SIS

The Schengen Information System (SIS) is a large-scale IT system that supports public security and the exchange of information on people and objects between national law enforcement, border control, customs, visa and judicial authorities.

As people and goods can move in the Schengen Area without being checked at internal borders, SIS is used by security officials to help keep people safe and counter cross-border crime.

SIS supports authorities to ensure Europe’s internal security, while respecting data protection requirements.

After two years of intensive efforts, in the beginning of 2018 eu-LISA successfully launched the SIS Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) platform. SIS AFIS meets the demands of the European law enforcement community to have an advanced tool, at EU level, enabling the identification of persons of interest by their fingerprints alone.

The SIS reform package, the legislation for which was adopted in December 2018, has introduced technical and operational improvements to the system (such as the introduction of additional categories of alerts and the expansion of the list of objects for which alerts can be issued) in order to further strengthen the operational effectiveness and efficiency of SIS. eu-LISA, as the operational manager of the system, is driving forward such improvements, utilising its skills and capabilities to further advance Schengen cooperation.

• SIS Information Leaflet​
• SIS Statistics and Technical Reports
• Regulation (EU) 2018/1860 on the use of the Schengen Information System for the return of illegally staying third-country nationals
• Regulation (EU) 2018/1861 on the establishment, operation and use of the Schengen Information System (SIS) in the field of border checks
• Regulation (EU) 2018/1862 on the establishment, operation and use of the Schengen Information System (SIS) in the field of police cooperation and judicial cooperation in criminal matters
• Council Decision 2007/533/JHA of 12 June 2007 on the establishment, operation and use of the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II)
• Regulation (EC) No 1987/2006 of 20 December 2006 on the establishment, operation and use of the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II)

Read more about SIS II and eu-LISA's core activities on our Discover eu-LISA portal