Visa information system VIS: establishment, information exchange between Member States

PURPOSE : to establish a system for the exchange of visa data between Member States, referred to as 'the Visa Information System' (VIS).

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Decision 2004/512/EC establishing the Visa Information System (VIS)

CONTENT : This Regulation establishes the VIS, a system for the exchange of visa data between Member States, which will enable authorized national authorities to enter and update visa data and to consult these data electronically.

The Visa Information System will be based on a centralised architecture and consist of a central information system (CS-VIS), an interface in each Member State (NI-VIS) which will provide the connection to the relevant central national authority of the respective Member State, and the communication infrastructure between the Central Visa Information System and the National Interfaces.

The Central Visa Information System, the National Interface in each Member State, and the communication infrastructure between the Central Visa Information System and the National Interfaces will be developed by the Commission. The national infrastructures will be adapted and/or developed by the Member States.

The committee assisting the Commission will meet, as necessary, in two distinct formations depending on the agenda.

The Commission will submit a yearly progress report to the European Parliament and the Council concerning the development of the Central Visa Information System, the National Interface in each Member State, and the communication infrastructure between the Central Visa Information System and the National Interfaces, and for the first time by the end of the year after signing the contract for the development of the VIS.

ENTRY INTO FORCE : 05.07.2004.