Ghanaians traveling to and from Russia have been advised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration about a planned biometric data collection initiative at Russian border points.

According to the Ministry, this initiative will be carried out in two phases, spanning from December 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026, targeting foreign nationals and stateless individuals entering the country.

The first phase, which has already commenced, is being implemented at specific locations, including Moscow’s Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Vnukovo airports, as well as the Mashtakovo road checkpoint in the Orenburg region.

A full-scale rollout is scheduled to take effect between June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2026, as indicated in a statement signed by Ms. Baaba Effirim-Williams, Director of the Information and Public Affairs Bureau."Diplomatic staff, employees of international organizations, holders of diplomatic and service passports, and foreign citizens under six years of age are exempt from the experiment," the Ministry noted.

The statement clarified that diplomats, personnel from international organizations, individuals with diplomatic and service passports, and children under six years old will not be subject to the biometric data collection.

The Ministry has encouraged Ghanaian travelers to keep these developments in mind when preparing for future visits to Russia.