{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2009-377/annex/division-1",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2009-377/annex/division-1.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2009/377",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Decision of 5 May 2009 adopting implementing measures for the consultation mechanism and the other procedures referred to in Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Visa Information System (VIS) and the exchange of data between Member States on short-stay visas (VIS Regulation) (notified under document number C(2009) 2359) (Only the Bulgarian, Czech, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish texts are authentic) (2009/377/EC)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2009-377",
  "path": "annex/division/1",
  "kind": "division",
  "number": "1",
  "heading": "Introduction",
  "text": "The VIS Mail Communication mechanism shall be based on Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 767/2008, allowing transmission of information between Member States via the infrastructure of the Visa Information System (VIS).\nThe personal data transmitted within this mechanism pursuant to Article 16 of the VIS Regulation shall be used solely for the consultation of central visa authorities and consular cooperation.\nThe respective evolution of VIS Mail and VISION implies a phased process as depicted below:\nBefore VIS becomes operational, VISION shall be the unique communication network for consultations on visas.\nIn Phase 1, from the start of operations of VIS, the VIS Mail mechanism may be used for transmission of following types of information:\nmessages related to consular cooperation,\nrequests for supporting documents,\nmessages on inaccurate data,\nMember State nationality acquired by an applicant.\nThe provisions of the VIS Regulation concerning the use of VIS Mail for the transmission of information relating to consular cooperation and requests for supporting documents (Article 16(3)), for the amendment of data (Article 24(2)) and for advance data deletion (Article 25(2)) are applicable in Phase 1. The VIS Mail mechanism, including the central mail relay and the national mail servers, needs to be in place in case at least one Member State intends to use the mechanism in Phase 1 to ensure that this Member State is able to transmit such messages. During Phase 1 of the VIS Mail operation, VISION shall be used in parallel.\nIn Phase 2, when all the Schengen visa issuing posts are connected to VIS, the VIS Mail mechanism shall replace the Schengen Consultation Network from the date determined in accordance with Article 46 of the VIS Regulation. As from this date all types of messages shall be exchanged via the VIS infrastructure by means of the VIS Mail mechanism.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "This network is used for consultations between Member States, including representation, and for the exchange of information that a visa with limited territorial validity (VLTV) has been issued."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "The fact that the VIS Mail mechanism may be used concerns the optional use of the mechanism itself, not the availability of the tool, which is then obligatory."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2009/377/annex/division/1",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:16:29.963526+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}