The European Commission’s live dashboard on temporary internal border controls confirms that France’s re-introduced checks at all land, sea and air borders will remain in force until 31 October 2026. Paris cites persistent jihadist threats, rising antisemitic attacks and violent smuggling networks around Calais as justification. The French measure—first applied in 2015 after the Paris terror attacks—now coincides with fresh controls by Italy (16 Sept–1 Oct) and Austria (from 16 Sept) triggered by migratory pressure via Ceuta and the Western Balkans. The overlap means road freight and employee travel across Belgium, Germany, Spain and Italy may face random police stops. Companies should budget extra time for cross-border assignments, especially for UK-based staff entering via the Channel Tunnel, where juxtaposed French controls remain strict. HR teams relocating personnel this autumn must ensure passports carry at least two blank pages and that residence permits are carried physically; digital copies are not accepted at ad-hoc checkpoints. Although the Schengen Code limits such controls, France argues that the upcoming G7 summit in Évian further heightens security risk. Employers planning group movements around that event should consider charter options or pre-clearance services. The Commission continues to monitor proportionality but is unlikely to contest France before the 31 October expiry, making a further six-month renewal plausible.
