The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the gradual roll-out of a new European Union border management system that will affect Ghanaian travellers to the Schengen Area.
In a press release issued by the Ministry on Thursday, in Accra, it said the gradual roll-out of Regulation (EC) NO.2017/2226 of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union of 30th November, 2017 (OJ L2, 2017, item 327/20) establishes the Entry/Exit System (EES) in the Schengen Area.
“The EES, rolled out on 12th October, 2025, was introduced to register the entry and exit data of third-ENTRY/EXIT country (non-EU) nationals crossing the external borders of Member States, which means, the data collection system will be gradually introduced at border crossings, with full implementation expected by 10th April, 2026,” it said.
The press release stated that the Entry/Exit System is an automated IT system designed to replace manual passport stamping, improving border control processes, accelerating border crossings and recording personal data, including biometric data (facial images and fingerprints).
It will record travel documents, information on entry, exit, and possible refusal of entry for third-country nationals crossing the external borders of the Schengen area for short-stay purposes.
According to the release, the exact mode of implementation may, however, vary among Member States, depending on their operational and technical requirements and in line with the direction provided by Regulation (EU) 2025/1534.
“The EES, however, does not apply to the following categories of people as stated in Article 2(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/2226:
Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national, Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card or a residence permit and are immediately related to a non-EU national who can travel throughout Europe like an EU citizen.
Also, non-EU nationals travelling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer or for research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes, or educational projects and EU-pairing.
Holders of residence permits and long-stay visas, people exempt from border checks or who have been granted certain privileges with respect to border checks (such as heads of state, accredited diplomats, cross-border workers, etc.), however, Diplomats travelling on a short stay may be exempted from EES registration under certain conditions,” it noted.
The release further stated that, the exception from registration in the EES applies to members of the armed forces travelling on NATO or Partnership for Peace business, who hold an identification and individual or collective movement order provided for by the Agreement between the parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces and may apply to civilian component or dependents referred to in the NATO Status of Forces Agreement.
The exception applies to NATO International Civilians based in any of the 29 European countries using the EES and their dependents, and people who are not required to cross external borders solely at border crossing points and during fixed opening hours, and people holding a valid local border traffic permit.
Also, crew members of passenger and goods trains on international connecting journeys and people holding a valid Facilitated Rail Transit Document or valid Facilitated Transit Document, provided they travel by train and do not disembark anywhere within the territory of an EU Member State.
“Further details on the EES could be obtained online at: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees,” it added.
It said Ghanaian nationals travelling to the EU/Schengen area are to take note of the new system and comply accordingly.
Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran, ISD
