Personal data

Under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) personal data is defined as:

“any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person ('data subject'); an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person”.

How we use your information

This privacy notice tells you how we, BLS International, will collect and use your personal data for processing such information fairly and lawfully for the purpose it is collected in accordance with Article 5 & 6 and Recital 40 of GDPR. The information collected so is to provide better services to enquires, requests and processes in setting up appointment of Visa Application process, Track and Trace of Visa application progress and use of web cookies to personalise our services to applicants (Refer to our Cookies Policy for more details)

Why does BLS International need to collect and store personal data?

In order for us to provide you with a service we need to collect personal data for correspondence purposes and/or detailed service provision. In any event, we are committed to ensuring that the information we collect and use is appropriate for this purpose, and does not constitute an invasion of your privacy. In terms of being contacted for marketing purposes BLS International would contact you for additional consent.

Will BLS International share my personal data with anyone else?

We may pass your personal data on to third-party service providers contracted to BLS International in the course of dealing with you. Any third parties that we may share your data with are obliged to keep your details securely, and to use them only to fulfil the service they provide you on our behalf. When they no longer need your data to fulfil this service, they will dispose of the details in line with BLS International's policies and procedures. If we wish to pass your sensitive personal data onto a third party we will only do so once we have obtained your consent, unless we are legally and contractually required to do otherwise.

How will BLS International use the personal data it collects about me?

BLS International will process (collect, store and use) the information you provide in a manner compatible with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We will endeavour to keep your information accurate and up to date, and not keep it for longer than is necessary. BLS International is required to retain information in accordance with the law, such as information needed for income tax and audit purposes. How long certain kinds of personal data should be kept may also be governed by specific business-sector requirements and agreed practices. Personal data may be held in addition to these periods depending on individual business needs.

Under what circumstances will BLS International contact me?

Our aim is not to be intrusive, and we undertake not to ask irrelevant or unnecessary questions. Moreover, the information you provide will be subject to rigorous measures and procedures to minimise the risk of unauthorised access or disclosure.

Can I find out the personal data that the organisation holds about me?

BLS International, at your request, can confirm what information we hold about you and how it is processed. If BLS International does hold personal data about you, you can request the following information:

• Identity and the contact details of the person or organisation that has determined how and why to process your data. In some cases, this will be a representative in the EU or the Data Protection Officer, where applicable.
• The purpose of the processing as well as the legal basis for processing.
• If the processing is based on the legitimate interests of BLS International or a third party, information about those interests.
• The categories of personal data collected, stored and processed.
• Recipient(s) or categories of recipients that the data is/will be disclosed to.
• If we intend to transfer the personal data to a third country or international organisation, information about how we ensure this is done securely. The EU has approved sending personal data to some countries because they meet a minimum standard of data protection. In other cases, we will ensure there are specific measures in place to secure your information.
• How long the data will be stored.
• Details of your rights to correct, erase, restrict or object to such processing.
• Information about your right to withdraw consent at any time.
• How to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority.
• Whether the provision of personal data is a statutory or contractual requirement, or a requirement necessary to enter into a contract, as well as whether you are obliged to provide the personal data and the possible consequences of failing to provide such data.
• The source of personal data if it wasn’t collected directly from you.
• Any details and information of automated decision making, such as profiling, and any meaningful information about the logic involved, as well as the significance and expected consequences of such processing.

What forms of ID will I need to provide in order to access this?

BLS International accepts the following forms of identification when information on your personal data is requested:

[Passport, National Identity Card, Birth Certificate, Utility bill (from last 3 months), etc.]

APPOINTMENT MANAGEMENT PRIVACY STATEMENT

Responsible for data processing

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation
Postal address: Data Protection Section, Plaza de la Provincia, 1, 28012 Madrid, Spain.
Email: dpd@maec.es

Purpose

Management of the appointment for the delivery of documentation related to the start of the visa application procedures.
No profiling is performed.
No automated decisions are taken that produce legal or similar effects.

Legal basis for processing

The basis for the management of the appointment is the legal obligation under Royal Decree 267/2022 of 12 April, which develops the basic organizational structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Article 43 of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on visas, articles 20 and 21 of Royal Decree 267/2022Resolution of December 14, 2015, of the Secretary of State for Public Administrations, which determines the Citizen Service Offices and Royal Decree 311/2022, of May 3, which regulates the National Security Scheme as regards access control.

In the case that the selected channel is the appointment request via web, the basis of legitimacy is the explicit consent of the person concerned as there is a biometric data processing. If you do not give us your consent, you will not be able to use this channel, although we offer you the following alternatives:
- Via face-to-face
- By telephone

You have the right to revoke your consent at any time, although if you withdraw it before the appointment and it is the way you have requested it, you will not be able to attend.

Transfers and / or international transfers of data

No data will be transferred to third parties unless required by court order.

The Ministry does not plan to carry out international data transfers. In those cases in which it is necessary, they will only be made to entities that have demonstrated that they comply with the level of protection and guarantees in accordance with the parameters and requirements set forth in the current regulations on data protection, such as the European Regulation, or when there is a legal authorization to carry out the international transfer, such as the consent of the interested party. In any case, the interested party will be provided with the corresponding information.

Retention periods

Your data will be kept only for the time necessary to process the appointment, so that biometric data will be deleted at the end of the day on which you should have attend. The identification and contact data will be kept until the end of the application process at the Consulate.

Exercise of rights

You can exercise your rights of access, rectification, deletion and portability of data, as well as the mandatory rights of limitation or opposition to their processing, by sending an email to dpd@maec.es, in which case we will respond within one month.

Right to complain

You have the right to file a complaint with the Spanish Data Protection Agency in the event that you consider that the exercise of your rights has not been properly addressed.

If you have any further queries or require more information on getting access to your personal information with BLS International, you may contact our Data Protection Officer whose details are given below: