26 Schengen countries are going to introduce the Visa Information System (VIS) in India from November 2 as part of which applicants for short-term visas will have to provide biometric data by appearing in person at the consulates of the European states.
A European Union statement in this regard said that the move, which has already been introduced in Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, Turkey, Eastern Europe and East Asia among others, will help streamline visa applications and protect applicants against identity theft and visa shopping.
"Fingerprints are widely used within the EU as a secure means of identification. The use of biometric data for identification is a faster and more accurate way to identify a visa holder by border police," the statement said.
The biometric data include impressions of fingerprints and digital photographs. "The procedure for the collection of biometric identifiers is quick, simple and discreet," EU said.
Children aged below 12 years and persons for whom the collection of fingerprints is physically impossible have been "exempted from the obligation of fingerprinting".
It said in subsequent applications within 5 years, the biometric data will be copied thus facilitating "rapid examination and efficient processing" of visa applications of regular travellers.
There will be no changes for national long-stay visas or in other current procedures for short stay such as visa fee or forms.
