Traveling Between The Czech Republic And Austria: Border Control Status

The Czech Republic and Austria share a 466.3km border that was established in 1918 after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Both countries are members of the European Union, with Austria supporting the Czech Republic's membership. In recent years, the two countries have worked together to combat illegal migration, with the Czech Republic announcing in 2023 that it would reintroduce random checks along its borders with Slovakia. Austria also extended border controls at its borders with Slovenia and Hungary. These measures were implemented to curb the significant increase in migration from Africa, Syria, and other places, with many migrants transiting through Czech or Austrian territory to reach Western Europe. In 2020, the Czech Republic also temporarily reintroduced border controls due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Border controls were abolished in June 2020, but police spot-checks remain

On June 5, 2020, the Czech government decided to amend and prolong the temporary reintroduction of internal border control. This decision was made in light of the positive epidemiological situation in the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany, and with consideration for mutual coordination with other EU/Schengen Member States. From that date onward, checks at the land borders with Austria and Germany were abolished, allowing people to cross at any point.

However, it's important to note that the police will still carry out spot-checks at the borders with both Austria and Germany within the Czech Republic. These spot-checks are conducted under the police's powers in the country. The Czech government has assured that these checks are not a form of border control but rather a necessary measure to ensure the safety and security of all citizens.

The spot-checks are conducted to monitor compliance with restrictions on the cross-border movement of persons, as set by the Ministry of Health. The police have the authority to conduct these checks flexibly, adjusting them as the situation develops. The Ministry of the Interior has kindly requested the understanding and cooperation of travellers during these spot-checks.

It is worth noting that the Czech Republic and Austria have a history of cooperative relations. Austria supported the Czech Republic's membership in the European Union, and both countries are members of the Schengen area, which was designed to be a borderless zone for the free movement of goods and people. However, since 2015, some states have reinstated border checks to control immigration better.

The Czech Republic and Austria have a shared history and border

The Czech Republic and Austria share a border that is approximately 466 kilometres long. The border begins at the tripoint where Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic meet and ends at the tripoint where Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia meet. The demarcation line crosses the Inn and Morava rivers.

The history of the two countries is also intertwined. From 1253 to 1276, they were united under the rule of Ottokar II of Bohemia. Later, along with Hungary, they formed a major European power under the Habsburg dynasty, which lasted from 1526 until 1918. During this period, the Czech lands developed as the industrial centre of the Monarchy, and hundreds of thousands of Bohemians migrated to Vienna to find work.

During the First World War, approximately 1.5 million Czechs fought in the Austro-Hungarian army. At the same time, exiled Czech politicians backed by military legions worked towards regaining the independence of Bohemia in the form of a Czech-Slovak union. After the war, the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed, and the Czechoslovak Republic was formed. The Paris Peace Conference of 1919 set the borders for the new nation, which comprised Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Slovakia, and Ruthenia.

In more recent times, the two countries have cooperated to combat illegal immigration. After the Czech Republic joined the European Union and the Schengen Area in 2004 and 2007, respectively, cross-border cooperation intensified. In 2020, due to the positive epidemiological situation in both countries, the Czech government decided to abolish checks at land borders with Austria and Germany, allowing free movement between the countries once again.

The border is 466.3km long, with numerous protected natural areas

The border between Austria and the Czech Republic is 466 kilometres long, with some sources giving a more specific length of 466.3 kilometres. This border was established in 1918, at the end of the First World War, with the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the creation of Czechoslovakia. During the Second World War, the region was annexed by Germany, becoming the protectorate of "Bohemia-Moravia", and the border became part of the "Iron Curtain" during the Cold War. The current Austro-Czech border was established on 31 December 1992, following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, and the independence of the Czech Republic on 1 January 1993.

The Austro-Czech border begins at the tripoint formed by the Austrian, German and Czech borders, and then turns towards the east, ending at the tripoint formed by the borders of Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The demarcation line crosses the rivers Inn and Morava. This border region is characterised by numerous protected natural areas that attract many visitors each year. Tourism is therefore considered a key factor in the region's development. The use of new technologies should increase the competitiveness of this sector and enable it to rival other popular destinations.

