- The European Council has given its final approval to a regulation to improve the Visa Information System (VIS)
- Long term visas and residence permits will be included in the VIS database
- Enhanced background checks and border security thanks to an improved system
The European Union has approved reforms to improve the Visa Information System (VIS). The EU Council adopted the regulation on May 27 and final approval was given on July 7, 2021.
VIS is one of the systems involved in registering and checking people who apply for a visa or permit to enter the Schengen Area.
VIS has been operational since 2011 and has proved an effective security tool. The improvements will ensure VIS continues to offer Schengen residents and visitors a high level of security.
This article explains these changes to the Visa Information System regulation and general information about the database and how it works.
CHANGES TO VISA INFORMATION SYSTEM REGULATION
The approved regulation to amend the Visa Information System aims to:
- Make short-stay visa applications even more secure
- Add long-stay visas and residence permits to the VIS database
- Guarantee interoperability with other EU systems: Europol, ETIAS, EES, SIS, Eurodac, and ECRIS-TCN
A scanned copy of the biographical page of the travel document will now be included in the VIS database and there will be enhanced background checks.
In addition, the age at which fingerprints of children will be taken is being lowered from 12 to 6. This change will help find missing children and prevent child trafficking.
Eduard Cabrita, Minister for Home Affairs of Portugal, signalled the importance of updating VIS, stating:
“In recent years the EU has consistently worked to improve controls of those entering the Schengen area, through the adoption of the travel authorisation system (ETIAS), the entry/exit system and the interoperability of databases. The update to the VIS is the next step in this direction. The new rules will allow for better checks of visa applicants to identify those who may pose a security threat or risk abusing our migration rules.”
WHAT IS THE VISA INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR?
The Visa Information System is a database that facilitates visa procedures. Border, migration, and immigration authorities in EU member states use VIS for the reasons explained below.
VISA ISSUANCE AND BORDER CHECKS
Using VIS, border guards can check that the person presenting a visa to enter the Schengen Area is the rightful owner. They can also identify third-country nationals with fraudulent visas and prevent illegal EU border crossings.
Biometric information is a quick and efficient way to verify the identity of a visa holder. Fingerprints and a facial image are taken when applying for a visa and again when crossing the border.
PREVENTING VISA MALPRACTICES
Although the EU reports that most people follow the rules when applying for and travelling with a Schengen visa, malpractice does occur.
VIS helps prevent abuses and fraudulent activity such as visa shopping (see below).
PREVENTING IDENTITY THEFT
The Visa Information System protects travellers from identity theft.
By using biometric technology to verify the identity of a visa-holder, fraudsters cannot enter Europe using documents that do not belong to them.
DETECTING AND INVESTIGATING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
VIS is used by law enforcement agencies to help detect and prevent serious crime. VIS helps to keep Schengen residents and visitors safe from cross border criminal activity.
ASYLUM APPLICATION ASSISTANCE
Along with EURODAC, VIS is a useful tool when deciding which EU member state is responsible for an asylum application.
HOW DOES VIS WORK?
The Visa Information System confirms a travellers identity in 3 stages:
- The visa applicant’s 10 fingerprints and digital photo are taken
- Biometric data and application information stored on the central database
- At the external border, the visa holder’s fingerprints are compared against those in the database
If the fingerprints do not match, further checks will be carried out. Children under the age of 6 and individuals who are not physically able to provide prints are exempt.
WHICH EU COUNTRIES SHARE VISA INFORMATION?
All Schengen countries share visa information through VIS. Denmark has also chosen to implement VIS. The central VIS system is linked to national systems, allowing Schengen states to exchange data.
Sharing information regarding application decisions is particularly useful for preventing ‘visa shopping’. This is when foreigners make visa applications to other EU countries after their first request was denied.
Operational management of the visa information system under eu-LISA, the EU agency responsible for large-scale IT systems.
VIS AND ETIAS APPLICATIONS
Currently, VIS is used when assessing visa applications and checking the identity of visa holders.
From 2026 , VIS will also be involved in the ETIAS process. Visa-exempt third-country nationals will need to apply for ETIAS before visiting the Schengen Area.
The information provided on the ETIAS application form will be checked against data held in security databases, including VIS.
This way, only safe travellers will be granted visa-free access to the Schengen Area with ETIAS. The imminent improvements to VIS will make ETIAS even more effective and efficient once it is rolled out.
ACCESSING VIS AND DATA PROTECTION
Access to data stored in the VIS database is limited to the following groups of people:
- Competent visa authorities—to examine applications and decisions
- Border authorities—when carrying out checks at borders to verify identity and check the traveller meets requirements to enter, stay, or reside in the country
- Asylum authorities—only to determine which EU state is responsible for an asylum application
- National authorities and Europol—in specific cases only to prevent and investigate crime.
Authorised individuals may only access VIS data when necessary to carry out their tasks.
HOW LONG IS PERSONAL DATA STORED IN VIS?
Personal data is stored in the Visa Information System for 5 years, beginning on:
- The expiry date of the visa, or
- The date of a negative visa decision, or
- The date a decision was made to modify a visa.
As data is stored for 5 years, frequent travellers do not need to provide their prints each time they go to a Schengen nation.
People have the right to request that inaccurate information is corrected. Each member state has a National Supervisory Authority to ensure the lawful processing of data. There is also a European Data Protection Supervisor to oversee activity across the EU.
