Source

2009/756/EC: Commission Decision of 9 October 2009 laying down specifications for the resolution and use of fingerprints for biometric identification and verification in the Visa Information System (notified under document C(2009) 7435)

Decision · 3 articles

Data as of 2026-07-04 · Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. · Read the official text ↗

Article 1

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The specifications relating to the resolution and use of fingerprints for biometric identification and verification in the Visa Information System shall be as set out in the Annex.

Article 2

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This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Estonia, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Poland, the Portuguese Republic, Romania, the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden.

Supplementary provisions

ANNEXSupplementary provisions

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ANNEX 1. Resolution of fingerprints The Central Visa Information System (CS-VIS) shall receive fingerprint images of ten fingers flat of a nominal resolution only of 500 dpi (with an acceptable deviation of +/– 5 dpi) with 256 grey levels. 2. Use of ten fingerprints for biometric identifications and searches CS-VIS shall perform biometric searches (biometric identifications) with ten fingers flat. However, when fingers are missing, these shall be identified accordingly as specified by the ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2000 standard ( 1 ) and the remaining fingers, if any, shall be used. 3. Use of four fingerprints for biometric verifications CS-VIS shall be able to perform biometric verifications for accessing data with four fingers flat. When available, fingerprints from the following fingers of either the right hand or the left hand shall be used: the index finger (NIST identification 2 or 7), middle finger (NIST identification 3 or 8), ring finger (NIST identification 4 or 9), little finger (NIST identification 5 or 10). For ergonomic, standardisation and visualisation purposes, fingerprints from the same hand shall be used, starting with the right hand. The finger-position shall be identified for each individual fingerprint image as specified by the ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2000 standard. When such finger-position identification is not possible or it proves to be erroneous, national systems may request verifications in CS-VIS involving the use of ‘permutations’ ( 2 ) . Missing or bandaged fingers shall always be identified as specified by the ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2000 standard and the VIS Interface Control Document. 4. Use of one or two fingerprints for biometric verifications Member States may decide to use one or two fingerprints flat for biometric verifications, instead of four fingerprints. The following fingers shall be used by default: (a) One finger: index finger (NIST identification 2 or 7), (b) Two fingers: index finger (NIST identification 2 or 7) and middle finger (NIST identification 3 or 8). In addition the following fingers may be used: (a) One finger: thumb (NIST identification 1 or 6) or middle finger (NIST identification 3 or 8), (b) Two fingers: (i) index finger (NIST identification 2 or 7) and ring finger (NIST identification 4 or 9) or (ii) middle finger (NIST identification 3 or 8) and ring finger (NIST identification 4 or 9). For ergonomic, standardisation and visualisation purposes, fingerprints from the same hand shall be used, starting with the right hand. The finger-position shall be identified for each individual fingerprint image as specified by the ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2000 standard. When such finger-position identification is not possible or it proves to be erroneous, national systems may request verifications in CS-VIS involving the use of ‘permutations’. Missing or bandaged fingers shall always be identified as specified by the ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2000 standard and the VIS Interface Control Document. ( 1 ) ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2000 Standard ‘Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint, Facial, Scar Mark & Tattoo (SMT) Information’, accessible on: http://www.itl.nist.gov/ANSIASD/sp500-245-a16.pdf ( 2 ) Permutations instruct CS-VIS to perform repetitive verification between the source fingerprint(s) (one, two, three or four) and all candidate fingerprints available (mostly ten) until either a positive verification takes place or all candidate fingerprints have been searched without producing a positive verification.

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