Interior Federal Ministry
Germany Extends Land Border Controls Through March 2026
Germany's land border controls, initially introduced as a temporary exception in September 2024, have been extended beyond September 2025 and are now authorised through at least March 2026. This decision comes as part of the country's strategy to curb irregular immigration and enforce tougher migration policies under Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt.
The extended controls include the refusal of entry to most asylum seekers at the borders and intensified deportations, particularly targeting rejected asylum applicants with criminal records from Afghanistan and Syria. These measures were initially introduced by Nancy Faeser (SPD) in September 2024, but have been tightened since May 2025 by the conservative-led coalition.
Coordinated measures have also been observed in neighbouring countries like Poland. Deportation flights to Afghanistan and Syria have resumed, and this is part of the security-driven migration policy. The Schengen rules permit temporary internal border controls up to two years under certain threats, underpinning Germany’s legal rationale for these extended controls.
However, the search results do not provide explicit financial details or cost breakdowns linked to these border control operations. The available reports focus primarily on the policy decisions, legal and humanitarian controversies, and operational scope rather than budgetary specifics.
Clara Bünger, the interior expert of the Left Party, described the federal government's border controls as an "illegal border closure policy". She stated that the controls make it harder for asylum seekers to flee, cause traffic chaos in border regions, burden border commuters, and incur immense costs. Bünger demanded an immediate end to border controls.
Dobrindt announced a further extension of the controls last week. The Federal Ministry of the Interior reported a total of 493 people were rejected at the German land borders from 8 May to 4 August, despite having applied for asylum. Despite these controversial measures, the operational status remains an extended and ongoing border control regime through at least March 2026.
[1] Germany extends land border controls [2] German border controls extended [3] Germany's border controls: What you need to know [4] Germany's border controls: What the law says [5] Germany resumes deportation flights to Afghanistan and Syria
[1] This recent development sees Germany extending land border controls through March 2026, as part of a broader strategy to manage migration and curb irregular border crossings.
[2] The decision to German border controls extended beyond September 2025 has been driven by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, aiming to enforce harsher immigration policies and increase deportations.
[3] To better understand Germany's border controls, it's crucial to examine the legal rationale, operational scope, and political implications, including controversies surrounding their implementation and impact on human rights.
[4] When diving into Germany's border controls: What the law says, you will discover that these measures are supported by Schengen rules, allowing for temporary border controls in times of specific security threats.
[5] Additionally, resumption of deportation flights to Afghanistan and Syria is a key aspect of the ongoing border control regime, part of the wider security-driven migration policy that has intensified over time.
