French biometrics giant Morpho (Safran) has revealed that Lithuania has chosen its MorphoTOP fingerprint scanners to be used for visa applications at embassies throughout the world.Morpho will deliver 145 MorphoTOP optical fingerprint scanners under a contract with the Information Technology and Communications Department to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.Lithuanian embassies will use the terminals to process all visa requests. The devices will collect photos and fingerprints from all those requesting visas. This biometric data is stored in a secure database, and can be compared to previously stored data.The system is part of VIS (Visa Information System), a European project that allows Schengen countries to exchange visa data. Commissioned in October 2011, the VIS is designed to strengthen security at borders.Jacques van Zijp, Vice President of Morpho's Europe Business Unit (BU) in the Government Identity Solutions division, explained, “Morpho already has Lithuanian customers in the telecom and explosive/chemical detection systems sectors. But this is the first time the Lithuanian government has placed its trust in our identity management solutions”.The government's purchase of MorphoTOP terminals was partly financed by the European Commission's External Borders Fund (EBF).In January, Morpho signed a major deal with the United Arab Emirates which will see the firm deploy a range of multi-modal biometric technologies and systems at the emirates' major international airports.That contract includes the implementation of a fully integrated multi-biometric border control system, including the delivery of 96 e-Gates and 94 e-Counters, in five major airports across the UAE. Abu Dhabi airport will be the first, in spring 2015.

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