This procedure involves reading biometric data from the passport of a citizen wishing to obtain a visa to visit EU countries.
Not all EU member states agreed to this innovation, as a sharp transition to biometric data would significantly reduce the flow of tourists from the CIS countries and Russia. Among those who advocated for a delay were mainly the Balkan countries, whose consulates lacked the necessary equipment and systems for capturing or transmitting biometric data. But this year, all technical problems have been resolved, and now Russian citizens must mandatory undergo scanning and provide fingerprint data to visit any EU country.
Accordingly, the need arose to describe the biometric procedure and all its nuances for Russians planning to vacation at European resorts this year.
Answers to questions in the article
This material will provide detailed answers to the following questions of interest to every Russian Schengen applicant:
• Why is a Schengen visa with biometrics needed?
• What necessitates the collection of fingerprint data for obtaining a visa?
• How to independently obtain a biometric Schengen visa;
• How to get a passport with the help of the Unified Visa Center of the Russian Federation?
Why is a biometric visa needed?
European officials claim that the introduction of biometrics and mandatory fingerprinting for its recipient is not a sanction for CIS citizens, but a procedure that all EU visitors must undergo to enhance the security of themselves and their personal and banking data.
Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States are far from the first to adopt biometrics; before them, the first on the list were North African countries, followed by Turkey and Kazakhstan, then Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, and after that China will follow.
The biometric data collection procedure consists of photographic scanning using a special algorithm, as well as fingerprinting with a special device. Every applicant must undergo this data collection, except for a few categories of citizens (persons with limited mobility and minors under a certain age). The information obtained as a result of the procedure is valid for 5 years.
Why do you need to provide fingerprints for a visa?
Europeans justify the need for fingerprinting with the following arguments:
• for better protection of the Schengen visa holder's personal data from encroachments by malefactors;
• to improve border control of the Schengen states commonwealth;
• to ensure the security of EU citizens and their visitors;
• to speed up the issuance of long-term visa permits, since biometric data is stored in a common database for 5 years;
• to eliminate customs errors that lead to denial of visas to namesakes and surnames of recipients due to coincidences.
Overall, if we do not focus on fingerprinting, which carries a negative connotation for many Russians, it can be said that due to this innovation, the traveler has more security guarantees than before.
Independent application
To independently obtain a biometric visa, you should proceed as follows:
• decide on the country you plan to visit;
• find the embassy of the required country and learn the rules for applying and submitting documents for a visa;
• submit the required list of documents, fill out the application form, and in some cases undergo an interview.
But it is worth remembering that the slightest mistake in the completed documents or incorrect actions when submitting them can lead to a refusal to grant a Schengen visa.
Application through the Unified Visa Center
On the website of the Unified Visa Center of the Russian Federation you can find any information of interest, a list of documents, as well as the procedure for submitting them for persons wishing to obtain a biometric visa to the required state. Also, from this center, you can order services for proper translation, preparation, and submission of documents for obtaining a visa to Schengen area countries. The latter option is most preferable for beginners who plan to visit the European Union for the first time. In addition, the center's services will help avoid loss of time and various bureaucratic delays, while reducing the likelihood of refusal.
PR