Summer Border Checkpoints in Switzerland: An Overview of Potential Inspections
Headline: Anticipate Potential Delays at Switzerland's Borders Due to Enhanced Security Measures
As of July 2025, travelers crossing into Switzerland from its neighbouring countries - France, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein - may experience delays due to increased border controls and the implementation of new security measures.
Key Points
- Germany has reinstated border controls with Switzerland and other neighbours since September 2024, primarily to combat illegal migration and smuggling. These controls are expected to remain in place at least until mid-September 2025, potentially causing delays at border crossings with Switzerland.
- France maintains border checks with countries, including Switzerland, due to elevated terrorist threats and large mass events such as festivals and sports activities. These security checks can lead to delays at French-Swiss borders.
- Switzerland is reforming its immigration processes to centralize asylum decisions and improve screening, which could impact border processing speeds, particularly for asylum seekers or foreign workers.
- A new EU biometric border system (Entry/Exit System - EES) officially launches in October 2025. This system requires biometric registration for travelers on first entry, potentially causing longer waits initially at external Schengen borders. Since Switzerland is part of the Schengen Area, this biometric system rollout may affect border crossings with neighbouring EU countries, particularly Germany, France, Italy, and Austria.
- To mitigate delays from the biometric system, a pre-registration app called “Travel to Europe” is available for voluntary pre-registration of biometric data, which might ease border crossing times once implemented.
- The bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU continue to uphold free movement of people with EU countries, so controls are mainly temporary and security-driven rather than permanent restrictions on movement.
Additional Information
- There have not been any controls in place between Switzerland and Liechtenstein for decades.
- Countries in Europe, including Switzerland, have intensified controls at Schengen internal borders due to concerns about illegal migration and terrorist attacks.
- Plan for potential traffic slowdowns and bottlenecks when crossing any border.
- Always carry your ID card or passport when traveling.
Note
- The German government has stated that regarding traffic jams, there have been no changes since the reinstatement of border controls.
- Germany has reinstated border controls, causing headlines and queues.
- Switzerland has border controls with its neighbours.
Despite the potential for delays at Swiss borders due to enhanced security measures, integrating these travel experiences into your lifestyle can still provide fulfilling travel experiences. As you plan your journeys, factor in additional time for border crossings, especially when traveling through Germany and France where increased controls are in place.
