# Council Regulation (EC) No 856/2008 of 24 July 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 laying down a uniform format for visas as regards the numbering of visas, Division 13: This box shall contain the relevant machine-readable information to facilitate external border controls. The machine-readable area shall contain a printed text in the background printing, indicating the Member State issuing the document. This text shall not affect the technical features of the machine-readable area or its ability to be read.

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

The paper shall have a natural colouring with red and blue markings.
The words designating the boxes shall appear in English and French. The issuing State may add a third official Community language. However, the word ‘visa’ in the top line may appear in any one official language of the Community.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2008/856/annex/section/Sections/division/13 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2008-856/annex/section-Sections/division-13
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.