Lithuania to equip embassies with Morpho fingerprint scanners

Morpho (Safran) has signed a contract with the Lithuanian government to deliver 145 MorphoTOP optical fingerprint scanners. This is Morpho's first direct contract with the Information Technology and Communications Department to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Lithuanian embassies will use the MorphoTOP terminals to process all visa requests. In practical terms, they collect photos and fingerprints from all those requesting visas. This biometric data is stored in a secure database, and can be compared to previously stored data. The database is available to border control authorities in countries that are part of the Schengen Area. When a traveler enters this area, authorities can check their identity to ensure that it is the same person who received a visa, thus limiting fraud.

This system is part of VIS (Visa Information System), a European project that allows Schengen countries to exchange visa data. Commissioned in October 2011, the VIS is designed to strengthen security at borders.

Jacques van Zijp, Vice President of Morpho's Europe Business Unit (BU) in the Government Identity Solutions division, explained, "Morpho already has Lithuanian customers in the telecom and explosive/chemical detection systems sectors. But this is the first time the Lithuanian government has placed its trust in our identity management solutions".

The government's purchase of MorphoTOP terminals was partly financed by the European Commission's External Borders Fund (EBF).