Biometrics

All applicants applying for a Schengen visa have to undergo the procedure of providing biometric identifiers (fingerprints). According to this each applicant must appear in person at the visa application centers.

The biometric data will be taken only inside the diplomatic missions or visa centers of the Schengen states. The applicant biometrics will have a validity of five years for any subsequent visa application for entry in any Schengen country.

The following categories of applicants are exempt from providing the fingerprints:

1) Children under the age of 12;

2) Persons for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible (on medical grounds);

3) Heads of State or Government and members of a national Government with accompanying spouses, and members of a their official delegation when they are invited by Member States’ Governments or by international organizations for an official purpose.

4) Sovereigns and other senior members of a royal family, when they are invited by member states’ governments or by international organization’s for an official purpose.

All visas issued previously are valid until the date of expiry.

 
As of January 13th, 2025 when applying for national visas type D all applicants aged 12 and older must appear at Visa application center in person to provide their fingerprints. Please note that biometrics are not interchangeable with biometrics given for C visas. They will not be stored. This means that all visa D applicants will have to appear personally and they will have to provide biometrics every time they apply for a D visa or for a new C visa after a D visa.