Visa Information System-Ordinance (VISO)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Section 1 Responsibility, Aim and Structure of the
Art. 3 Responsibility
1 The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) is responsible for ORBIS. 2 It shall issue processing regulations, which in particular set out the measures required to guarantee data protection and data security.
Para. 1 — The name of this administrative unit was amended by Art. 16 para. 3 of the Publications O of 17 Nov. 2004 (AS 2004 4937), in force since 1 Jan. 2015. This amendment has been made throughout the text.
Art. 4 Aim
ORBIS has the following aims: a. to record and store the data on visa applications; b. to transmit the data recorded in application of the EU VIS Regulation to the C-VIS; c. to allow access to the C-VIS data.
let. b — See footnote to Art. 2 let. a.
Art. 5 Content and structure
1 ORBIS contains the data specified in Annex 2 relating to each admissible visa application. 2 The data recorded in ORBIS in application of the EU VIS Regulation are transmitted automatically to the C-VIS. 3 All modifications and deletions of data recorded in ORBIS in application of the EU VIS Regulation are transmitted automatically via ORBIS to the C-VIS.
Para. 2 — See footnote to Art. 2 let. a.
Section 2 Recording the Data and Transmission to t
Art. 5a Electronic visa applications for Schengen visas and temporary storage of data
1 In the case of applications for Schengen visas, the applicant may send the personal data required for the application to the visa authority electronically. 2 The fees may be paid electronically. 3 The data under paragraph 1 may be stored on servers of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) for a maximum of four months.
Art. 5a — Inserted by No II of the O of 2 Sept. 2015, in force since 1 Oct. 2015 (AS 2015 3047).
Art. 5b Data processing by external service providers
1 The applicant may send the personal data required for the visa application to an external service provider that has been assigned tasks in connection with the visa procedure. 2 The external service provider shall record the personal data in compliance with the provisions of Annex X of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 (Visa Code) and shall pass these on to the visa authority.
Art. 5b — Inserted by No II of the O of 2 Sept. 2015, in force since 1 Oct. 2015 (AS 2015 3047). Para. 2 — Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code), OJ L 243 of 15.9.2009, p. 1; last amended by Regulation (EC) 2024/1415, OJ L 024/1415, 22.05.2024. Para. 2 — Amended by No II 2 of the O of 7 June 2024, in force since 11 June 2024 (AS 2024 258).
Art. 6 Recording data in ORBIS by the visa authority
1 If a visa application is admissible under Article 19 of the Visa Code , the visa authorities shall record the data specified in Annex 2 in in ORBIS accordance with Articles 8–14 of the EU VIS Regulation; the data in Category I must be recorded first and thereafter, depending on the course of the procedure, the data in Categories II–VI. 2 If the application relates to a short-stay or airport transit visa, the data in Categories I–VI is transmitted to the C-VIS in accordance with Article 5 paragraph 2. 3 The visa authorities shall also record the data in Category VII listed in Annex 2. These data are not transmitted to the C-VIS.
Art. 6 — Amended by No II of the O of 2 Sept. 2015, in force since 1 Oct. 2015 (AS 2015 3047). Para. 1 — See footnote to Art. 5b para. 2. Para. 1 — Term in accordance with No I of the O of 5 April 2017, in force since 1 May 2017 (AS 2017 2551). This amendment has been made throughout the text. Para. 1 — See footnote to Art. 2 let. a. Para. 1 — Amended by No II of the O of 2 Sept. 2015, in force since 1 Oct. 2015 (AS 2015 3047). Para. 2 — Amended by Art. 69 para. 2 No 3 of the O of 15 Aug. 2018 o
Art. 7 Recording on behalf of another Schengen state
1 If a Swiss authority records the data on a visa application on behalf of another Schengen state, it shall enter the name of the state concerned into ORBIS. 2 If the authority under paragraph 1 issues, refuses, revokes, annuls or extends a visa, or if it does not continue the assessment of the application, the name of the state concerned is transmitted automatically to the C-VIS.
Art. 8 Owner the data transmitted to the C-VIS
1 Switzerland is the owner of the data entered by the Swiss visa authorities when recording a visa application and making a corresponding decision, which are transmitted to the C-VIS. 2 The visa authorities may copy the fingerprints in a C-VIS application data file and enter them in a new application data file. They become owner of the new data file compiled thereby.
Art. 9 Links between application data files
1 The visa authorities may establish or delete links between application data files where the applicant belongs to a group of travellers or to a family travelling together under Article 8 paragraph 4 of the EU VIS Regulation. 2 The Swiss authority recording the data of an application data file may link them with other data records relating to the same applicant in accordance with Article 8 paragraph 3 the EU VIS Regulation or the delete the corresponding links.
Para. 1 — See footnote to Art. 2 let. a.
Section 3 Online Access to ORBIS
(Art. 109c FNIA)
Art. 10
1 The following authorities have online access to the ORBIS data in order to fulfil the tasks assigned to them: a. at SEM: 1. the Residence Authorisation Section and the Identification and Security Checks Division: to fulfil their tasks in relation to visas, travel documents and identification, 2. the Asylum Division: to assess the applications for asylum, 3. the Registrar's Office: for archiving, 4. the Information Technology Section and the Statistics Service: to compile visa statistics, 5. the Employment Market Admission Section: to assess applications under the legislation on foreign nationals; b. the border posts of the cantonal police authorities and the Border Guard: to carry out checks on persons and to issue exceptional visas; c. the Swiss representations abroad and the Swiss Mission to the UN in Geneva: to assess visa applications; d. the State Secretariat, the Directorate of Political Affairs and the Consular Directorate of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA): t
Para. 1 let. a let. 1 — Amended by No I of the O of 27 Nov. 2024, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 715). Para. 1 let. e — Term in accordance with Annex No II 2 of the O of 17 Nov. 2021, in force since 1 Jan. 2022 (AS 2021 800). Para. 1 let. f let. 2 — Amended by No I of the O of 10 May 2023, in force since 15 June 2023 (AS 2023 246). Para. 1 let. f let. 2 — SR 361.0 Para. 1 let. f let. 7 — SR 955.0 Para. 1 let. g — Amended by No I of the O of 19 Feb. 2020, in force since 1 April 2020 (AS 2020