The new technologically advanced Visa Information System (VIS) was launched at 08:00 CET on Tuesday, the European Commission's press office said in a statement.

The new system will allow much quicker processing of visa applications through the use of biometrics (fingerprints and a digital facial image) which will facilitate the identification of visa holders and help to avoid identity theft.

The VIS will allow for a quick and effective exchange of data on short-stay visas among Schengen countries.

Under the new VIS, it will take just a few clicks to verify the real identity of a visa holder.

Visa authorities in all Schengen states will be able to consult the VIS data, for example when a previous applicant applies for a new visa.

The new system will contain all Schengen visa applications and all subsequent decisions taken by the visa authorities.

When the visa holder arrives at the external border, the Schengen states' border guards will verify his or her identity and check the authenticity of the visa in the VIS.

This will help to avoid the risk of visa fraud (such as trying to use someone else's visa) by allowing quick, safe and secure biometric verifications.

Fingerprint data will be erased after 5 years.

The VIS will be introduced in stages, starting with the consular posts in in North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia).

The next countries to be connected to the system will be the Near East (Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria), and the Gulf regions (Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen).

All Schengen states' consular posts worldwide should be connected to the VIS within two years.

Commenting on the VIS, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstr?m said: "From now on, foreigners wishing to visit the EU will benefit from clearer, more precise, transparent and fairer visa application rules. The new system will also allow visas to be issued and verified in a more efficient and secure way. This is a big step towards improving and modernising the common EU visa policy."