Public Administration

Challenge

Third-country nationals applying for visas or relocating to EU countries are required to submit a wide range of highly sensitive personal information—often including travel history, financial and health data. This phase of the process is one where citizens relinquish the greatest control over their data, while governments struggle to enforce uniform protection across systems and borders. 

Authorities must process vast amounts of personal information under complex and overlapping European, national, and institutional legal frameworks. Visa decisions are increasingly informed by digitally gathered data beyond traditional documentation. Yet many immigration offices still depend on siloed, paper-based or semi-digital workflows. Cross-checking this data across agencies and jurisdictions is inefficient, while the reliance on third-party software further increases privacy risks.

The urgency of this issue is underscored by ongoing EU discussions around creating a common visa application platform. However, many states lack the infrastructure to enforce data retention policies or audit third-party providers, raising concerns over sovereignty, integrity, and accountability.

TANGO solutions

TANGO enables a secure, GDPR-compliant framework for the digital transformation of visa and relocation services, facilitating trusted data sharing between citizens, employers, and public authorities.

In this pilot, the VISAR platform acts as the central hub for onboarding, processing, and reviewing visa applications. Employers and relocation employees submit required data through Fides, while public administration staff from bodies such as immigration offices or federal employment agencies evaluate, approve, or request additional documentation.

TANGO ensures that: 

• Each actor (employer, applicant, case manager, public authority) is authenticated and authorized via secure onboarding and verified identity (ePassPort, SSI)
• All sensitive data is managed via role-based policies and verified checkmarks, ensuring clarity on data origin and validation,
• The final visa application status is communicated securely to all involved parties, maintaining data traceability and integrity. 

For IT and data protection officers, TANGO provides dedicated tools such as the Privacy and Ethics Checker (PEC) to proactively assess privacy risks and ensure regulatory compliance when handling sensitive relocation data. 

Moreover, TANGO’s blockchain-based data sharing and cross-border capabilities support seamless data portability and revocability for applicants, allowing individuals to retain control of their information and enforce their data rights in a consistent, transparent manner.