Modern technologies have allowed to become a notch above any control system, when it became possible to take biometric data. It began to be implemented in various access systems. For example, to safes, phones, confidential data. More recently, a mandatory fingerprint system was introduced to gain access to visits to other countries.
Fingerprint for a Schengen visa: why was it introduced?
Going abroad, many have to preoccupy themselves with getting permission to enter. Just at this moment, the need arises to carry out fingerprinting for a Schengen visa. Before you understand the rules for such a procedure, you need to understand why this is done.
More recently, under the auspices of the EU, a common system has been created, which collects all the information about the procedures for compulsory fingerprinting for a Schengen visa and about the permit documents themselves. Thanks to its introduction, the Schengen countries were able to exchange data on citizens receiving such permits.
Such systematization allows:
- accelerate and simplify the process of applying for visa documents;
- stop fraud in the field of its receipt;
- to prevent border crossing by persons whose presence in countries is not desirable or even prohibited;
- identify criminal individuals and terrorists;
- completely exclude the substitution of documents, as well as the use of visa documents by their owners.
Massively, the procedure began to be introduced back in 2011. Moreover, not all at once in all EU countries, but gradually. The first to enter the European Union were citizens of North Africa, after 3 years, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia. Russia joined the program since September 2015.
Fingerprint upon receipt of a Schengen visa. How do they do it?
The fingerprint procedure for a Schengen visa is carried out at the consulate or visa center of the country where the trip is planned. Moreover, regardless of the length of stay, biometrics are necessary only once every 5 years. This means that in a 5-year period a citizen can make as many trips as he wants, get as many permissions to enter various countries as possible, but he will do a fingerprint only on his first visit. Once this period has passed, the procedure will need to be repeated.
It does not take much time. This is no more than five minutes. You may not recall how such a procedure looks in judicial practice or in a movie on criminal investigation topics. In this case, fingerprinting is done using modern equipment. This is a small appliance, to which fingers are alternately applied in the following order:
- four fingers of one hand;
- four fingers of the other hand;
- 2 thumbs of both hands at once.
All. The data of the person applying for a visa is already in the system. After this, the traveler is also photographed, and a picture is taken - a scan of the retina. Crossing the border, you can notice the same equipment. Some citizens may be asked to repeat the procedure. In this case, the data obtained will be compared with those in the system.
Fingerprint Exemption
Despite the mandatory procedure, there are some categories of citizens exempted from such a need.
These include children under 12 years of age. They need only a digital photo. For children, there is another limitation. Their any biometric indicators, including photos, can be taken only in the presence of parents or guardians. This rule applies until adulthood.
People who have physical disabilities in the form of a complete lack of hands cannot be subjected to the procedure.
Heads of state, senior government officials with spouses, official delegations are also exempted from fingerprinting for a Schengen visa if they were officially invited. This category also includes people of royal blood.
Some features of the procedure
People with finger injuries should be aware that in their cases the procedure may be delayed until the skin defects are removed. In this case, they will be guided primarily by the degree and area of the affected skin.
If not all fingers are on the hand, the procedure will be carried out only with the existing ones. Such data are sent to the system marked with mutilation.
Sometime in the future, a biometric procedure will be carried out right at home. After all, there is already a mobile biometrics service. It costs a little more than usual, but allows you not to go to the consulate or visa center, if there are none nearby. So far, technically, such an opportunity is supported by no more than a dozen countries.