Visa for Algeria
I have a specific question:I'm trying to obtain this visa with the help of an Algerian agency: I've asked for it one month ago (it's for a Ajjer trip in October) and I haven't any info about if I will obtain this visa or no.
The man at the agency asked for the authorisation at the Direction of Tourism and the reply is OK.
But after the process is to transfer the demand to MFA in Algiers then to Algerian ambassad in Paris then to my consulate.
And he has no info about that.
I've already brought my application to my consulate and they said I have to wait .... but until when, they don't know .....?
So I have a second option (because I have already bought my tickets): I have an invitation from an Algerian friend in Algiers and I suppose I can ask for a visa with it (in this case only to travel in northern part of the country).
MY QUESTION: Is it possible for me to make a second application for this visa with this invitation? Or have I to change the first application?
Before asking to the consulate, I prefer have some advices from travellers in the same situation (or from anybody else).
RR.
1
Where's your consulate?I did mine in Montpellier, it was business visa which is more 'complicated' normally but I just had a letter from the sponsor in Algiers, took it to the consulate when they opened at ?8am & by 1pm I had a 3 month visa!
C'est facile!!!
Kira
2
Thanks for your reply Kira,My consulate is in Lyon but they said they have to wait until the Algerian embassy give their agreement...
And your visa is a business visa, more easy to get nowadays (they don't need tourists, especially in the South, but they need business men,IMHO).
And about my question about the application for another visa with an invitation and only for the northern areas?
RR.
3
Dear Roro,The people in the south desperately need tourists to help their economy. It's a common misconception that the country doesn't need/welcome tourists. The problem with the southern border is the unrest in neighboring Niger, Mali, Libya and Mauritania - all of which occasionally spills over to Algerian side. It is in the interest of safety that visas are issued under tight regulations for the southern border region. The consulate is powerless to do anything because the decision lies in the MFA and Interior Ministry. My advice is to skip the southern border regions. There are a lot more wonderful things to see in the rest of the country, including the Sahara in other regions. It's just that traditionally Tamanrasset and Djanet are more well-known. You should consider places like Ghardaia, Timimoun and Taghit.
Speaking off hand, you'll most likely have to cancel your first application before making the second. Otherwise there'll be 2 overlapping applications which will cause confusion.
Your friend will have to send you an invitation letter + the necessary authorization he/she needs to get from the local district police where he/she stays.
6
Salah,I didn't say the area is unsafe but insecure. You should note that some Algerian embassies have been informing applicants of visas that they should leave out the Sahara (even Ghardaia) from the itinerary if they want to get it approved. I would love to visit Tassili and have many tourists going there too. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to happen unless the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs sends out a clear message, to its embassies and to foreigners, that the region is open for tourism.
