Starting from March 14, 2013 all diplomatic representations of the Schengen member states in Nigeria have to capture the biometric data (finger scans and facial image) of persons applying for a Schengen visa. The data will be kept in the Visa Information System (VIS) for 5 years.
If your finger scans have not been collected yet, personal appearances when applying for a Schengen visa is mandatory.
If your finger scans were collected within the last 59 months, then you won’t have to give new fingerprints for your next visa application(s) and personal appearance is not necessary. In this case the application can be submitted by a third party. However, you have to provide a copy of your visa sticker issued after March 14, 2013.If you are not sure or do not remember whether your fingerprints have been captured for a Schengen visa within the last 59 months, you have to appear in person.
You will still have to appear in person to give your fingerprints in case the previously collected fingerprints prove to be of insufficient quality.
Personal appearances and fingerprint scan is not necessary for children under the age of 12. However, any child that has never appeared before at the Embassy must come in person for the appointment and must have an appointment booked for him/her even if the child is a baby.
The Swiss representation still reserves the right to ask the applicant to appear for a personal interview after checking his/her application.
