Schengen Member States to Fully Implement Entry/Exit System From April 10

Schengen Member States will, from April 10, 2026, fully implement the Entry/Exit System, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has notified the travelling public.

It follows the gradual roll-out of Regulation (EC) NO.2017/2226 of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union of November 30, 2017, establishing the Entry/Exit System (EES) in the Schengen Area.

The system rolled out on October 12, 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.

“This means the data collection system will be gradually introduced at border crossings, with full implementation expected by 10th April, 2026,” it said in a statement.

The Entry/Exit System is an automated IT system designed to replace manual passport stamping, improving border control processes and accelerating border crossings.

The system will record personal data, including biometric data (facial images and fingerprints), travel documents, and 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.

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 can travel throughout Europe like an EU citizen.
* Non-EU nationals travelling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer or for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes, or educational projects and au-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 exempt from EES registration under certain conditions.
* 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 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.
* People who are not required to cross external borders solely at border crossing points and during fixed opening hours.
* People holding a valid local border traffic permit.
* Crew members of passenger and goods trains on international connecting journeys.
* 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.

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