Most of the Tatras lie within the Slovak Republic. Only the northwestern one-fifth of the range stretches into Poland. The main ridge of the High Tatras (described by Pysne sedlo to Rysy peak, then to the Zabie peaks and finally the river Biela voda) forms the international border between Slovakia and Poland.

Several well-known passes and summits (Pysne sedlo, Tomanovske sedlo, Cervene vrchy, Kasprov vrch, Suche sedlo, Hladke sedlo, Rysy and the lower Bielovodska dolina) lie either directly on the frontier or very close to it.

Crossing this border is prohibited, for citizens of all countries. The border can be crossed only at customs/passport control stations. In the High Tatras the only such station is at Lysa Polana (Slovak and Polish citizens may also cross at Vojtasova Polana), and only with a valid passport.

The exception is the pass via Rysy -- passage here is permitted with a valid passport.

Under conditions of extreme weather, getting lost, avalanche warning or injury -- if it is necessary to cross into Poland, it is required to report this to Polish border control officers.

Note: on all tours in the Tatras, every visitor is required to carry passport or other identification.