Visa Information System to be launched by Greek embassies

The Visa Information System (VIS) is a system for the exchange of visa databetween Schengen States. The implementation of  the VIS is a key element of the common visa policy, which togetherwithotherpoliciesallowstheEuropeanUnion to establish an area of  freedom, security and justice.

ThemainobjectivesoftheVISaretofacilitatevisaapplicationprocedures,tofacilitatechecksatexternalbordersandtoenhancesecurity.The VIS facilitates the exchange of data between SchengenStates on visa applications in order to ease procedures, prevent“visa shopping” and assist in the fight against fraud.

Forthe purpose of the implementation of the VIS, consular postsand external border crossing points of the Schengen States willbe connected to the central VIS database. The VIS is progressively being rolled out in the different regions of the world, starting with North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia), the Near East (Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria) and the Gulf Region (Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, SaudiArabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen).

The VIS contains biographic and biometric data of personsapplying for a Schengen visa. Eventually it is expected to include approximately 80 million visa applications.