Biometric Schengen Visa System Requires In-Person Appearance by Indian Nationals

India/Schengen Area

As of November 2, 2015, due to the implementation of the Visa Information System (VIS), Indian nationals in India seeking a short-term Schengen visa must make an appointment to appear at the respective Schengen country consular post to provide biometric data. Visits to Schengen consular posts in India may take longer than usual due to the implementation of the VIS.

Holders of Schengen visas issued prior to November 2, 2015, do not need to attend an appointment until they apply for a new visa. Appointments can be made on the online platforms of the respective Visa Facilitation Services office.

In most cases, data obtained during the appointment will be used on subsequent Schengen visa applications submitted in the next five years. There will be no other changes in other procedures such as visa fee or forms.

Background on Visa Information System

This change in process is part of a larger effort to connect all Schengen consular posts worldwide to the VIS – which is a Schengen-wide database of biometric information for short-stay visa holders traveling to Schengen member states - by the end of November 2015. The main objectives of the VIS are to facilitate visa application procedures at external borders, enhance security, and avoid visa fraud and visa shopping. India’s implementation of the VIS is part of the last few phases of the roll-out of the VIS.

What This Means for Foreign Nationals

Indian nationals in India planning to travel to a Schengen member state should schedule an appointment to submit their visa applications.

We worked closely with Fragomen Immigration Services India (Pvt.) Limited ("Fragomen-India") to prepare this alert. It is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].

Fragomen in India is Fragomen Immigration Services India (Pvt) Ltd., operating exclusively as an immigration consultancy and not as a law firm in India.

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