Establishment of the visa information system (VIS) – Stage 1

SUMMARY OF:

Decision 2004/512/EC set up the visa information system (VIS) for sharing visa data between European Union (EU) Member States. This enables authorised national authorities to enter and update visa data and to consult these data electronically.
Regulation (EU) 2019/817 establishing a framework for interoperability between EU information systems in the field of borders and visas (see summary) amended the decision, updating the article concerning the system’s IT architecture.
Decision 2004/512/EC was repealed by Regulation (EU) 2021/1134. The relevant rules of the decision were integrated into the VIS regulation.

Architecture

The VIS is based on a centralised IT architecture. Since the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2019/817, it consists of:

the common identity repository central infrastructure, containing biographical and biometric data of non-EU nationals (set up under Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2019/817);
a central information system, referred to as the central visa information system (CS-VIS);
a national interface in each Member State, to provide the connection to the relevant central national authority of the respective Member State;
a communication infrastructure between the CS-VIS and the national interfaces;
a secure communication channel between the entry/exit system of the central system and the CS-VIS;
a secure communication infrastructure between the VIS central system and the central infrastructure of:
- the European search portal, which facilitates the fast, seamless, efficient, systematic and controlled access of Member State authorities and EU agencies to the EU information systems, to data from the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and to the Interpol databases (set up under Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2019/817);
- the common identity repository.

Development and adaptation of systems

The European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) is responsible for developing the:
- CS-VIS;
- national interface in each Member State;
- communication infrastructure between the CS-VIS and the national interfaces.
Member States are responsible for adapting their national infrastructures.

European Commission implementing powers

The Commission has the power to adopt implementing acts concerning matters such as:

the design of the physical IT architecture of the system;
the technical aspects that have a bearing on the protection of personal data;
the technical aspects that have serious financial implications for Member States’ budgets or serious technical implications for Member States’ national systems;
the development of security requirements, including biometric aspects.

Reports

The Commission submits a yearly progress report to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

Repeal

Decision 2004/512/EC is repealed by Regulation (EU) 2021/1134, pending VIS implementation.

It has applied since 5 July 2004.

For further information, see:

Council Decision 2004/512/EC of 8 June 2004 establishing the Visa Information System (VIS) (OJ L 213, 15.6.2004, pp. 5–7).

Successive amendments to Decision 2004/512/EC have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.