Border controls tightened: What travelers need to know now!

Border controls tightened: What travelers need to know now!

Freilassing, Deutschland - Since September 16, 2024, tightened controls have been in place again at the German national borders. These measures were introduced in response to the high numbers of unauthorized entry under the new Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt (CSU). In Bavaria in particular, the federal police have intensified their efforts, especially on the border with Austria. Fixed checkpoints, such as at the Saalach Bridge in Freilassing, serve to prevent illegal entry and increase security at the limits.

The controls on the A8 and A93 motorways often lead to traffic jams, especially at peak times. Drivers and rail travelers have to expect delays on weekends or suspicions. Commuters are advised to plan more time for their trips, since certain border crossings are susceptible to backlogs, with waiting times of 30 minutes and more. In addition to the Bavarian border, controls are also carried out at the borders to France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Poland and the Czech Republic, either stationary or sample -like.

Effectiveness of the controls

According to the 2024 annual balance sheet of the Bavarian border police, which was presented by Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder and Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann at the Oberaudorf border crossing, the measures have been remarkably affected. The number of unauthorized entry and re-entry on land and air borders fell to 2,385, which corresponds to a decline of almost 49% compared to 2023. The number of smugglers also decreased by almost 61% to 160 offenses.

However, the amount of secured drug has increased: in 2024 more than 680 kilograms of drugs were confiscated, two thirds of them marijuana. Interior Minister Herrmann noted that the legalization of cannabis may incorporate several people to trade drugs. In this context, the border police also processed 622 cases in the area of ​​property and asset offenses as well as 1,100 cases in the area of ​​weapons and explosive offenses, including numerous cases of complications of documents.

extension of the staff

In order to be able to better counter these challenges, the Bavarian border police will continue to increase. The unit currently has 900 civil servants, and an increase to 930 civil servants is planned for March 2024, with the aim of having a total of 1,500 civil servants available by 2028. Söder praised the structure of this unit since 2018 and emphasized that the decline in illegal migration was a success of the deterrent measures of the border guards. Herrmann added that there are high arrest and conviction risks for smugglers, especially at Bavarian borders.

In addition to the control measures, a valid ID must be presented in the Schengen area. Travelers without valid ID risk a rejection or a fine. For children, their own travel document is required to avoid possible delays. Free passenger transport applies both when entering Germany and departure, but controls can also lead to delays.

These new developments and measures show how important the protection of the boundaries is in the current time. This makes it clear that the authorities endeavor not only to stop illegal entry, but also to counter drug trafficking and other illegal activities.