For several months, tension has been rising between Paris and Algiers over the issuance of Algerian visas. The announcement by Emmanuel Macron of the suspension of the bilateral agreement ushers in an era of uncertainty. This text facilitated access to diplomatic visas for officials. The unprecedented gesture reopens old wounds and signals new turbulence. Two partners united by history find themselves separated by distrust.
An unprecedented shift in Franco-Algerian relations
Emmanuel Macron is radically changing the management of the Algerian visa issue. He is calling for the “official suspension” of the 2013 bilateral agreement that provided facilities for holders of diplomatic visas. The hardening is now assumed.
The president cites several reasons: condemnation of Boualem Sansal to five years in prison, incarceration of journalist Christophe Gleizes, and Algiers’ persistent refusal to cooperate on the return of its nationals in an irregular situation. The cessation of cooperation by the 18 Algerian consulates in France amplifies the tension.
The presidential letter also marks the failure of dialogue. According to Macron, the Algerian authorities "have chosen not to respond to our repeated calls to work together." The rupture formalizes the entry into a new phase, dominated by mistrust.
The roots of a crisis: memory and mobility
The issue of human circulation has structured Franco-Algerian relations since independence. Since 1962, millions of people of Algerian origin have lived in France. Mobility between the two shores depends on successive agreements: the one from 1968, then the one from 2013, set exceptional rules, notably for officials. The issuance of permits has become, over time, a recurring diplomatic lever.
Already in 2021, Paris had applied restrictions on Algerian visas. It accused Algiers of refusing to grant the necessary consular passes for the readmission of expelled nationals. Algiers denounced these measures as "arbitrary," contrary to the spirit of cooperation.
Needless to say, these debates revive a heavy memory: colonization of Algeria, French Algeria, the Franco-Algerian war, Algeria’s independence, French Algerians…
Furthermore, let’s recall that Morocco-Algeria relations are also far from being calm. Indeed, Algeria accuses France of implicitly supporting the Moroccan position on the Western Sahara, which goes against its support for the Polisario Front and the self-determination of the territory.
The readmission lever, a new tool of pressure
Adopted on January 26, 2024, the "immigration" law (art. 47) creates a national lever on the issuance of visas. It conditions their granting on a country’s cooperation in the readmission of 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 respect an agreement on the management of migratory flows.
This mechanism complements article 25a of the EU visa code.
It allows for adjusting visa policy according to the cooperation of the third country.
Possible adjustments include an increase in fees, an extension of deadlines, or a limitation of multiple entries.
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 significantly deteriorated. Paris notes that Algiers refuses to organize the necessary hearings for the return of its nationals. Migration management, a stated priority of the French government, is thus complicated.
Towards the end of diplomatic exception
The suspension of the 2013 agreement forces holders of Algerian diplomatic visas to follow the standard procedure. Ministers, diplomats, and senior officials will now have to apply 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 crystallizes the tension.
A risky gamble for Macron
By suspending the agreement, Emmanuel Macron is making a political gamble that he wants to be symbolic. He bets on firmness, as migration control is a major topic in the French public debate. The limitations aim to reassure a French public concerned about immigration. However, the diplomatic cost could be significant, especially with a historical partner like Algeria.
Paris wants to restore cooperation between consulates and activate the visa lever linked to readmission. This strategy carries a clear risk: triggering an escalation of reprisals between the two countries. Algiers has already restricted access for some French diplomats to its territory. Mutual distrust intensifies, fueled by the colonial past, making any de-escalation particularly difficult to envisage.
The stakes for France and Algeria
For France, the immediate challenge is the resumption of smooth cooperation between administrations. The return to normalcy is conditioned on the resumption of consular hearings and the issuance of passes. In parallel, the executive wants to secure the return of people deemed "dangerous."
For Algeria, the complication of obtaining visas is experienced as a humiliation. The authorities intend to protect their sovereignty and avoid the image of a retreat under European pressure. Civil society and part of the local media share this national reflex.
Human and economic consequences
The limitations will undoubtedly affect the daily lives of thousands of Franco-Algerian families. They will hinder economic exchanges, student mobility, and professional mobility. Economic actors fear a setback in already fragile bilateral cooperation.
Some, however, see it as an opportunity for a refoundation. France aims for a “controlled management of migratory flows”; Algeria wants to protect its diaspora and maintain its influence in France. Negotiation remains possible but requires reciprocal concessions.
A tense situation, an uncertain future
In his letter, Macron announces that he will closely monitor the coordination between administrations and the readmission mechanism. He demands a monthly report from the ministries. He reserves the right to adjust the French position according to Algiers’ response.
The debate on 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 the difficulty of moving beyond confrontation logics to finally build a sustainable cooperation.
The test of reality
The suspension of the 2013 agreement marks a turning point. It reflects Paris’s desire to ensure compliance with the rules while maintaining an openness to dialogue. But the crisis remains unresolved. The future of the Franco-Algerian partnership will depend on the ability of the two countries to overcome recurring political blockages.