Biometric requirement for Schengen visas comes into force

#SCHENGEN visa applicants living in the UK have begun enrolling biometric details when applying for a visa, as part of an EU-mandated regulation.   

Biometric data comprising fingerprints and a facial photo must be submitted with visa applications at any of visa processing agent VFS Global’s four centres in the UK, in London, Manchester, Cardiff, and Edinburgh.

The regulation was introduced by Schengen member states in 2011, and is being implemented globally in a phased manner.

The biometric enrolment applies only to new applications from November 20, as existing Schengen visas are still valid until their individual expiry dates.

In the UK, biometric enrolment applies only to those nationalities that need a visa to travel to the Schengen countries. Once the biometric data is registered, it will remain valid for 59 months.  Children under the age of twelve will be exempted from biometric enrolment.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035609331@N01/4049999">Greek Schengen Visa</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">(license)