Switzerland Tightens Border Controls: What Changes for Travelers?

Switzerland’s parliament has backed a motion to increase border controls with neighboring Schengen countries in an effort to curb illegal migration and combat cross-border crime.

What’s Changing?
✔️ Authorities will tighten measures for people without residence permits or asylum applications.
✔️ Switzerland follows the lead of Germany, France, and Austria, which have already enforced strict border checks.
✔️ No systematic controls for all travelers – to prevent economic disruptions.

Next Steps:
✔️ After passing the upper house, the motion will now be reviewed by the Federal Cabinet.
✔️ The State Policy Commission also supports the initiative, emphasizing its importance for internal security.

How Other EU Countries Manage Borders
- Germany – controls all borders since September 2024; extended measures until September 15, 2025.
- Austria – border controls with Hungary and Slovenia until May 2025.
- France – border checks with all Schengen neighbors until April 2025.
- Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Italy, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Norway maintain checks until Q2 2025.

What This Means for Travelers?
- Expect additional checks at Swiss borders.
- Authorities will monitor undocumented individuals more strictly.
- Border wait times may increase due to tighter controls.

Switzerland follows Europe’s growing trend of border security measures, balancing safety with economic impact. While travel is still possible, stricter regulations may affect entry procedures and processing times.