When is the EURODAC fingerprint deleted after asylum or a visa?

What exactly is a EURODAC fingerprint?
It is an electronic set of fingerprints taken from all ten fingers and stored in a central European database covering all EU Member States (and associated countries such as Switzerland and Norway). It is used to track:

• asylum seekers who applied in more than one country

• irregular migrants who entered Europe without a visa

• foreign nationals apprehended while attempting to enter or cross borders illegally

Legal framework
Under Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 (the EURODAC Regulation), fingerprints are stored for defined periods depending on the category of the case.

When is a EURODAC fingerprint deleted?

1) Asylum seeker (Category 1)
The fingerprint is stored for 10 years.
Even if the person later receives protection or citizenship, the record generally remains stored.
It is deleted before 10 years only if:

• the person obtains EU citizenship, or

• the person dies, or

• the person is permanently removed/deported outside the EU

2) Person apprehended while crossing the border irregularly (Category 2)
The fingerprint is stored for 18 months.
It is deleted automatically after that period, unless an asylum application is lodged during those 18 months.

3) Person found staying irregularly in a Member State (Category 3)
The fingerprint is stored for 18 months.
It is kept only for identity checks and for applying the Dublin rules.

Can you request a manual deletion?
No. Manual deletion from the EURODAC database is not permitted. Deletion happens only automatically under the rules above.
However, you can request access to your stored personal data by submitting an official request to:

• BAMF (in Germany), or

• the Federal Data Protection Authority BfDI

How does EURODAC affect asylum applications?
If a person applied for asylum in one country and then moves to another, the second country can use EURODAC to prove a prior entry or asylum application elsewhere.
As a result, the person may be transferred back to the first responsible country under the Dublin III Regulation.

Even after years, as long as the record is stored, it can still be used for Dublin procedures unless a new legal status applies or the storage period expires.

Does the fingerprint prevent you from applying again?
No. It does not remove the right to apply. But it may lead a certain country to refuse examining the claim if it is not responsible under Dublin, and to transfer the applicant to the “first” responsible country.

Summary

• Asylum seekers: stored for 10 years

• Irregular entry/border crossing: deleted after 18 months

• No manual deletion, but you can request access to your data

• EURODAC plays a major role in applying Dublin rules and proving prior procedures

EURODAC is a strict monitoring tool. It does not take away the right to seek protection—rather, it mainly affects where the claim is processed within Europe.

— The website’s writers and editors strive to provide accurate information through extensive research and by consulting multiple sources. However, errors may occur or some information may be unconfirmed. Please treat this content as initial guidance and always consult the competent authorities for confirmed and binding information.