Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/biometric-data-sharing-fingerprint-matching-process-and-diagram

Change description : 2025-10-23 15:18:00: 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. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2024-11-26 13:08:00.339936664 +00:00..2025-10-23 14:18:27.206549324 +00:00

Guidance

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.

From:
UK Visas and Immigration
Published
29 July 2010
Last updated
2623 NovemberOctober 20242025 — See all updates

Documents

Biometric data-sharing process (Migration 5 biometric data-sharing process) (accessible)

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Biometric data-sharing process (Migration 5 biometric data-sharing process)

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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.

Updates to this page

Published 29 July 2010
Last updated 2623 NovemberOctober 2024 + show2025 href="#full-history">+ show all updates

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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.