Biometric data-sharing: caseworker guidance
Immigration staff guidance on which cases may be checked through international biometric data-sharing and how to arrange these checks and use the results.
Documents
Details
UK Visas and Immigration guidance for staff involved in immigration functions about the actions and considerations to be taken in respect of biometric data-sharing (fingerprint matching) process arrangements, as agreed by the Five Country Conference (FCC) in 2009.
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Last updated
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Updated with clarifications.
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Updated guidance.
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Guidance restructured and updated to cover automated check process with USA; new proformas; glossary of terms; references to the Five Country Conference changed to M5.
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Updated guidance.
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Updated guidance.
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Updated guidance.
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First published.
Update history
2026-06-22 00:01
Updated to highlight the additional case cohorts that are now included in automated checks, plus minor updates to the actions to follow when there are biometric matches, to reflect the additional case cohorts that are now included in checks.
2025-10-23 15:18
Updated the guidance with clarifications to the section ‘Information in matched cases’, and detail added to the section ‘Disclosure of match information’ regarding information handling.
2024-11-26 13:07
Updated biometric data-sharing process (Migration 5 biometric data-sharing process) guidance – details of updates are listed on page 4 of the guidance.
2023-04-13 09:58
Updated with clarifications.
2022-11-25 16:35
Updated guidance.
2022-11-07 14:34
Guidance restructured and updated to cover automated check process with USA; new proformas; glossary of terms; references to the Five Country Conference changed to M5.