Schengen States shall collect biometric identifiers of the applicant comprising a photograph of him and his 10 fingerprints in accordance with the safeguards laid down in the Council of Europe’s Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
At the time of submission, the applicant shall be required to appear in person. At that time, the following biometric identifiers of the applicant shall be collected:
- a photograph, taken at the time of application, and
- his 10 fingerprints taken flat and collected digitally.
The following applicants shall be exempt from the requirement to give fingerprints:
- children under the age of 12;
- persons for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible. If the fingerprinting of fewer than 10 fingers is possible, the maximum number of fingerprints shall be taken. However, should the impossibility be temporary, the applicant shall be required to give the fingerprints at the following application.
- heads of State or government and members of a national government with accompanying spouses, and the members of their official delegation when they are invited by Schengen States’ governments or by international organisations for an official purpose
- sovereigns and other senior members of a royal family, when they are invited by Schengen States’ governments or by international organisations for an official purpose.