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

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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

Last change on 23rd of February 2026, at 16:42 (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.netherlandsworldwide.nl/binaries/content/assets/pdfs-engels/factsheet-information-supported-decision-making-032025.pdf https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/binaries/content/assets/pdfs-nederlands/factsheet-informatie-ondersteunend-beslissen-032025.pdf

Link to source registration

https://github.com/HDCV-Data/bao-broncode

Responsible use

Goal and impact

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BZ) is responsible for processing and assessing Short Stay Visa (QVV) applications for the Schengen countries. In doing so, BZ fulfils the admission (regular) task for the migration chain.

Before a CDV can be issued, BZ has to assess whether all mandatory conditions pursuant to European legislation and regulations are met. Because of the large number of applications, but also to be able to perform this task as objectively and carefully as possible, BZ supports this process with an algorithm for the purpose of a data-analysis-based working method. This is called Information Supported Processing (IOB).

IOB is used to estimate the expected intensity of processing a visa application. By estimating the expected intensity, the expected capacity commitment is meant. For example, conducting an additional interview or requesting additional required information. This estimate is offered to the consular officer in the form of a so-called track (fast, regular or intensive), together with additional relevant information.

The conditions for obtaining a visa are and remain the same for everyone, regardless of previous applications or those for which a sponsor has acted 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 processing a visa application, but never a ground for refusing a visa. The impact of using the algorithm is therefore minimal.

Factsheet Information Supportive Decision Making

Considerations

It is not possible for consular staff to manually access all relevant information on the application. Thanks to the algorithm's advised track, they can estimate the expected intensity for processing a specific visa application and the associated file examination. This allows them to better estimate whether, for example, additional information is needed, or an additional interview should be conducted.

In addition, the processing of applications becomes more objective, as the processing is no longer based solely on the consular officer's judgement, but also supported by data. This creates a better balance between the available information and knowledge/experience of the consular employee.

Human intervention

It is and remains up to the consular officer to decide the next step in the processing of the application and whether a visa is ultimately granted or refused. The track is thus only a supporting advice to the consular officer on the processing and never with regard to the decision to be taken on the application.

The advised track is explicitly not a ground for refusal. After all, the consular employee has the entire file available for processing and, of course, previous experience and knowledge acquired by the employee. There is thus (meaningful) human intervention.

Risk management

In choosing the algorithm, the importance of transparency and explainability was decisive. The operation of the decision tree is insightful. Each step can be followed and thereby explained. On top of that, the rules are predetermined and do not change as long as they are not manually adjusted by BZ itself. This makes the algorithm verifiable: the tracks that follow from the algorithm are reproducible.

The final decisions on an application are monitored by BZ. These decisions are compared with the track issued by the algorithm. This monitors whether decision-makers are not 'blindfolded' by the track. In addition, a manual check takes place in case of a hit on a resource.

Legal basis

Performance of government duty (Art 6(1)(e) AVG, Art 21 Visa Code Art 2(2) Kingdom Act)

Links to legal bases

• State Visa Act: https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0038494/2018-07-01
• Visa code: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/NL/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32009R0810
• AVG: https://avgb.nl/art-6-avg/

Link to Processing Index

Opvraagbaar bij het Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken

Elaboration on impact assessments

Summary IAMA follows.

Impact assessment

• Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA): niet openbaar
• Human Rights and Algorithms Impact Assessment (IAMA): IAMA is eind 2025 uitgevoerd.

Operations

Data

The visa application is assessed on the basis of 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; and (4) information from profiles based on similar applications in the past.

For a complete overview of data, see also the Factsheet Information-supported Processing.

Technical design

The algorithm can be divided into three methods used, not every method can be classified as an algorithm:

1. Hit/no hit on in the available data sources (no algorithm);

2. Decision tree for the purpose of profiling (algorithm);

3. Weighting model for the purpose of determining a score and assigning a track (algorithm).

The hit/no hit method is only a comparison method and not an 'algorithm'. It only checks whether there is a match between the data from a visa application and the data sources available at BZ.

The decision tree consists of a set of predetermined "if-then" rules. This involves a simple type of algorithm that works with fixed rules: if something is the case, then a certain step or outcome follows. The rules are predetermined by BZ itself. So the algorithm does not learn or change itself, but only applies these fixed rules.

The weighting model is a mathematical model used to assign a score, and ultimately a track. The weighting model can be classified as an algorithm.

More information about its technical operation can be found on GitHub: https://github.com/HDCV-Data/bao-broncode.

External provider

Internally developed

Link to code base

https://github.com/HDCV-Data/bao-broncode