Biometric data to be collected from foreign nationals in BiH

The BiH Service for Foreigners Affairs, with the support of the United States Embassy – ICITAP program of the US Department of Justice, is implementing the first phase of the Biometric System. This system has been in development for a long time, and the Service has created a legal and institutional basis for its application in the new Law on Foreigners, reports the Patria News Agency.

This biometric system aims to enable the Service for Foreigners Affairs to collect, analyze, and process biometric data, primarily fingerprints, from foreign nationals residing in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The goal of the project is to strengthen the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the prevention of illegal migration, control of entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina, effective fight against terrorism and criminal activities, including the fight against human trafficking, drug trafficking, and organized crime, and thus increase the overall security system of Bosnia and Herzegovina through the improvement of existing systems.

The biometric system will be compatible with the existing Migration Information System (ISM). Data collected by the Service will be available for exchange with other law enforcement agencies, and in addition to the Service, other partner security agencies will also benefit from this system.

The US Embassy's ICITAP program has so far invested over 800,000 US dollars in this system. The first phase of the system was launched today.

The next phase of the project envisages the expansion of the system to all field centers of the Service for Foreigners Affairs, as well as the training of field center staff to work with the system, it was announced from the Service.