diff --git a/.github/workflows/maintainer_check.yml b/.github/workflows/maintainer_check.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..255d6bb79fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/maintainer_check.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+name: Maintainer file check
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - main
+      - collab-*
+      - v*-branch
+    paths:
+      - MAINTAINERS.yml
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+jobs:
+  assignment:
+    name: Check MAINTAINERS.yml changes
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out source code
+        uses: actions/checkout@11bd71901bbe5b1630ceea73d27597364c9af683 # v4.2.2
+
+      - name: Set up Python
+        uses: actions/setup-python@a26af69be951a213d495a4c3e4e4022e16d87065 # v5.6.0
+        with:
+          python-version: 3.12
+          cache: pip
+          cache-dependency-path: scripts/requirements-actions.txt
+
+      - name: Install Python packages
+        run: |
+          pip install -r scripts/requirements-actions.txt --require-hashes
+
+      - name: Fetch MAINTAINERS.yml from mainline
+        run: |
+          git fetch origin main
+          git show origin/main:MAINTAINERS.yml > mainline_MAINTAINERS.yml
+
+      - name: Check maintainer file changes
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          python  ./scripts/ci/check_maintainer_changes.py  \
+            --repo zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr-testing mainline_MAINTAINERS.yml MAINTAINERS.yml
diff --git a/MAINTAINERS.yml b/MAINTAINERS.yml
index e4559ac4ad9..0b72645aed5 100644
--- a/MAINTAINERS.yml
+++ b/MAINTAINERS.yml
@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ BeagleBoard Platforms:
     - con-pax
     - vaishnavachath
     - glneo
+    - foobar
   files:
     - boards/beagle/
   labels:
diff --git a/scripts/ci/check_maintainer_changes.py b/scripts/ci/check_maintainer_changes.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9c31f4248ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/ci/check_maintainer_changes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,220 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+# Copyright The Zephyr Project Contributors
+
+import argparse
+import os
+import sys
+
+import yaml
+from github import Github
+
+
+def load_areas(filename: str):
+    with open(filename) as f:
+        doc = yaml.safe_load(f)
+    return {
+        k: v for k, v in doc.items() if isinstance(v, dict) and ("files" in v or "files-regex" in v)
+    }
+
+
+def set_or_empty(d, key):
+    return set(d.get(key, []) or [])
+
+
+def check_github_access(usernames, repo_fullname, token):
+    """Check if each username has at least Triage access to the repo."""
+    gh = Github(token)
+    repo = gh.get_repo(repo_fullname)
+    missing_access = set()
+    for username in usernames:
+        try:
+            collab = repo.get_collaborator_permission(username)
+            # Permissions: admin, maintain, write, triage, read
+            if collab not in ("admin", "maintain", "write", "triage"):
+                missing_access.add(username)
+        except Exception:
+            missing_access.add(username)
+    return missing_access
+
+
+def compare_areas(old, new, repo_fullname=None, token=None):
+    old_areas = set(old.keys())
+    new_areas = set(new.keys())
+
+    added_areas = new_areas - old_areas
+    removed_areas = old_areas - new_areas
+    common_areas = old_areas & new_areas
+
+    all_added_maintainers = set()
+    all_added_collaborators = set()
+
+    print("=== Areas Added ===")
+    for area in sorted(added_areas):
+        print(f"+ {area}")
+        entry = new[area]
+        all_added_maintainers.update(set_or_empty(entry, "maintainers"))
+        all_added_collaborators.update(set_or_empty(entry, "collaborators"))
+
+    print("\n=== Areas Removed ===")
+    for area in sorted(removed_areas):
+        print(f"- {area}")
+
+    print("\n=== Area Changes ===")
+    for area in sorted(common_areas):
+        changes = []
+        old_entry = old[area]
+        new_entry = new[area]
+
+        # Compare maintainers
+        old_maint = set_or_empty(old_entry, "maintainers")
+        new_maint = set_or_empty(new_entry, "maintainers")
+        added_maint = new_maint - old_maint
+        removed_maint = old_maint - new_maint
+        if added_maint:
+            changes.append(f"  Maintainers added: {', '.join(sorted(added_maint))}")
+            all_added_maintainers.update(added_maint)
+        if removed_maint:
+            changes.append(f"  Maintainers removed: {', '.join(sorted(removed_maint))}")
+
+        # Compare collaborators
+        old_collab = set_or_empty(old_entry, "collaborators")
+        new_collab = set_or_empty(new_entry, "collaborators")
+        added_collab = new_collab - old_collab
+        removed_collab = old_collab - new_collab
+        if added_collab:
+            changes.append(f"  Collaborators added: {', '.join(sorted(added_collab))}")
+            all_added_collaborators.update(added_collab)
+        if removed_collab:
+            changes.append(f"  Collaborators removed: {', '.join(sorted(removed_collab))}")
+
+        # Compare status
+        old_status = old_entry.get("status")
+        new_status = new_entry.get("status")
+        if old_status != new_status:
+            changes.append(f"  Status changed: {old_status} -> {new_status}")
+
+        # Compare labels
+        old_labels = set_or_empty(old_entry, "labels")
