Travelers to Encounter Queues as France Reinstates Internal Border Checks

Key Takeaways

1. Travelers entering France from neighboring countries should expect delays when border checks are reinstated on November 1, 2024.
2. The countries most likely to experience significant impacts are Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and the UK.
3. France will maintain these internal border checks until April 20, 2025, as part of a strategy to enhance national security.

Starting November 1, 2024, travelers entering France through land borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy have been cautioned about potential longer waits due to the reintroduction of border controls. These checks will remain in effect until April 20, 2025, affecting France's neighboring nations the most.

French authorities have cited ongoing terrorist threats and concerns over irregular migration as the reasons for the renewed controls. France has informed the European Commission of the reimplementation of these measures, which it has been extending for nearly a decade since 2014, to counter security risks tied to criminal networks and unauthorized migration.

Stricter Rules Challenge Schengen Free Movement Principles

France, along with Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy, are all part of the Schengen Zone, where citizens typically enjoy free movement without border checks. However, due to concerns about irregular migration, several European nations have temporarily reintroduced border controls to bolster national security, thereby impacting the Schengen Zone's concept of unrestricted travel.

Germany, for example, initiated internal border checks on September 16, 2024, to manage migration challenges. According to the Schengen Border Code (SBC), internal border controls are permitted but should only be used as a last resort in exceptional circumstances.

UK Travelers to Face Added Delays

Although UK nationals already undergo border checks due to the UK's non-EU status, experts predict that France's upcoming border controls will add further complications for British travelers. Holidaymakers from the UK are advised to prepare for potential delays.

Paul Charles, the Chief Executive of The PC Agency, a travel consultancy, highlighted concerns about the impact on British travelers, suggesting that even spot checks will create uncertainty and delays. He warned that these measures could discourage travel and hinted that other Schengen countries might follow suit by imposing stricter border controls.