As of November 4, temporary checks at internal borders are in effect in eight Schengen countries, so passengers should verify their travel documents. Seven states have already announced the extension of checks until 2027. This is reported by SchengenVisaInfo.
Border control in Schengen: countries and timelines in 2026–2027
This includes Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, and Sweden. These countries did not implement checks simultaneously on November 4: some controls have been in place for a long time, while governments are reporting their extension.
According to the published timelines, checks encompass the following directions:
-
Austria, until March 15, 2027: land and river borders with Slovakia, land borders with the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovenia.
-
Germany, until March 15, 2027: all nine land borders, including with Poland, the Czech Republic, France, and Austria.
-
Poland, until March 30, 2027: land borders with Germany and Lithuania.
-
France, until April 30, 2027: internal land, air, and sea borders.
-
Denmark, until May 11, 2027: land and sea borders with Germany.
-
Norway, until May 11, 2027: ports with ferry connections to other Schengen countries.
-
Sweden, until May 11, 2027: all internal borders, including air and sea.
-
Italy, until December 18, 2026: land border with Slovenia.
For Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, a new six-month period begins on November 12, 2026. Italy remains the only one in this eight that has not yet announced the continuation of control for 2027 as of the date of the announcement.
For Ukrainians traveling through Poland to Germany, this means the possibility of document checks already after entering the Schengen area. On this route, checks at the Polish border may affect the duration of car and bus trips.
Traveling in Schengen: what documents travelers need
Internal control does not mean border closure. Checks can be random; however, passengers may be asked to show documents even during a short trip to a neighboring country.
Citizens of non-EU countries need to have a valid passport, as well as a visa or residence permit if required for the specific trip. A driver's license does not replace a travel document.
When planning a route, it is important to consider not only the country but also the method of crossing the border. For example, the mentioned Norwegian control relates to ferry ports. French and Swedish measures also include arrivals by air from other Schengen countries.
Drivers, passengers of buses, trains, and ferries should allow extra time for transfers. The duration of possible delays depends on the specific crossing and the organization of checks; therefore, there is no universal additional time for all routes.
These measures should be distinguished from the EES entry and exit system. It relates to crossing external borders for short-term trips by citizens of non-EU countries, not the usual crossing between two Schengen states.