Credits: Aerra Carnicom / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 4.0.
For several months now, tensions have been rising between Paris and Algiers over the issuance of Algerian visas. Emmanuel Macron’s announcement of the suspension of the bilateral agreement opens an era of uncertainty. This text made it easier for officials to obtain diplomatic visas. The unprecedented move reopens old wounds and signals new turbulence ahead. Two partners bound by history find themselves divided by mistrust.
A Historic Shift In The Franco-Algerian Relationship
Emmanuel Macron is radically changing how Algeria’s visa file is handled. He is calling for the “official suspension” of the 2013 bilateral agreement, which provided facilitations for holders of diplomatic visas. The hard line is now fully embraced.
The president cites several reasons: the conviction of Boualem Sansal to five years in prison, the jailing of journalist Christophe Gleizes, and Algiers’ persistent refusal to cooperate on the return of its nationals who are in irregular status. The end of cooperation by Algeria’s 18 consulates in France is amplifying the tension.
The presidential letter also acknowledges the failure of dialogue. According to Macron, the Algerian authorities “have chosen not to respond to our repeated calls to work together.” The break makes official the entry into a new phase, dominated by mistrust.
The Roots Of A Crisis: Memory And Mobility
The issue of human movement has shaped the Franco-Algerian relationship since independence. Since 1962, millions of people of Algerian origin have lived in France. Mobility between the two shores has depended on successive agreements: the 1968 one, then the 2013 one, set out exceptional rules, especially for officials. Over time, the issuance of permits has become a recurring diplomatic lever.
Back in 2021, Paris had already imposed restrictions on Algerian visas. It blamed Algiers for refusing to issue the consular travel documents needed to readmit expelled nationals. Algiers denounced the measures as “arbitrary,” contrary to the spirit of cooperation.
Needless to say, these debates revive a heavy memory: colonization of Algeria, French Algeria, the French-Algerian conflict, Algeria independence, Algerian French…
Also, let us remember that Morocco-Algeria relations are far from calm as well. Indeed, Algeria accuses France of implicitly backing the Moroccan position on Western Sahara, which runs counter to its support for the Polisario Front and the territory’s self-determination.
Readmission As A New Pressure Tool
Adopted on January 26, 2024, the “immigration” law (Article 47) creates a national lever over visa issuance. It makes visa grants contingent on a country’s cooperation in readmitting its nationals.
France can thus refuse short-stay visas to holders of diplomatic or service passports. It can also refuse long-stay visas under the same conditions.
The measure applies if the country does not cooperate in the return of its nationals.
It also targets countries that do not comply with an agreement on managing migration flows.
This system complements Article 25a of the EU Visa Code.
That article allows the visa policy to be adjusted according to the cooperation of the third country.
Possible adjustments include higher fees, longer processing times, or a limitation on multiple-entry visas.
This mechanism has already been used at the European level against Gambia in 2021 and then against Ethiopia in 2022.
For the Élysée, Franco-Algerian consular cooperation has clearly deteriorated. Paris notes that Algiers refuses to organize the hearings necessary for the return of its nationals. Migration management, a stated priority of the French government, is thus made more difficult.
Toward The End Of Diplomatic Exception
Suspending the 2013 agreement forces Algerian diplomatic visa holders to follow the standard procedure. Ministers, diplomats, and senior officials will now have to submit an application for any entry into France. Until now, an exemption applied. As of mid-May 2025, Minister Jean-Noël Barrot had announced the expulsion of diplomats without proper documentation. In response to Algiers’ decision to expel French diplomats… This new spiral of reciprocity is crystallizing the standoff.
A Risky Bet For Macron
By suspending the agreement, Emmanuel Macron is making a political bet that he wants to be symbolic. He is banking on firmness, with migration control being a major issue in the French public debate. The restrictions are meant to reassure a French public uneasy about immigration. However, the diplomatic cost could be significant, especially with a historic partner like Algeria.
Paris wants to restore cooperation between consulates and activate the visa lever tied to readmission. This strategy carries a clear risk: triggering an escalation of retaliation between the two countries. Algiers has already restricted access for some French diplomats to its territory. Mutual mistrust is intensifying, fueled by the colonial past, which makes any de-escalation especially difficult to imagine.
The Stakes For France And Algeria
For France, the immediate goal is to restore smooth cooperation between administrations. A return to normal depends on the resumption of consular hearings and the issuance of travel documents. At the same time, the executive branch wants to secure the return of people deemed “dangerous.”
For Algeria, the added difficulty of obtaining visas is experienced as humiliation. The authorities intend to protect their sovereignty and avoid the image of backing down under European pressure. Civil society and part of the local media share this national reflex.
Human And Economic Consequences
The restrictions will likely affect the daily lives of thousands of Franco-Algerian families. They will slow economic exchanges, student mobility, and professional movement. Economic actors fear a decline in already weakened bilateral cooperation.
Some see it, however, as an opportunity for a fresh start. France is aiming for “controlled migration flows management”; Algeria wants to protect its diaspora and maintain its influence in France. Negotiation remains possible, but it requires reciprocal concessions.
A Tense Situation, An Uncertain Future
In his letter, Macron says he will closely monitor coordination between the administrations and the readmission mechanism. He is demanding a monthly report from the ministries. He reserves the right to adjust the French position depending on Algiers’ response.
The debate over visa policy now occupies an important place on the political agenda. Security, integration, and sovereignty issues intersect with the legacy of French Algeria. The episode illustrates how difficult it is to move beyond confrontation and finally build lasting cooperation.
The Test Of Reality
Suspending the 2013 agreement marks a turning point. It reflects Paris’s determination to secure respect for the rules while maintaining openness to dialogue. But the crisis remains unresolved. The future of the Franco-Algerian partnership will depend on both countries’ ability to overcome recurring political deadlocks.