The Schengen Area, once synonymous with seamless travel across 27 European nations, continues to grapple with a patchwork of internal border controls in 2025. While the bloc’s founding principle of free movement remains intact, temporary checks—now a near-decade-long reality—persist in multiple countries, reflecting ongoing security, health, and migration challenges. Here’s what travelers and policymakers need to know about the current landscape.
As of April 2025, internal border controls are active in 11 Schengen countries, with varying expiration dates:
🔸Bulgaria, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia
These nations cite persistent concerns over irregular migration and cross-border crime. Italy and Slovenia, key transit routes for Mediterranean migration, have extended checks multiple times since the 2015 refugee crisis.
🔸Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden
Controls here focus on terrorism prevention and migration management. France and Germany, for instance, maintain checks ahead of major public events, including the 2025 Rugby World Cup in France.
🔸In a departure from security justifications, Slovakia introduced checks at its Austrian and Hungarian borders in April 2025 to curb the spread of foot and mouth disease, a highly contagious livestock virus. Set to expire in May 2025, these checks highlight how non-traditional threats can disrupt Schengen norms.
While the Schengen Area still enables passport-free travel in theory, reality demands preparation:
🔸Carry ID at all times: Border guards may conduct spot checks, particularly at road and rail crossings.
🔸Visa-exempt travelers: Track your 90-day limit within any 180-day period meticulously. Overstays could lead to fines or entry bans.
🔸Delays: Controls slow cross-border traffic, especially during peak seasons. Plan accordingly.
The Schengen Border Code strictly limits internal controls to temporary, necessity-driven measures. Yet since 2015—when migration surges prompted France and Germany to first reintroduce checks—the “temporary” label has stretched thin.
In mid-2024, an amended Schengen Border Code took effect, aiming to balance flexibility and unity:
🔸Public Health Emergencies: Allows EU-wide travel restrictions during crises (e.g., pandemics).
🔸Tighter Rules on Controls: Requires clearer evidence for extensions and encourages “alternative measures” like targeted policing.
🔸Border Infrastructure Adjustments: Permits reducing border crossings and boosting surveillance to combat migration “instrumentalization” (e.g., state-sponsored irregular flows).
Despite these reforms, critics argue the reforms normalize border controls, eroding trust in Schengen’s core ideals.
🔸Monitor Updates: Check official EU portals for real-time changes, but note updates may lag.
🔸Digital Readiness: Use apps like Schengen Calculator to track visa-free days.
🔸Flexible Planning: Allow extra time for cross-border travel, particularly in regions like Austria-Slovenia or France-Germany.
The Schengen Area’s survival hinges on balancing openness with resilience. As 2025 unfolds, its members face a pivotal choice: Will temporary controls become permanent fixtures, or can the bloc reclaim its founding vision? For now, travelers must navigate a fragmented—but still functional—system.
