Federal Office for Migration
Introduction of the Visa Information System (VIS)
On 11 October 2011 the Schengen member states introduced the Visa Information System (VIS). The VIS is used to store the biometric data (10 fingerprints and the facial image) of the visa applicant.
Therefore, all Swiss diplomatic representations connected to the VIS capture the biometric data of persons applying for a Schengen visa. The Swiss diplomatic representations will be gradually connected to the system region by region according to the following timetable (as far as known):
| Date of connection |
Swiss diplomatic representations concerned |
| 11 October 2011 | Cairo, Tunis, Algiers, Rabat, Tripoli |
| 10 May 2012 | Amman, Beirut, Tel Aviv, Ramallah (Damascus currently closed) |
| 2 October 2012 | Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Tehran |
| 14 March 2013 | Abidjan, Accra, Abuja, Dakar, Yaoundé, Kinshasa |
| 6 june 2013 | Addis Ababa, Antananarivo, Kapstadt, Khartum, Nairobi, Pretoria |
| 9 september 2013 | South America |
| 14 november 2013 | CIS-Central Asia, Southeast Asia |
An information leaflet in different languages regarding the introduction of the VIS and the capturing of biometric data can be found below.
Last modification: 04.11.2011