Schengen Internal Border Checks Extended: 8 Countries Keep Controls Until Late 2026

Editorial Team
2 days ago
4 min read

Updated: 20 hours ago

BRUSSELS, August 3, 2026 — Eight Schengen countries are maintaining internal border controls through September and December 2026, citing persistent threats from irregular migration, terrorism, and organized crime, according to the latest notifications from the European Commission.

The temporary measures—in place across Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Sweden—allow border guards to request identification documents and conduct detailed checks on travelers crossing internal Schengen borders.

Published: August 3, 2026 | By VisasUpdate.com Editorial Team

Schengen internal border checks August 2026 – infographic showing 8 countries with border controls, durations, and justifications including Italy's Ceuta-related controls until September 1 and Slovenia-related controls until December 18, 2026. — Eight Schengen countries maintain internal border checks through late 2026.

Current Border Controls at a Glance

Country	Duration	Scope	Primary Justification
Italy	01/08/2026 – 01/09/2026	Air & sea borders with Spain	Ceuta migrant crisis, risk of secondary movements
Italy	19/06/2026 – 18/12/2026	Land borders with Slovenia	Terrorist infiltration, Western Balkan route, irregular migration
Austria	16/06/2026 – 15/09/2026	Land borders with Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Slovenia	Balkan route irregular migration, asylum system strain
Netherlands	09/06/2026 – 30/09/2026	Land borders with Belgium & Germany; intra-Schengen air	High asylum applications, migrant smuggling, reception overburden
Norway	12/05/2026 – 11/11/2026	Ports with ferry connections to Schengen	Russian intelligence threats, energy sector sabotage
Sweden	12/05/2026 – 11/11/2026	All internal borders (land, air, sea)	Organized cross-border crime, violent Islamist groups
France	01/05/2026 – 31/10/2026	All internal borders (land, air, sea)	Jihadist threats, antisemitic attacks, migrant smuggling networks
Poland	05/04/2026 – 01/10/2026	Land borders with Germany & Lithuania	Persistent migratory pressure, public security threats
Germany	16/03/2026 – 15/09/2026	Land borders with France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Poland	High irregular migration, migrant smuggling, asylum system strain

What This Means for Travelers

Identification Requirements

Border guards may request identification documents and perform detailed checks on travelers crossing affected borders. Travelers should:

Carry valid passports or national ID cards at all times when crossing internal Schengen borders
Allow extra time for border crossings, especially at land borders during peak travel periods
Expect potential delays at airports for intra-Schengen flights

Schengen 90/180-Day Rule Remains in Effect

Visa-exempt nationals should remain mindful of their Schengen allowance days, as the limit for visa-exempt nationals to remain in Schengen countries is 90 days in any 180-day period. Border checks do not change this requirement.

Legal Framework: Temporary Border Controls Under Schengen Rules

Internal border controls are, in principle, not allowed within the Schengen Area as they delay traffic and hamper mobility within the European Single Market. They are nevertheless possible as temporary national security measures.

Under the Schengen Borders Code (SBC), Member States may temporarily reintroduce border control at internal borders in the event of a serious threat to public policy or internal security. The measure must be:

A measure of last resort
Limited in time and scope
Proportionate to the threat being addressed

Duration Limits

Legal Basis	Maximum Duration	Renewal
Foreseeable events (Article 25a 4-6)	6 months	Renewable for up to 6 months; max 2 years
Unforeseeable events (Article 25a 1-3)	1 month (initial)	Max 3 months total
Major exceptional situations	6 months	Beyond 2-year maximum

For controls lasting more than 6 months, the Member State must carry out and include a detailed risk assessment in every subsequent notification prolonging the control.

Background: The Return of Schengen Border Checks

Internal border controls have been in effect in various forms since late 2015 across several affected countries.

The Mid-2024 Schengen Border Code Amendment

In mid-2024, an amended Schengen Border Code came into effect which, among other things:

Enables the enforcement of travel restrictions across the EU during significant public health crises
Clarifies the rules and procedures regarding EU Member State use of internal border controls
Grants EU Member States greater authority to reduce the number (and operating hours) of border crossing points and increase border surveillance measures, as part of tackling the instrumentalization of immigration

Recent Developments

Italy's Response to the Ceuta Crisis

Italy's latest border control announcement—effective August 1, 2026—was prompted by the large-scale irregular entry of third-country nationals into Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city, posing a risk of further movements within the Schengen area. This measure concerns internal air and sea borders with Spain.

Long-Term Controls

Several countries have maintained border controls for extended periods:

Germany's controls at land borders have been in place since March 16, 2026
Poland's controls at the German and Lithuanian borders date from April 5, 2026
France's controls at all internal borders date from May 1, 2026

Quick Reference: Schengen Border Check Status

Category	Details
Affected Countries	Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden
Earliest End Date	September 1, 2026 (Italy's Ceuta-related controls)
Latest End Date	December 18, 2026 (Italy's Slovenia-related controls)
Legal Basis	Schengen Borders Code (Articles 25-28)
Travel Impact	ID checks, potential delays, no change to visa requirements