Schengeninformasjonsystemet

The Schengen Information System (SIS) is a large-scale IT system used by Schengen States to exchange information to support border control, policing and migration management. It enables authorities to issue and consult alerts about persons and objects that may pose security or legal concerns, facilitating cross-border cooperation.

The system began as SIS and was upgraded to SIS II, a second generation providing expanded data categories and improved reliability. SIS stores alerts in four main categories: persons, vehicles, property and travel documents. Alerts may indicate wanted or missing persons, stolen or lost documents, or other items of interest to authorities.

Participation includes all Schengen area member states and several associated states such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Access is restricted to competent authorities—police, border guards, customs and some migration officials—across participating states. National authorities operate SIS, with centralized governance at EU level through appropriate institutions and agreements.

Data protection and governance are central to SIS. Processing is governed by EU data protection rules, including GDPR, and is subject to oversight by national data protection authorities and the European Data Protection Supervisor. Retention periods and access rights are defined by law, and security measures protect data from unauthorized access.

Impact: By providing timely alerts for individuals and objects, SIS supports border checks, criminal investigations and internal security within the Schengen area, and assists in asylum and migration procedures when relevant information is needed to verify identity or travel documents.