Germany extends border controls with Czech Republic until March 2027

Germany is once again extending stationary border controls at all nine land borders, including the border with Czechia, until mid-March 2027. The German Ministry of the Interior justifies the move by citing the ongoing development at the European Union's external borders and the need to continue curbing irregular migration.

For travelers, this mainly means: at the border crossings between Czechia and Germany, spot checks on individuals may continue to occur, resulting in somewhat longer waiting times. This does not involve a border closure, but valid travel documents should be kept at hand.

Since when have controls been in place – and for how much longer?

Controls at the border with Czechia have already been in place since October 2023, introduced together with Poland and Switzerland. The border with Austria has been controlled since 2015, while the remaining German land borders (France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark) have been controlled since September 2024. With the current extension, all nine German land borders will now remain under increased surveillance at least until mid-March of next year.

What does this mean for travel planning?

Anyone who regularly commutes between Czechia and Germany, or crosses Czechia on the way south, should factor in some extra time for the border crossings between Czechia and Germany, especially on weekends and during holiday periods. On the Czech side, the vignette requirement on motorways and expressways also continues to apply, independent of the border controls.

Toll in Czechia

In Czechia, the vignette requirement applies to cars, cars with trailers, and motorhomes up to 3.5 t GVW (motorcycles are exempt). For vehicles over 3.5 t GVW, the distance-based toll applies instead, collected via a satellite-based on-board unit (OBU) on motorways, expressways, and designated first-class roads. There is no separate special toll in Czechia.

For those traveling to other countries in addition to Czechia, the Europamaut flat rate is often advantageous: for 12.80 euros per month, vignettes for all eight supported countries are covered, with no commitment and the option to cancel at any time.

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey!

For more information, please visit our overview page on the Czech vignette as well as the page Toll in Czechia. Also check whether the 2027 Czech vignette price remains stable. If you have any questions, you can reach us anytime by email.