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Visa Information System (VIS)

 What is Visa Information System?


The main purpose of the Visa Information System (VIS) is improving the implementation of the common visa policy, consular cooperation and consultation between central visa authorities by facilitating the data exchange between Member States on visa applications and related decisions, in order to facilitate the visa application procedure, to prevent “visa shopping”, to facilitate the fight against fraud and to facilitate checks at external border crossing points and within the territory of the Member States. The VIS assists in the identification of any person who may not, or may no longer, fulfil the conditions for entry to, stay or residence on the territory of the Member States. The VIS also establishs the criteria and mechanism for determining the Member State responsible for examining an asylum application lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national and mechanism where visas for stays up to 90 days (so called “Schengen visas”), are requested.

Legal Framework


Visa Information System (VIS) was set up on 8 June 2004 by Council Decision 2004/512/EC establishing the Visa Information System. The aim and functions of the system are defined by Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 of the European parliament and the Council of 9 July 2008, concerning the Visa Information System (VIS) and the exchange of data between Member States on short-stay visa (VIS Regulation).


Which categories of information are processed in the VIS?


According to Art 5 of the VIS Regulation only the following categories of data shall be collected in the VIS:

  • Alphanumeric data on the applicant and on visas requested, issued, refused, erased, revoked or extended
  • Photographs
  • Fingerprint
  • Links to other applications

What are the rights of data subject?


Specific attention is paid to ensure and warrant the rights for individuals whose data are being processed in the VIS. It is important to guarantee certain rights of individuals who can exercise these rights in order to actively participate in protection of their rights and, thus, also their privacy. Any person shall have the right to obtain communication of the data relating to him recorded in the VIS and of the Member State, which transmitted them to the VIS. Such access to data may be granted only by the Member State. The Police of the Czech Republic is playing the role of personal data controller.


Right to access the data


Any person shall have the right to obtain communication of the data relating to him recorded in the VIS and of the Member State which transmitted them to the VIS. Such access to data may be granted only by the Member State that filled data into the system. The data subject in the Czech Republic has a right of direct access to their data. The data subject should exercise their rights in respect of the VIS related rights vis-a-vis the data controller, i.e., the Police of the Czech Republic.


Right to rectification or erasure


Everyone has the right to have factually inaccurate data (i.e. inaccurately entered) processed in the VIS concerning them rectified and any unlawfully stored data erased from the VIS. The rectification or erasure shall be carried out without delay by the Member State responsible.

How to proceed when exercising these rights in the Czech Republic?


The data subject has a right of direct access to his personal data. Any data subject shall primarily send a written request to the Police of the Czech Republic.

Contact details:

Police Presidium of the Czech Republic
P. O. Box 62/K-SOU
Strojnická 27
170 89 Praha 7
Czech Republic


ID DS: gs9ai55
epodatelna.policie@pcr.cz


Any data subject is entitled to send a written request to the Police of the Czech Republic asserting his right to information on and rectification or erasure of his data processed in the VIS. Information about the processing of personal data in the VIS is to be revealed only to the data subject concerned (or his representative). The request form must contain identification of the applicant – all first name/s, surname, date and place of birth, full address, and nationality. The data subject shall attach a copy of valid identity document and in the case of representation of the applicant a copy of the legal authorization. Exercise of the right of access is free of charge.


More information on the website of the Police of the Czech Republic.

It is recommended to use the contact forms:

Request concerning the processing of personal data in the Visa Information System (VIS)

!! The Office for Personal Data Protection brings to attention that it is neither competent for issuing any general statements concerning visa policy of the Czech Republic, nor can it provide any visa applications or appointments. For this purpose, please contact the competent consular or embassy office or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.


The Office for Personal Data Protection brings to attention that in exercising any data subject´s rights (access to data, information,  rectification or erasure  of data) with one of the controllers, i.e., the Police of the Czech Republic or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the applicant should always clearly state the correct and up-to-date return address. The data controller sends, with regard to protection of your data, written replies by registered post. If you state an incorrect or outdated address, the reply to your request will fail to be delivered. !!

Remedies

Any person shall have the right to bring an action or a complaint before the competent authorities or courts of that Member State which refused the right of access to or the right of rectification or erasure of data relating to them. The Member State responsible shall also provide the person concerned with information explaining the steps, which they can take if he does not accept the explanation provided. This shall include information on how to bring an action or a complaint before the competent authorities or courts of the respective Member State and on any assistance, including from The Office for Personal Data Protection.

When to contact the Office for Personal Data Protection?

The Office for Personal Data Protection is competent to supervision personal data processing within the national part of the VIS at the request of data subject in the cases there is a suspicion of an unlawful procedure or where the controller (the Police of the Czech Republic) has not provided a satisfactory response. That is why we recommend contacting the Office for Personal Data Protection only after the Police of the Czech Republic had already been asked for the information. If the data subject contacts the Office for Personal Data Protection first, the request will be forwarded to the controller (Police of the Czech Republic) which may lead to delays in processing their request.

It is recommended to use the contact form:

Complaint concerning the processing of personal data in the Visa Information System (VIS)

The Office for Personal Data Protection shall assist and advise the person concerned in exercising their right to rectify or erase data relating to them. The Office for Personal Data Protection is neither competent to issue short-term or long-term visas nor can it express its opinion on visa policy of the Czech Republic. For any visa information please directly contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic .