In accordance with European Union regulations, the Visa Information System (VIS) will be put into operation at the embassies of the Czech Republic in Algiers, Rabat, Tunis and Cairo on 11 October 2011.

The VIS is a system facilitating the exchange of visa data between the European Union Member States. It enables the competent national authorities to electronically enter, amend and consult visa data, including biometric data.

Applicants for Schengen visas lodging their applications at the above embassies will be required to provide their biometric identifiers (photographs and fingerprints).

Additional details on the VIS are available on the European Commission website http://ec.europa.eu/vis.