Visa Information System

- Published on
- Duration
- 4 Years
- Role
- Technical Project Lead
- Client
- eu-LISA
- Partners
- Accenture, Idemia, Atos

The Visa Information System (VIS) allows Schengen States to exchange visa data. VIS connects consulates in non-EU countries and all external border crossing points of Schengen States. It processes data and decisions relating to applications for short-stay visas to visit, or to transit through, the Schengen Area.
The system helps avoid ‘visa shopping’, supports documenting and prevents irregular migration. It can perform biometric matching, primarily of fingerprints, for identification and verification purposes and assists the authorities protecting the internal security of Member States.
The Visa Information System provides the following benefits:
- clearer and quicker procedures for travellers requiring a visa to enter the Schengen Area;
- security and protection for travellers using biometric technology, helping to ensure the identification of people and prevent identity theft;
- consular cooperation and consultation between national visa authorities;
- reduced risk of ‘visa shopping’ and fraud;
- identification of people who may not, or may no longer, fulfil the conditions to enter or stay in the Schengen Area;
- support for checks at the external borders and inside the Schengen Area Member States;
- support with the processing of asylum applications.
More information about the Visa Information System on the eu-LISA website and on the European Commission website.
Services Provided
To enable interoperability with the Entry Exit System (EES) and the Shared Biometric Matching Service (sBMS), a complete redesign of the VIS was required to comply with new functional requirements and more stringent non-functional requirements.
As part of this mission, we analysed, designed and delivered the new version of the VIS, using modern architecture and technologies. We also delivered a complete data migration (including the approach and the tools) to transition from the legacy systems to the new ones.