Lithuania Joins Other Nations as Germany Issues Updated Border Warning

(GERMANY) Germany has expanded its travel advisory to warn of tighter border security and fresh visa complications, adding Lithuania to a list of countries where travelers are facing increased checks when entering Germany and other Schengen states. The updated advisory, issued as of October 28, 2025, points to ongoing temporary border controls and cautions that holding a visa or a visa waiver does not guarantee admission at the frontier, a decision that remains with border officers.

The move reflects a broader tightening around Europe amid rising security concerns and shifting travel policies. Germany has kept temporary border checks in place at all land frontiers since September 2024, and those controls have been extended until at least March 15, 2026. This means people arriving from neighboring Schengen countries should be ready for inspections that have long been waived under the bloc’s usual open-border rules. Travelers are urged to carry passports and any required visas at all times, even on short crossings by train or car.

Berlin has also increased the police presence at border points since May 2025, saying it is responding to ongoing security risks, including the threat of terrorism. The stepped-up policing comes alongside the rollout of new European technology at the frontier. The European Entry/Exit System, known as EES, began operating on October 12, 2025, for all non-EU nationals entering or leaving the Schengen Area, including Germany and Lithuania. Under EES, non-EU travelers must register fingerprints and a facial image at the border. Authorities have warned that the setup phase and first-time enrollments may lead to longer queues and slower processing, especially during busy travel periods.

While some travelers have asked whether the new system changes visa rules, the advisory stresses that EES is a biometric entry/exit database rather than a new permit. It records when non-EU visitors enter and exit the Schengen Area and replaces passport stamps with electronic records. The aim is to improve border security and better track overstays. But Germany’s warning makes clear that even with a recorded entry and a visa, final admission is not automatic. Border officers can refuse entry if they find false information, discover a criminal record that raises security concerns, or identify a previous overstay. In serious cases, travelers may face detention or removal.

The advisory explicitly notes that Lithuania has joined the Netherlands, the UK, France, the UAE, and others as places where travelers headed to Germany and other Schengen countries are encountering increased scrutiny and evolving visa expectations. In practice, this could mean extra questions at check-in, more document checks at transit points, or closer inspection at land borders. For people accustomed to moving through Europe with few formalities, the new landscape may come as a surprise.

Germany says the tighter posture is part of a coordinated response with partners across Europe to ongoing security risks. Officials point to terrorist threats and a series of recent incidents involving arrests and deportations at frontiers. The elevated alert has been felt at major transit hubs and smaller crossings alike. Even travelers on intra-Schengen routes, where border posts had largely fallen silent in recent years, are now seeing officers board trains and buses to verify documents, a marked change from pre-2024 routines.

The advisory has practical consequences for anyone planning to enter Germany by air, rail, or road. The first is timing: travelers should expect delays at border points due to additional checks and EES registration. This is especially true for non-EU nationals who have not yet enrolled their fingerprints and facial image in the new system. For frequent visitors from outside the EU, initial delays should ease after the first registration, but Germany warns that processing can still slow during peak periods. Passengers with tight connections may need to allow extra time.

The second is documentation. While it might once have been routine to move between Schengen countries without thinking about paperwork, German authorities stress that the era of light checks is on hold. Travelers should carry passports and any required supporting documents, such as visas, proof of accommodation, or return tickets. Officials say having these documents ready speeds up screening and reduces the risk of being refused entry due to incomplete information. The travel advisory also reminds visitors that lying or omitting key facts can lead to arrest or deportation.

The third is staying informed. Conditions can change quickly, especially as countries adjust border security measures in response to new risks. Germany’s warning urges travelers to monitor official updates before departure and to be ready for short-notice changes in procedures. EES is now live, but another EU program commonly discussed with it, ETIAS—the European Travel Information and Authorisation System—has not started. According to the advisory, ETIAS is scheduled to launch in Q4 2026, and will require visa-exempt travelers to complete an online authorization before arriving. For now, ETIAS remains out of force, and people should be careful not to pay third-party firms that claim to provide early ETIAS approvals.

Germany’s emphasis on stronger border security also underscores the importance it places on preventing visa overstays. EES is designed to help authorities identify those who exceed the allowed time in the Schengen Area and to share data across member states more efficiently. The system may make it harder for people to overstay without detection, and it can prompt questions at the border if past travel patterns raise concerns. The advisory’s clear message is that the right to enter remains conditional and that travelers should be ready to explain their plans and show evidence of compliance with visa or waiver rules.

