VIS, Visa Information System : eu-LISA : supporting secure and hassle-free travel in the EU

The Visa Information System (VIS) allows countries that are part of the Schengen Area to share information on visas. It is a large-scale IT system that helps the EU's common visa policy and assists border checks and consular cooperation in Europe. The system allows national authorities to enter and view data, including fingerprints, for short-stay visas for the Schengen Area. The system helps avoid 'visa shopping' (when an individual applies for a visa in more than one country at a time), supports documenting and preventing irregular migration, and assists the authorities protecting the internal security of Member States.