What is the VIS database?
Definition
VIS database
VIS (Visa Information System) is the EU database that stores Schengen visa applicant data, including the biometric photo and fingerprints, for 59 months. Every consulate, border post and law-enforcement agency across all 27 Schengen states can query it during visa processing and entry checks.
Key facts
| Operator | European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems (eu-LISA). |
|---|---|
| Storage period | 59 months from the visa application date. |
| Data stored | Application form, photo, ten fingerprints, decision, biometric match flags. |
| Access | All 27 Schengen consulates, border control posts and authorised law-enforcement agencies. |
| First-time applicants | Must give fingerprints in person at the appointment. The fingerprints are reused for subsequent visa applications within 59 months. |
Why the VIS exists
The Visa Information System was created to prevent "visa shopping" — applying through a different Schengen country after a refusal from the first. When a consulate receives a new application, the VIS is queried to check whether the applicant has applied before, been refused, or already holds a valid visa under another identity.
How the VIS uses your photo
Your biometric photo and fingerprints become the reference data in the VIS for the next 59 months. At the next visa application, the consulate compares the new photo against the stored reference. A poor-quality photo at the first application creates a poor reference image, which can cause biometric mismatch flags on every subsequent application until the data expires.
What you can request from the VIS
Under EU data-protection law you can request a copy of the data the VIS holds about you, request correction of incorrect data, and request deletion in some circumstances. Requests go to the national authority of the Schengen state that processed your most recent application.
Frequently asked questions
Is the VIS the same as the SIS?
No. VIS = Visa Information System (visa applicant data). SIS = Schengen Information System (alerts about persons and objects of interest to law enforcement). They run on separate infrastructure and serve different purposes.
How long are my fingerprints stored in the VIS?
59 months from the application date. After that the data is automatically deleted. If you apply for another Schengen visa within the 59 months, the existing fingerprints are reused — you do not need to give them again.
Can I see my own photo in the VIS?
Yes, under the EU General Data Protection Regulation. Submit a written request to the national authority of the Schengen country where you applied. The response includes a copy of the stored photo and fingerprint metadata.