Schengen Information System (SIS)

In SIS so-called alerts are stored. Each alert contains specific data on persons or objects. Its purpose is to identify persons or objects and to determine certain measures.

Alerts may be issud for the following purposes:

1. Refusal of entry for third-country nationals
2. Arrest in case of an arrest warrant
3. Identification of whereabouts, e.g. of missing persons, witnesses, victims
4. Collection and transfer of information on persons or objects for discreet checks, inquiry checks or specific checks
5. Enforcement of return decisions against third-country nationals
6. Objects for seizure or use as evidence , e.g. cars, identification documents

Your rights

Your right to information

You have the right to know whether information about you is stored in the SIS and what is stored in the SIS about you.

For this purpose, you must file a request to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in Germany. The BKA is obliged to reply within one month. That period, however, can be extended by further two months.

You may be denied access in individual cases. This is the case when a specific interest in confidentiality exists, for example, when the purpose of the alert is jeopardized, when there are threats to public security or if data about other persons is concerned.

Your right to rectification and erasure

• If the stored information is incorrect or incomplete, you have the right to rectification.
• If the stored information should not have been stored at all, you have a right to deletion.

Any request for rectification and erasure should be substantiated. It is required to enclose all information. An answer should be provided after three months.

The following applies:
Only the authority that has entered the data into the SIS can delete or rectify them. 

Whom can you contact?

Information from SIS

In order to find out which data are stored about you in the SIS, you can write to the BKA.

Contact details:

Bundeskriminalamt
BdA4 - Petenten
65173 Wiesbaden
E-Mail: ds-petenten@bka.bund.de

A copy of your ID may be required so that the BKA can identify you. You can black out the photograph and the ID card number.

Rectification and deletion

The authority that issued the alert is competent for rectification and erasure. This is the authority that has made the entry into the SIS.
If you do not know that authority, you can request access at the BKA. This will also help you to find out who made the entry.
It is helpful if you give reasons for your request for rectification and/or erasure. The more relevant information you enclose, the faster an answer can be provided.

Legal protection
1. Objection

You can appeal against rejected applications for access, rectification and erasure. The appeal must be addressed to the authority which rejected your application.

2. Judicial protection:

If your request for access, rectification, or deletion is not provided within the applicable deadline, you can take legal action at the competent administrative court for the information to be provided.
If the objection is rejected, you may bring an action before the competent administrative court.

3. Data Protection

You are not sure whether you have received full access or whether your data have been lawfully stored? Do you have any suspicion that data breaches have occurred during the procedure and want to lodge a complaint?

Then you can contact us via our general contact channels.

If your request for information, correction, or deletion has already been rejected, either in whole or in part, you can additionally exercise your rights through the BfDI. In such cases, the BfDI will review your individual case on your behalf. In such cases, the law stipulates that, once the review has been completed, the BfDI must at least inform you that all necessary checks have been carried out. The reason for this rule is that the BfDI is not allowed to share information that cannot be shared for legitimate reasons of confidentiality.

Further informations and important documents

Information on the exercise of these rights in Germany:
Guide on SIS (in German)
Guide on SIS

Overview of the procedures in the European area (as of April 2023) in English:
A GUIDE FOR EXERCISING DATA SUBJECTS’ RIGHTS: THE RIGHT OF ACCESS, RECTIFICATION AND ERASURE

Information video on the Schengen Information System

Information from the European Commission:
Schengen Information System

Information about the SIS II from the European Coordination Groups:
Coordinated Supversision Committee (since 2023)
SIS II Supervision Coordination Group (2013-2023)