NiVal

Introduction

With the planned introduction of the European Union (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES), biometric data of non-EU travelers (fingerprints and facial images) must be recorded and checked. The data is encoded by national client systems in the EES-NIST and Visa Information System-NIST (VIS-NIST) formats defined by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Upon transmission to the EU, the data must be adapted to meet the specific requirements of the EES and VIS to ensure compatibility with EU systems and compliance with EU regulations.

Software Solution

The software solution developed by IDloop evaluates EES-specific NIST data in this testing period and concludes whether the data files from the various national client systems are correctly structured. The software is independently useable and easily integrated into other systems. The entirety of the NIVal project has been performed in-house by the software team from IDloop, who will also provide technical support to the BSI after the software is in use. The developed software package enables the validation, modification, and generation of NIST biometric data files. With the implementation of the NIVal software, it will be easier for authorities to use compatible biometric data.

The NIST validator contains tools to generate, view, edit and validate ANSI/NIST-ITL files. An ANSI/NIST-ITL file is a standard format from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and NIST that is used to exchange fingerprint and other image data². The tool focuses on the EES-NIST and VIS-NIST files and on the record types that contain metadata, transaction information, as well as fingerprint, face and iris image data.

Key takeaways

The BSI has determined the necessity of a thorough examination of incoming biometric data during the EES test phase to ensure that they conform to the highest standards of structure. The completion of the NIVal project provides the necessary software to validate EES-specific NIST data. This lightweight, flexible, open source and user-friendly software will also generate test files, view biometric files, and give the user the ability to edit incorrect fields. IDloop will continue to maintain NIVal, providing service to the BSI and support for a smooth transition for the utilization of this tool. NIVal software will help to fully assess biometric data from international travelers, assist in establishing identification, and support the national implementation according to EES regulations.

About the Client

The Federal Office for Information Security (Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik, BSI) is Germany’s federal cybersecurity authority, continuously monitoring the state of IT security across the country. Its remit covers both the evolving threat landscape and the growing attack surface created by digitalization, as well as Germany’s collective resilience — advancing the country’s capacity to prevent, defend against, and recover from cyber threats. The BSI reports annually to the Federal Ministry of the Interior and to the German public on the national IT security situation.