Algeria Ends Visa Exemption and Free Property Benefits for French Diplomats

The Chargé d’Affaires of the French Embassy in Algeria was summoned today to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he met with the Director of Immunities and Privileges.

During the meeting, two notes verbales were delivered to the French diplomat.

The first note formally notified France of Algeria’s decision to terminate the 2013 Algerian-French Agreement on reciprocal visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports. This move goes beyond the suspension earlier announced by France and definitively ends the agreement’s existence.

Effective immediately, French diplomatic and service passport holders are now required to obtain visas to enter Algeria. The Algerian Government also reserves the right to impose the same visa conditions that France applies to Algerian nationals. Officials described this as a strict application of reciprocity and a clear rejection of what Algeria sees as French attempts to provoke, intimidate, or negotiate unfairly.

The second note informed the French side of Algeria’s decision to end the provision of free real estate belonging to the Algerian state for use by the French Embassy in Algiers. The government will also re-examine advantageous leases granted to the embassy by Algerian public housing authorities (OPGIs). France has been invited to send a delegation to Algiers to begin discussions on the matter.

Algeria pointed out that its diplomatic mission in France receives no such benefits, underlining that the measures aim to restore balance and reciprocity in bilateral relations.