ECOWAS to Require Acceptance of Biometric ID Cards at Regional Borders From 2027

November 10, 2026 | By Semahegn Nigatu

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has committed member states to accepting its National Biometric Identity Card as a valid travel document at all official border crossings across the region from January 1, 2027, in a move aimed at facilitating cross-border movement.

The commitment was adopted through the Freetown Declaration at the 10th Annual Meeting of ECOWAS Heads of Immigration, held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on November 3-4, 2026.

Under the declaration, a valid ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) issued by any member state must be accepted as sufficient proof of identity and Community citizenship, regardless of whether the issuing country has started its national rollout of the card.

The decision requires member states to establish the administrative and operational systems needed to recognise and verify biometric identity cards issued by other countries. This includes training and sensitising immigration officers, issuing clear border procedures and equipping border posts with appropriate verification systems.

The declaration also calls on member states to coordinate with their national identity authorities and submit implementation plans, including target dates, to the ECOWAS Commission by December 2030. It further urges governments to extend card coverage to border communities and nationals living abroad, keep issuance affordable and link the process to civil registration systems.

The commission has also been asked to finalise common technical specifications and establish a regional verification mechanism to support recognition of the cards across member states. It is expected to report annually on national implementation and acceptance at border crossings, mobilise resources and operationalise an existing monitoring and evaluation committee.

The meeting brought together immigration officials from across the regional bloc under the theme, “From Policy to Practice: Deepening Regional Integration through Harmonised Migration and Border Management in ECOWAS”.

Albert Siaw-Boateng, director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration at the ECOWAS Commission, said the effectiveness of the bloc’s free movement protocol depended on its implementation by member states.

Sharon Dimanche, chief of mission of the International Organization for Migration in Nigeria and ECOWAS, said regional integration should be measured by the improvements travellers experience at border crossings. She highlighted the importance of recognising travel documents, harmonising procedures and improving border services to facilitate legitimate movement while strengthening security.

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Morie Lengor, said modern border management should facilitate legitimate travel while preventing the movement of criminals. He also outlined proposed legislative reforms in Sierra Leone, including a new Immigration Service Act intended to incorporate the ECOWAS free movement regime into national law.

The Heads of Immigration agreed to review implementation of the Freetown Declaration at subsequent meetings.

Source: FSX Business News