Crossing from Poland into Kaliningrad takes up to 19 hours amid tighter customs checks

Drivers entering Russia's Kaliningrad region from Poland are facing waits of 18 to 19 hours, the regional customs press service has said. The queue has grown because Polish customs has stepped up vehicle inspections.

The worst delays are around the Mamonovo crossing point, where many of those waiting are Russian-speaking Germans heading to visit relatives in Russia. Polish officers occasionally pull cars into a deep-inspection bay, especially when they are loaded with belongings, and that can take several hours. Conditions at Bagrationovsk and at Chernyshevskoye on the Lithuanian border are comparatively easier.

The surge coincides with the start of summer school holidays in several German states, and many travellers have family in Russia. Kaliningrad customs says its own side is working as usual: all lanes are open at Mamonovo-2 and Chernyshevskoye, and clearance is running without delays. Officials suggest filling in customs declarations in advance to cut down time at the border; sample forms are displayed on information boards and on the Federal Customs Service website.

The customs service also noted that summer usually means more cars in both directions. On the Russian side, extra duty shifts are in place, with separate lanes for buses and tourist groups.