+        new_labels = set_or_empty(new_entry, "labels")
+        added_labels = new_labels - old_labels
+        removed_labels = old_labels - new_labels
+        if added_labels:
+            changes.append(f"  Labels added: {', '.join(sorted(added_labels))}")
+        if removed_labels:
+            changes.append(f"  Labels removed: {', '.join(sorted(removed_labels))}")
+
+        # Compare files
+        old_files = set_or_empty(old_entry, "files")
+        new_files = set_or_empty(new_entry, "files")
+        added_files = new_files - old_files
+        removed_files = old_files - new_files
+        if added_files:
+            changes.append(f"  Files added: {', '.join(sorted(added_files))}")
+        if removed_files:
+            changes.append(f"  Files removed: {', '.join(sorted(removed_files))}")
+
+        # Compare files-regex
+        old_regex = set_or_empty(old_entry, "files-regex")
+        new_regex = set_or_empty(new_entry, "files-regex")
+        added_regex = new_regex - old_regex
+        removed_regex = old_regex - new_regex
+        if added_regex:
+            changes.append(f"  files-regex added: {', '.join(sorted(added_regex))}")
+        if removed_regex:
+            changes.append(f"  files-regex removed: {', '.join(sorted(removed_regex))}")
+
+        if changes:
+            print(f"* {area}")
+            for c in changes:
+                print(c)
+
+    print("\n=== Summary ===")
+    print(f"Total areas added: {len(added_areas)}")
+    print(f"Total maintainers added: {len(all_added_maintainers)}")
+    if all_added_maintainers:
+        print("  Added maintainers: " + ", ".join(sorted(all_added_maintainers)))
+    print(f"Total collaborators added: {len(all_added_collaborators)}")
+    if all_added_collaborators:
+        print("  Added collaborators: " + ", ".join(sorted(all_added_collaborators)))
+
+    # Check GitHub access if repo and token are provided
+
+    print("\n=== GitHub Access Check ===")
+    missing_maint = check_github_access(all_added_maintainers, repo_fullname, token)
+    missing_collab = check_github_access(all_added_collaborators, repo_fullname, token)
+    if missing_maint:
+        print("Maintainers without at least triage access:")
+        for u in sorted(missing_maint):
+            print(f"  - {u}")
+    if missing_collab:
+        print("Collaborators without at least triage access:")
+        for u in sorted(missing_collab):
+            print(f"  - {u}")
+    if not missing_maint and not missing_collab:
+        print("All added maintainers and collaborators have required access.")
+    else:
+        print("Some added maintainers or collaborators do not have sufficient access.")
+
+        # --- GitHub Actions inline annotation ---
+        # Try to find the line number in the new file for each missing user
+        def find_line_for_user(yaml_file, user_set):
+            """Return a dict of user -> line number in yaml_file for missing users."""
+            user_lines = {}
+            try:
+                with open(yaml_file) as f:
+                    lines = f.readlines()
+                for idx, line in enumerate(lines, 1):
+                    for user in user_set:
+                        if user in line:
+                            user_lines[user] = idx
+                return user_lines
+            except Exception:
+                return {}
+
+        all_missing_users = missing_maint | missing_collab
+        user_lines = find_line_for_user(args.new, all_missing_users)
+
+        for user, line in user_lines.items():
+            print(
+                f"::error file={args.new},line={line},title=User lacks access::"
+                f"{user} does not have needed to {repo_fullname}"
+            )
+
+        # For any missing users not found in the file, print a general error
+        for user in sorted(all_missing_users - set(user_lines)):
+            print(
+                f"::error title=User lacks access::{user} does not have needed "
+                f"access to {repo_fullname}"
+            )
+
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+
+def main():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description="Compare two MAINTAINERS.yml files and show changes in areas, "
+        "maintainers, collaborators, etc.",
+        allow_abbrev=False,
+    )
+    parser.add_argument("old", help="Old MAINTAINERS.yml file")
+    parser.add_argument("new", help="New MAINTAINERS.yml file")
+    parser.add_argument("--repo", help="GitHub repository in org/repo format for access check")
+    parser.add_argument("--token", help="GitHub token for API access (required for access check)")
+    global args
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    old_areas = load_areas(args.old)
+    new_areas = load_areas(args.new)
+    token = os.environ.get("GITHUB_TOKEN") or args.token
+
+    if not token or not args.repo:
+        print("GitHub token and repository are required for access check.")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    compare_areas(old_areas, new_areas, repo_fullname=args.repo, token=token)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/scripts/ci/twister_ignore.txt b/scripts/ci/twister_ignore.txt
index 846495d6ce6..9e5b417df53 100644
--- a/scripts/ci/twister_ignore.txt
+++ b/scripts/ci/twister_ignore.txt
@@ -55,3 +55,5 @@ scripts/make_bugs_pickle.py
 scripts/set_assignees.py
 scripts/gitlint/zephyr_commit_rules.py
 scripts/west_commands/runners/canopen_program.py
+scripts/ci/check_maintainer_changes.py
+.github/workflows/maintainer_check.yml