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: 22 June 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 22 June 2026

     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.

  2. 23 October 2025

     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.

  3. 26 November 2024

     Updated biometric data-sharing process (Migration 5 biometric data-sharing process) guidance - details of updates are listed on page 4 of the guidance.

  4. 13 April 2023

     Updated with clarifications.

  5. 25 November 2022

     Updated guidance.

  6. 7 November 2022

     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.

  7. 4 October 2016

     Updated guidance.

  8. 13 June 2016

     Updated guidance.

  9. 18 August 2015

     Updated guidance.

  10. 29 July 2010

      First published.

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.