Xavier Driencourt: “We Granted Over 400.000 Visas For Algerians In 2017”

French Ambassador to Algeria, Xavier Driencourt revealed that his services granted more than 400,000 short and long-term visas to Algerians.

“Any incomplete file leads to the refusal to grant a visa to its owner whatever it is, and the material aspect is an essential element in the decision to grant a visa”.

“In 2017, more than 410,000 visas were granted out of a total of 630,000 applications”, said Xavier Driencourt in an interview with the Visas & Voyages Algérie website. 

“Complete and reliable files should be provided by applicants and any incomplete file leads to the rejection of granting the visa, whatever the character, in addition to the material  aspect and ability of the visa applicant to cover the cost of residence, which is a key element in determining the decision to grant the visa”.

“There is no intention of the French authorities to tighten visa procedures for Algerians. On the contrary, the number of visas that are granted by the French authorities to Algerians has increased significantly compared to the previous years, with the decline in the number of rejected applications”.

“The recent terrorist attacks that occurred in the international arena, prompted the Schengen countries to be more cautious in the area of ​​granting visas”.

As for Algerian students in France, the French ambassador explained that “they represent the third class of foreign students, and France is their first destination”.

In terms of figures, the French ambassador revealed that his services granted 9,300 long-term visas to Algerians to study in France in 2017.

As for the preventive measures that put many Algerian regions in the danger zone, that the French tourists are advised not to visit, he said: “There is continuous work in time to revive these observations about the Algerian destination”.

“French press reported in many articles the tendency of French tourists towards the Algerian destination”, the ambassador advised French citizens to visit the capital Algiers in particular, and Tipaza, Telemcen, Constantine, Oran and Annaba as well.