Lithuania’s inclusion in the list of countries noted in the advisory reflects growing attention on routes that pass through or connect with Eastern Europe. While the advisory does not single out any country for particular restrictions beyond the general measures that apply across Germany’s land borders, it signals that scrutiny is broadening rather than narrowing. The same is true for long-established partners like the Netherlands and France, as well as non-Schengen points of departure such as the UK and the UAE, where airline and ferry check-in staff may be more cautious when verifying documents for Germany-bound passengers.

In practical terms, Germany’s message to travelers is simple: be prepared for checks, and do not assume past experience will match current reality. Even for frequent visitors, new procedures at the frontier can introduce friction. For example, a non-EU business traveler landing in Germany from France might be asked to complete EES enrollment, answer questions about itinerary and accommodation, and present a return ticket. Road travelers can encounter mobile border patrols at former internal checkpoints, where officers may perform spot checks. Rail passengers may find transit slowed at key border stations as police verify identities.

The travel advisory suggests a heightened state of awareness, not just at formal border posts but also at public spaces near transport hubs. While most journeys will proceed as planned, Germany notes the broader security context and encourages vigilance. These reminders mirror alerts from other European countries that have reintroduced or extended temporary border controls in response to shifts in the security environment. The current extension in Germany until at least March 15, 2026, sets a clear timeline for travelers planning trips over the next year.

Policy watchers say the timing of these measures aligns with the rollout of EES and the lead-up to ETIAS, even though ETIAS itself is not yet in effect. Together, the systems are intended to make Europe’s external borders more secure and to give authorities better tools to assess risk. For travelers, the immediate impact is felt in queues and questions. The longer-term effect may be a more predictable, data-driven screening process, but for now, Germany is preparing its borders for a period of adjustment. For official details on how EES functions and who it applies to, travelers can consult the European Commission’s overview on the Entry/Exit System.

Because the advisory emphasizes discretion at the border, it also serves as a warning against complacency. Having a visa or waiver, a confirmed hotel booking, and a return ticket does not remove the need to answer questions or present documents. The advisory highlights that those with prior overstays, those who provide false information, or those with criminal records may face refusal of entry, detention, or removal. That message is aimed at deterring attempts to bypass rules, but it also informs ordinary travelers that border checks are now more thorough than they may remember.

Germany’s description of countries impacted is not a blacklist but a snapshot of where travelers are encountering closer checks or changes in visa practices. Lithuania’s addition to that list underscores the evolving nature of the advisory, which could be updated again as procedures change. The inclusion of partners like the Netherlands and France shows that these issues are not limited to Europe’s periphery. The mention of the UK and the UAE reflects their roles as major hubs funneling travelers to continental Europe, where pre-boarding checks can screen out people who lack proper documents or who face red flags in their travel history.

The national debate over border security often focuses on migration, but Germany’s advisory encompasses routine travel as well. Holidaymakers, students, and business visitors can all feel the effects of temporary border controls. For students, a late arrival to register with a university or employer could become more complicated if documents are not in order. For business travelers, a missed connection due to longer border processing can ripple through a schedule. Tourism flows may adjust slightly as travelers factor in extra time and, in some cases, different routing to avoid lines at peak hours.

For those planning trips in the coming months, the advice embedded in Germany’s notice is straightforward. Build in buffer time for border checks. Keep documents accessible and consistent. Watch for short-notice changes to procedures. And remain alert in crowded transit areas. Travelers who follow these steps are more likely to move smoothly through borders even as EES becomes standard and as Germany sustains its current posture. The advisory does not predict a return to pre-2024 norms before March 15, 2026, but it does offer a path to manage the new reality.

As the European Union moves through this period of transition, Germany’s stance sets the tone for a region balancing openness with caution. The continued use of temporary border controls at land frontiers, the expanded police presence since May 2025, and the live operation of EES since October 12, 2025, together mark a clear shift. ETIAS remains on the horizon for Q4 2026, and when it arrives, it will add another layer of pre-travel screening for visa-exempt visitors. Until then, Germany’s current advisory, which now includes Lithuania among affected routes, is the operative guide for passengers. VisaVerge.com, which tracks global travel changes, has noted similar patterns in recent months, underscoring how many countries are adjusting procedures at short notice.

The bottom line of Germany’s updated travel advisory is that the rules of entry are tighter, the technology is newer, and the checks are more regular. For now, the choice to maintain temporary border controls and focus on rigorous screening reflects a calculated effort to address security risks while keeping travel moving. Travelers who prepare for delays, carry the right documents, and follow official updates should still be able to make their journeys, even as Europe adapts to a different era of border security.