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HomeTesting interoperability of Visible Digital Seals (VDS) for implementation to Schengen visas
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Security and authenticity of visa stickers has been historically based on the use of physical security features such as the use of special inks (including ultraviolet and infrared), printing techniques and Diffractive Optical Variable Image Devices (DOVIDs). Regulation (EU) 2017/1370 introduced a new design for the visa sticker with additional security features, subsequently, as an additional security measure, the use a visible digital seal (VDS) was mandated with Commission Implementing Decision C(2020)2672 of 30.4.2020. A visible digital seals (VDS) is, in simple words, a 2D barcode which contains a subset of the biographic information printed on the visa sticker. This subset of information is digitally encoded as a binary string and signed by a so called “barcode signer” authorised by the Country Signing Certificate Authority of the visa issuing country. This signed binary string is finally printed as a 2D barcode. Regulation (EU) 2017/1370 of 4 July 2017 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 laying down a uniform format for visas [2] contains a mock-up for the new visa sticker, which indicates in box 16 the area reserved for the visible digital seal. This area measures roughly 14mm x 14mm, therefore, the VDS image resulting from encoding and signing the biographical information should have a size which does not exceed considerably the measured allocated area. Depending on the amount of information to be encoded in the VDS, the resulting image might need to be resized to fit in the allocated area. As a consequence, the dots pattern which are encoded in the 2d barcode, could be so dense that the barcode can become unreadable under certain circumstances or with some devices. In order to assess if and in what way, changes in the length of the information to be encoded or in the image characteristics affects readability of a VDS, we have generated a set of VDS images with varying lengths in the binary string varying the size of the two most variable fields: the barcode certificate serial number and the signature. We have then read and processed them using a dedicated VDS reading app and five different types of reading devices, including an off-the-shelf barcode scanner and smartphones. The aim was to help Member States in implementation decisions which could support them in the successful and smooth VDS verification at the borders. In this technical report, we summarise the results of our tests and we provide concluding remarks and recommendations.
- Published:
- Personal author(s): Rana, Antonia ; Ciardulli, Andrea
- Themes: Justice and home affairs , Information technology and telecommunications
- Subject: biometrics , border control , data processing , data protection , EU visa policy , identity document , information technology , passport , personal data , research report , Schengen Agreement , technical specification
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| ISSN 1831-9424 | ISBN 978-92-76-62094-5 | DOI 10.2760/532607 | Catalogue number KJ-NA-31-405-EN-N |
- Released on EU publications website:
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