Introduction

• Pages: 5-5

Report on the VIS 5

1. Introduction

The Visa Information System (VIS) started operating in October 2011, and since February 2016 it has been

operational worldwide1. Since 1 December 2012, eu-LISA (the Agency) has been in charge of the operational

management and the further development of the central system.

The VIS is at the core of the Schengen area, connecting Member State2 consulates in non-EU countries and all

external border crossing points. It supports Member States` consular authorities in the manageme nt of

applications for short-stay visas to visit or to transit through the Schenge n Area. Than ks to its Biometric

Matching System (BMS) 挑 the subsystem responsible for biometric o perations 挑 the VIS allows Member State

borders authorities to identify and verify third-country nationals who travel to the EU. Furthermore, the VIS

supports the fight against fraud and facilitates checks within the territory of the Member States, assisting in the

identification of any person who may not or may no longer fulfil the conditions for entry to, stay in or residence

on the territory of the Member States. In addition, as ancillary objectives the VIS supports the asylum

applications process and contributes to the prevention of threats to internal security 3.

In managing data for borders, migration and security, the VIS is an integral part of the Justice and Home Affairs

(JHA) interoperable IT architecture that is under development. In May 2018, the Commission proposed4 a

revision of the VIS legal framework to better respond to changing security and migratory challenges and

improve management of the EU's external borders. The main objective of the revision proposal is to have a

stronger, more efficient and more secure common visa policy. The proposed changes to the VIS will ena ble

more thorough ba ckground checks on visa applicants, closure of security information gaps through better

information exchange and full interopera bility with other EU-wide databases. The proposal also foresees the

introduction of facial image search capability and the storage of more information such as long-stay visas and

residence permits. As part of interoperability, full interconnection between the VIS and the EES5, with

elements of data exchange and synchronisa tion, will be paramount. This will limit duplication of personal data

in accordance with the privacy by design approach

As it is responsible for the operational management and further development of EU large-scale IT systems in

the JHA area, the Agency is building up specialised technical expertise and has become a recognised player. The

technical expertise is particular relevant in supporting the co-legislators during the whole legislative process. At

the time of writing, these negotiations were still ongoing.

This report is published every 2 years and submitted to the EU institutions6 in line with Article 50(3) of Regulation

(EC) No 767/20087 and Article 17(3) of Council Decision 2008/633/JHA8. It details the technical functioning of the

VIS central system, providing an overview of operational management activities during the reporting period

(1 October 2017-30 September 2019). The report includes data provided by Member States on usage of the VIS9,

and the requirement for and use made of Article 4(2) of the VIS Decision.

1 Between October 2011 and February 2016, the VIS was deployed in phases in the Member States` consulates worldwide.

2 Member States in the current document refers to the Member States of the EU and Schengen Associated Countries which ar e connected to the VIS, unless

otherwise specified. Member States of the EU connected to the VIS are Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Gree ce, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia,

Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden. Schengen Associated Countries

connected to the VIS are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland . The EU Member States of Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Croatia are not yet

connected to the VIS.

3 Since 1 September 2013, the VIS has also be en accessible for consultation to Member States` designated authorities and to Europol as per Council Decision

2008/633/JHA, for the purposes of the prevention, detection and investigation of terrorist offences and of other serious criminal offences.

4 COM(2018) 302 final, 16.5.2018.

5 Regulation (EU) 2017/2226, OJ L 327, 9.12.2017

6 Previous reports are available on eu-LISA website https://www.eulisa.europa.eu/ our-publications/reports

7 OJ L 218, 13.8.2008, hereinafter VIS Regulation.

8 OJ L 218, 13.8.2008, hereinafter VIS Decision

9 As per Article 50(6) of the VIS Regulation and Article 17(5) of the VIS Decis ion. The latest contribution was received from Hungary on 23 July 2020.