The Visa Information System (VIS)

The Visa Information System (VIS) is a system for exchanging data on visas between Schengen countries. The main objectives of VIS are to simplify visa procedures, facilitate control at external borders, and increase security, including for the applicant.

Since October 11, 2011, Visa Information system for the Schengen Zone countries has been in force. Gradually, the Visa centers in the Schengen zone countries joined VIS.

The German representations in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Armenia joint the VIS central database on 14.11.2013. Hence, the Schengen Visa applicants have also had to submit their fingerprints.

VIS caused some changes:

  • the applicants have to attend the first application procedure personally in order to collect the biometric data: the applicant submits 10 fingerprints and one photo;
  • however, the fingerprints stored in the VIS database can be re-used, so personal attendance is not necessary for the following submission of the applications within five years;
  • in entering the Schengen zone countries, the border authorities can double-check the traveler’s identity via VIS.

The following categories of applicants are exempt from providing their fingerprints:

  • Children under 12 years of age
  • Those for whom fingerprint recording is physically impossible
  • Head of a state or government, members of a national government, including their spouse and members of their delegation, when officially invited by the governments of one of the member states or by an international organization
  • Applicants that have already provided fingerprints for Schengen visa application(s) in the last 59 months

Personal attendance is obligatory. Only the persons, whose fingerprints have already been proven by the German Embassy or other partners from the Schengen zone may not attend personally.