In Kazakhstan, in November, officials started the fingerprinting procedure. On 14 November of this year Kazakhstan citizens will have to be fingerprinted to obtain a Schengen visa. The press service of Germany reported to  Kapital.k Business kz. Portal. 

The report states that the visa information system (VIS) is intended for the exchange of visa data between States, parties to the Schengen agreement.

“The system is designed to optimize the procedure treatment for a visa and border control procedures for the benefit of citizens of countries outside the Schengen area. The system also enhances the protection of individuals with visa procedures”, the embassy noted.

VIS was commissioned on 11 October 2011. Visa offices of embassies, consulates of the Schengen sequentially joined it. In Kazakhstan, the consular offices of the states, the parties to the Schengen agreement will join the central database system VIS on 14 November of this year.

When you first apply for a visa, personal presence is required for the collection of biometric data – fingerprints and photographs of ten fingers. In subsequent statements to obtain a visa for five years, there is no need for personal presence of the applicant: one can use data stored in the database of VIS.

In this case, children under 12 years of age and those who did not seem possible fingerprinting because of physical limitations are exempt from fingerprints. Also, this procedure is not obliged for the Heads of State and Government, members of the national government, as well as their accompanying persons – spouses and members of official delegations.

Source: Kapital.kz Business Portal