The Czech Republic and Austria have a long shared history. For the first time, they were united from 1253 until 1276 under the reign of Ottokar II of Bohemia. Together with Hungary, they formed a major European power under the Habsburg dynasty, which lasted from 1526 until 1918. Initially, a personal union, the monarchy was centralised in Vienna, and was increasingly seen as an obstacle to Czech and German national interests during the rise of nationalism in Central Europe in the second half of the 19th century. The Czechs demanded to be ruled by a government in Prague, their kingdom's capital, and as part of their strategy of passive resistance, they refused to participate in the political discussions and decisions of the Austrian Reichsrat, the parliament in Vienna representing all nations of the Austrian part of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.

Although the Czech lands developed as the industrial centre of the Monarchy, hundreds of thousands of Bohemians of poor personal living standards, mainly from agricultural areas of southern Moravia, moved to Vienna between 1870 and 1910 to work in low-wage jobs. Badly educated and with little German language skills, they were considered low-class by the Viennese, and "Böhm" or "Bem" (a person from Bohemia in the Viennese dialect) was used pejoratively in Austria well into the 20th century.

In more recent times, the Czech Republic and Austria have cooperated on border control. In 2020, the Czech government decided to amend and prolong the temporary reintroduction of internal border controls due to the positive epidemiological situation in the two countries and Germany. From 5 June 2020, checks at land borders were abolished, but police spot-checks were carried out. In November 2024, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia extended border controls to curb illegal migration. Austrian and Czech authorities are conducting random checks at their Slovak borders.

Border controls have been reintroduced to curb migration

Border controls have been reintroduced between Austria and the Czech Republic to curb migration. The two countries share a 466.3-kilometre border, which was first established in 1918 after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the creation of Czechoslovakia.

In recent years, this border has seen an influx of illegal immigrants travelling from Eastern Europe to Western Europe. In 2023, the Czech Republic announced it would reintroduce random checks along its border with Slovakia to stem the flow of illegal migrants. Austria simultaneously took similar steps, with the Interior Minister stating that the aim was to prevent smugglers from using alternative routes. These measures were coordinated with neighbouring countries, including Poland, which also implemented checks at its Slovakian border. The Czech Interior Minister, Vit Rakusan, asserted that these controls were necessary to combat human smuggling and would not significantly limit legitimate border crossings.

The reintroduction of border controls has caused some tension, with the Slovakian Prime Minister, Ludovit Odor, advocating for a Europe-wide solution to the migration issue. Despite this, Austria and the Czech Republic have continued to enforce random checks at their Slovakian borders, causing delays for individuals travelling between these countries. These checks are part of a broader trend of heightened border security in Central Europe, with Germany, Poland, and Slovakia also implementing temporary border controls and increased police patrols.

While the primary purpose of these measures is to curb illegal migration, they also impact travel within the Schengen Area. Travellers crossing borders in this region are advised to anticipate delays, carry the necessary documentation, and comply with instructions from local officials. These border controls have been extended multiple times, with some remaining in place until at least November 2024, and their effectiveness in addressing migration challenges continues to be evaluated by authorities.

The countries have a history of cross-border cooperation, especially between police forces

The Czech Republic and Austria share a 466.3-kilometre border that was established in 1918 after World War I and the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. During World War II, the region was annexed by Germany and became the protectorate of "Bohemia-Moravia". The demarcation remained unchanged, and the border became part of the "Iron Curtain" during the Cold War.

The Czech Republic's entry into the European Union and the Schengen Area in 2004 and 2007, respectively, intensified cross-border cooperation between the two countries, especially between their police forces. This cooperation was first established to address the issue of illegal immigration, as the Austro-Czech border was a crossing point for illegal immigrants travelling from Eastern Europe to Western Europe.

The Treaty on Good Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation of 1992 and the German-Czech Declaration on Mutual Relations and their Future Development of 1997 further strengthened the foundation for positive and intensive cross-border relations between the two countries. This was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the Federal Government's objective was to strengthen the integration of border regions and cross-border institutions, including cross-border transport, healthcare, and the labour market.

In February 2013, the Minister of the Interior of the Czech Republic, Jan Kubice, met with his German counterpart, Hans-Peter Friedrich, and other officials in Prague as part of the Hof Dialogue. The main achievement of this conference was an agreement to extend the current cooperation between the Czech and German police and customs officers by including judicial authorities. This meant that not only the detection and investigation but also the prosecution of border crime would now be coordinated. Joint Czech-German police patrols on both sides of the border were also established as a result of this dialogue.

In October 2023, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia extended border controls to combat illegal migration. Austrian and Czech authorities conducted random checks at their Slovak borders, causing delays for individuals crossing between these countries.

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