Poland has announced that it will maintain border controls with neighboring Slovakia until January 2, 2024.
The extension comes as Poland aims to prevent irregular migration into the country.
Temporary Extension in Place
The Polish Border Guard stated that while inspections will continue at the border with Slovakia, they will only be conducted for those entering Poland.
“Temporary border controls on the Polish-Slovak border are extended until January 2, 2024. Inspections will continue to be carried out only in the direction of entering Poland,” the Border Guard said in a statement on social media platform X.
Poland initially reinstated border checks on October 4, continuously renewing them since over concerns about rising irregular migration.
Slovakia has become a key transit point for migrants largely from the Middle East and Afghanistan seeking to travel onward to Western Europe.
Crossing Rules and Exceptions
Under the extended border controls, travel between Poland and Slovakia will be allowed at eight designated border checkpoints.
The Polish Interior Ministry said checkpoints typically used by pedestrians will also allow vehicle crossing, with the exception of large buses and vans with more than seven passengers.
Citizens of the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association countries, as well as Switzerland, can still enter with valid ID cards or passports.
Travelers have been advised to carry relevant documentation when crossing.
Regional Response
Poland is not the only country in the region to extend border controls with Slovakia through early 2024.
Neighboring Czechia announced similar measures, with controls in place through January 3, 2024.
The Czech Interior Minister cited the lack of EU-wide policies addressing external border security and irregular migration flows as a reason that controls must be maintained on the internal Slovakia border.
The extensions highlight regional concerns that Slovakia’s border with Ukraine has become an increasingly popular way for migrants to enter the EU.
With no signs of the influx slowing in the near future, Poland and Czechia look set to keep controls in place for the foreseeable future.
No Need to Worry for Travelers
The extended border controls do not currently change visa requirements for EU visitors to Poland.
The country continues to be part of the Schengen Area, meaning EU citizens can enter without a visa.
In Spring 2025, travelers to Schengen countries, including Poland, will need to acquire an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) along with their valid passport to visit Schengen countries.
The ETIAS ensures that travelers can smoothly travel around EU member countries.
Broader Immigration Rules Stay the Same
Similarly, Poland’s tightening of the Slovakian border does not immediately impact EU immigration rules or visa processes.
Programs and visas for long-term residency, including for families, investors, digital nomads, and students, are not directly affected.
EU citizens looking to legally immigrate to or establish residency in Poland can still utilize existing channels and applications.
However, with border controls extended into 2024, applicants should closely monitor for any future changes.
Cracks in United Front on Migration
Poland’s extending border controls reflects ongoing challenges facing EU countries in developing a unified approach to rising irregular migration.
With countries like Poland and Czechia pushing forward unilateral measures, it calls into question commitments from all EU states to find centralized, cooperative solutions.
By extending controls on the Slovakian border, Poland’s actions could spur more countries to enact tighter immigration policies aimed at preventing illegal crossings into their territories.
This could lead to a fracturing of open borders that have been a hallmark of EU integration.
The border control extension highlights the pressure EU nations face with the bloc still struggling to establish consistent external border security and migration policies.
These issues will likely lead to continued debate and policy changes in the months ahead.