Interior Ministry Opens €12 Million Call to Upgrade Biometric Visa Equipment at Czech Consulates

The Czech Ministry of the Interior used 14 September 2026 to launch the 22nd call under the EU-funded Internal Security Instrument – Borders & Visa (OP NSHV). With a budget of CZK 300 million (about €12 million), the closed call targets consular posts that still rely on ageing fingerprint scanners and enrolment booths for Schengen short-stay visas. According to the ministry’s announcement, beneficiary projects must install next-generation capture devices compliant with the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) and the updated Visa Information System (VIS) interface that becomes mandatory in early 2028. Grants may also cover encrypted data lines to Prague and staff training, but at least 50 % of outlays must be spent on hardware. The move comes as visa demand rebounds to pre-pandemic levels. Czech missions processed more than 620 000 Schengen applications in the last 12 months, a 17 % year-on-year increase driven by business travel from India, Türkiye and the Gulf. Several posts—most notably Ho Chi Minh City and Abu Dhabi—have reported scanner failure rates above 8 %, forcing applicants to re-schedule and hurting service-level targets. For corporates that rely on fast visa issuance, especially in the automotive and semiconductor supply chains, the upgrade should translate into shorter appointment slots and fewer repeat visits. Companies may wish to monitor which consulates win funding, as on-site works could temporarily reduce capacity. Applications for grants close on 31 October 2026, with implementation deadlines set for December 2027.