Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer extends internal border control to include air and sea traffic within Europe
press release 18 March 2020
Entry restrictions on air and sea traffic from Italy, Spain, Austria, France, Luxembourg, Denmark and Switzerland are effective immediately
Following today’s decision by the Federal Cabinet, Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has extended temporary border control to include air and sea traffic within Europe, in order to further contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Border control at internal borders will be imposed immediately and will include flights from Italy, Spain, Austria, France, Luxembourg, Denmark and Switzerland. The same applies to sea traffic from Denmark.
For travellers who have no urgent reason to travel, immediate restrictions apply to these travel routes. Travellers who have an urgent reason to travel, and cross-border commuters, are required to provide proof of the necessity to cross the border.
The Federal Ministry of the Interior urges citizens not to travel unless it is absolutely essential.
The EU countries affected have already been informed. Notification of the temporary reintroduction of border control based on Article 28 of the Schengen Borders Code at internal borders is being sent to the European Commission and the home affairs ministers of all EU Member States.