As part of a worldwide rollout of a biometrics-backed visa regime, the European Union's Schengen States will launch a new system in India and neighbouring South Asian countries on 2 November 2015.The rule change, which impacts on Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri-Lanka, is part of the Visa Information System (VIS), the EU noted in a press statement.The EU has said that VIS aims to better protect applicants against identity theft and to prevent document fraud and so-called “visa shopping”.The changes mean citizens from these countries requesting a Schengen visa will have to appear in person in order to provide biometric data (fingerprints and digital photography). In a related statement, Greece's Hellenic Federation of Hoteliers warned on Monday about its concerns regarding new Schengen visa procedures for third countries applicants, despite anticipated increase in 2016 tourism forecast.Citing estimates by tourism market officials, the hoteliers opinion is that Greece may experience a significant decrease in visitors arrivals for this year, as well as for 2016.
Recent Articles
- Bumble data leaked to dark web site
- Vietnam grasps cybersecurity directive, Philippines drops ID verification plans
- UIDAI launches Aadhaar app, enables digital ID storage in Google Wallet
- De La Rue’s strategic Canadian deal to finally win British passports tender
- Meet with Goldman Sachs, Huawei, the European Commission, The World Bank and more!
Recent Video
- New non-profit trade association of HAND will standardise global talent ID
- No cards, no phones: J.P. Morgan’s biometric revolution in payments
- Anthony Vidiano on building the future of access management
- Charisma Check wins 2025 Start-Up Pitching Competition, advancing identity verification and background checks for dating app users
- How to protect one billion Amazon customers: Lessons from continuous risk assessments
