re also a national of the country you’re in.
- During heightened border or security checks, local authorities will normally prioritize the nationality of the state you are in (or the one on the document you used to enter) over any others in terms of treatment.

6. Practical tips for dual / multiple nationals in today’s Schengen context
- Decide in advance on your “main” legal identity for a trip (e.g. “I’m travelling as a German/EU citizen”) and be consistent at all borders.
- Keep proof of entries/exits (stamps, boarding passes, tickets) to reconcile any questions about Schengen days or your immigration basis.
- If you hold a nationality of a Schengen/EU country that has reintroduced internal checks, carry that passport when transiting its territory, even if you entered the area on another passport.
- For children with multiple nationalities, ensure they travel with the same docs that were used to obtain any visas or residence rights related to the trip.

7. Country‑specific issues
Rules about loss or retention of nationality, mandatory use of a national passport, or whether you “must” enter/leave on that passport vary a lot by country and can change over time. Don’t assume that what one EU or Schengen country does is the rule for all.

For any question about:
- Whether you still hold a nationality
- Whether using a foreign passport could affect nationality status
- Obligations to use a particular passport when entering/leaving a specific country

you should check:
- The official immigration/foreign ministry or interior ministry website of the relevant country; and/or
- A qualified immigration or nationality lawyer in that country.

Those are the only places that can give you reliable, country‑specific legal advice about your situation.