Information Supported Decision Making Short Stay Visa (KVV)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes an application for a Schengen visa use of data analysis. Data analysis is a process in which the data is processed in order to extract valuable information from it. BZ wants to make the process of a visa application more efficient and calls this information-supported decision-making.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes a fact sheet on this subject. In it, visa applicants, sponsors and guarantors can read what happens to their privacy-sensitive data. These are namely stored in a database: Foreign Affairs Analysis Environment (BAO) and removed from the BAO or anonymized after five years.
The text below is taken from the factsheet in its entirety:
Factsheet Information Supported Decision Making Short Stay Visa (KVV)
Information for applicants and referees
Do you want to come to the Netherlands for a short stay and are you required to have a visa? Or are you a sponsor or are you acting as a guarantor for someone who is going to apply for a visa? Then this information is for you.
Information Supported Decision Making
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BZ) is responsible for the decision on the visa application. In order to carry out this task as well and as quickly as possible, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs uses a method based on data analysis: Information Supported Decision Making. The data that BZ processes for this purpose is processed on the basis of its government task, namely deciding on a visa application.
More information
Information Supported Decision Making refers to the involvement of additional information by BZ to determine whether the visa application meets the conditions. This is information that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has in the context of the decision-making process and collects at its embassies, as well as information that it receives from Dutch government organizations such as the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Repatriation & Departure Service. This is, for example, information about you, as an applicant or as a sponsor, in relation to visas applied for in the past. BZ also uses profiles. The conditions for obtaining a visa are and remain the same for everyone. These conditions have been agreed between Schengen countries and laid down in the Visa Code. The information used only ensures that a decision can be made better and faster.
Database
The information is collected in a specially designed and secured database of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Affairs Analysis Environment (BAO). Personal data in this database will be removed from the BAO or anonymised after 5 years.
Information from the BAO database can be shared with competent authorities if necessary to facilitate the performance of public tasks in the field of border control, supervision and enforcement and return. This is done under strict conditions, within the applicable laws and regulations, of course also in the field of data protection.
Approach
Information Supported Decision Making works on the basis of a comparison of your application with the BAO. The data that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs uses for this is the data that you entered as an applicant, or if you act as a sponsor, the data that the applicant has entered about you. If there is a match between your information and information in the BAO, it will be determined, partly on the basis of this match, whether the application can be processed extra quickly or whether there is reason for, for example, an interview or an extra document check.
The final decision is not based solely on the information from the BAO. The Information Supported Decision Making supports the decision on an application. It is the consular officer who ultimately decides whether or not a visa will be issued. There is no automatic decision.
Your questions and rights
Questions about Information Supported Decision making and requests regarding access, correction and deletion of data can be directed to:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Directorate of Consular Affairs and Visa Policy (DCV)
P.O. Box 20061
2500 EB The Hague
Or send an e-mail to DCV-BAO@minbuza.nl
Please see our privacy statement for more information about it
exercise your rights and contact us.
