Information Supported Decision - Short-stay (Schengen) Visa (CDV)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The algorithm (classification model) supports in processing an application for a Short Stay Schengen Visa. This is called Information Supported Decision Making (IOB).

Last change on 11th of June 2024, at 13:28 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0

• Publication category: Impactful algorithms
• Impact assessment: DPIA, IAMA
• Status: In use

General information

Theme

• Organisation and business operations
• International

Begin date

2017

End date

--

Contact information

[e-mail]

Link to publication website

https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/binaries/content/assets/pdfs-nederlands/factsheet-informatie-ondersteund-beslissen-visum-kort-verblijf-kvv-maart-2023.pdf

Link to source registration

niet openbaar

Responsible use

Goal and impact

The algorithm is used to support the processing of Short Stay Visa applications within Schengen countries. In doing so, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BZ) implements the government task assigned to BZ.

The IOB contributes to the assessment process of short-stay Schengen visas for the purpose of promoting economic diplomacy, family visits and tourism and preventing any threats to public order, security and settlement.

The visa application is assessed using the following information: (1) information submitted by the applicant himself to BZ; (2) information from the sponsor and/or employer; (3) information from the migration chain (see under 'data sources'); and (4) information from profiles based on similar past applications.

The conditions for obtaining a visa are and will remain the same for everyone, regardless of previous applications or those for which a sponsor has stood as guarantor. These conditions have been agreed between Schengen countries and laid down in the EU Visa Code. The use of the algorithm is supportive for deciding on an application, but never a ground for refusing a visa. The impact of using the algorithm is therefore minimal.

Considerations

It is not possible for decision-makers to manually consult all the information relevant to the application. Thanks to the algorithm's treatment advice, they can handle applications more carefully and efficiently, they can better assess whether, for example, additional information is needed, or whether an additional interview should be conducted.

In addition, the handling of applications becomes more objective, as the treatment is no longer based solely on the decision officer's judgement, but is also supported by data.

Human intervention

It is and remains up to the decision-maker to decide what the next step in the application is and whether a visa is ultimately granted or refused. There is thus (meaningful) human intervention.

Risk management

Final decisions on an application are monitored by BZ. These decisions are compared with the supporting advice given by the algorithm. This monitors whether decision-makers do not 'blind' to the algorithm's treatment advice by automatically basing an approval or a rejection on it.

Legal basis

Performance of government task (Art. 6(1)(e) AVG, Art. 2(2) Kingdom Act)

Elaboration on impact assessments

IAMA is currently being implemented.

Impact assessment

• Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)
• Impact Assessment Mensenrechten en Algoritmes (IAMA)

Operations

Data

Support using the algorithm is provided in two ways: 1) the application is compared with the available data (from BZ and information received from the migration chain) and 2) the application is compared with similar applications from the past (using profiles).

The outcome of this comparison is an advice to the decision officer handling the application, and provides additional insight when estimating the intensity of the preliminary examination of the visa application.

The data used are the following: (1) information provided by the applicant himself from the application form submitted to BZ; (2) information from the sponsor and/or employer; (3) information from the migration chain (see under 'data sources); and (4) profile information based on similar past applications.

For a complete overview of data, see also the factsheet https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/binaries/content/assets/pdfs-nederlands/factsheet-informatie-ondersteund-beslissen-visum-kort-verblijf-kvv-maart-2023.pdf

Technical design

Comparison with the data present is done by means of the so-called hit/no hit principle. If there is information about the applicant, the sponsor or the employer in the BZ database, there is a hit. There is therefore a match between the information entered on the application form and the information known to BZ from the database.

In addition, the application is compared with the profiles present. Here too, the hit/no hit principle is used. Here, the characteristics of the profile are compared with the specific characteristics from the application form. For example, the purpose of travel and the place where the visa application was submitted. When there is a match between the characteristics from the profiles and the application form, there is a hit.

A profile is set of characteristics established after an analysis of historical data available at BZ. It is not a personal profile that says something about an individual, but about a similar (large) group of visa applicants. Profiles are established by BZ after careful analysis. For instance, profiles must meet various conditions before they are deployed by BZ.

The algorithm is classified as a classification system and works on the basis of predetermined simple 'if-then rules'.

External provider

Internally developed