EU six months complicate the process of obtaining a Schengen visa – RBC

EU six months complicate the process of obtaining a Schengen visa – RBC

To be eligible for entry to the EU for citizens of Russia will have to be fingerprinted. In Brussels, argue that it is – a normal practice.

From April 2015 to obtain a Schengen visa for citizens of Russia will have to undergo the process of biometrics – to be fingerprinted. About this agency ITAR-TASS reported Tove Ernst, a spokesman for the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström.

The official claims that in April – the approximate date. More precise information from him yet, since the beginning of all the EU Member States should declare its readiness to start the system biometrics, and then a final decision will be the European Commission.

According to Ernst, renting fingerprints to obtain a Schengen visa not related to the EU sanctions against Russia. The system operates in various regions of the world – the Middle East, North Africa, South-East Asia.

In Brussels argue that the new system will simplify the work of the consular departments, since the biometric data will be kept for 5 years Strasbourg and will be copied when adding new visa applications. Access to them will only receive the consular officer, as well as the Ministry of Interior of EU Member States.

The Russian Foreign Ministry is also experimenting with biometrics. From 1 January next year to be fingerprinted to obtain permission to enter the Russian citizens have to Denmark, the UK, Myanmar and Namibia. If the experiment is successful, the practice spread to other countries.