Algerian visas

[roro]

I have phoned yesterday to algerian consulate in Lyon ( France ): same procedure than 6 monthes earlier to have a visa ( only an invitation ) . But , may be , the real deliverance of the visa is more controlled : I don't have a false invitation .

[gregor]

hi.

i think that in berlin or wien will be earlier.
/must be! because i have only 2months


you have invitation now? or are you looking for?

------------------
best regards
Grzegorz Zajac

[ctc]

If you stay a night at "Gite Saharienne" run by the Bahedis in Tamanrasset they will normally issue you with an invitation (certificate d'herbegement) from their agency "Agence Tarahist."

[roro]

I have an invitation , it's not a problem , because I'll take a local guide in my car for my trip but only for off-road travel.
The problem is : is an invitation sufficient to have the visa ?
Some says that there is a new regulation .
My consulate tells me that there is no problem to have a visa with an invitation...same procedure than before the tourist's abduction .
So what ?
I have phoned to 2 agencies in Tam and Djanet : they tells me it's better to drive "en convoi" beetween *In Salah and Tam
and the other there are "barrages" on the road to Djanet .
My question is : even if I have a visa , is it sure I can drive on trans-saharian ROADS (not tracks) without guide ?
If anybody have reliable information about that , thanks to inform me !!!

RR.

[ctc]

If you have an invitation, then I understand you can go ahead with your visa application. In any case they'll soon tell you if they require anything else.

Re procedures "in country," I would suggest you work around these once you are there. I doubt they will be standardised and they will probably also be changeable. However the Algerian authorities are mostly very friendly in my experience.

In practical terms you'll either have to join a convoy on your way south or you won't. If you need a guide on the road down south, then I'm sure if you make inquiries in Touggart you can find someone who needs a lift south. I very much doubt it is necessary though (more likely your agency is trying to sell you a few more guide days).

Personally though I would rate the bureacratic question as secondary to the overall security situation. If you've got balls big enough to travel in Algeria at the moment I'm sure you can take the inevitable bureacratic hurdles in your stride!

[Chris Scott]

As far as I understand it, one does not need a guide for road travel - that would be like China!
And note that it was via Tarahist that I got my updated visa info (http://www.sahara-overland.com/country/algeria.html)
a couple of months back - so the simple invite for some B&B may no longer work unless you are getting the supposedly shorter 'transit/road' visa'. Being summer, it has not been tested yet

In Salah-Tam convoys are an old story. - see:
http://www.sahara-overland.com/Sfiles/wash2.htm

Either way, I would not be surprised if none of these ruies are implemented in a blinding hurry - it may well, depend on the consulate. And once you are in.. you're in...

Another agency you all might try is:
Zeriba who run the campsite in Djanet central
BP92 -*33000 DJANET - ALGERIE
*www.zeribavoyage.com
Email*: contact@zeribavoyage.com
(note, email /web is actually in France - phone below is Alg)
00 213 29 47 55 49
fax? 00213 29 76 37 74

i get the impression he's a bit more 'African' than by-the-book Tarahist

In fact if anyone is going to Dj before I do I have a Thuraya to return to Salim. Ro, are you up for it?

Overall tho, I think much depends in Algeria on Le Para and his crew getting taken out. It would be a good resolution for tourism

Ch

[Sam Rutherford]

I go 100% with Chris' last paragraph...

Unfortunately, probably overly optimistic.

Sam.

[roro]

My plan was to go in Tam and Djanet in October/November .... and this was the reason I asked these questions .
But may be it is more realistic to wait a little and see how the situation will be in the next monthes .
To Chris : It's OK for the Thuraya and if I can't go there this autumn , I'll try next year ( March or April ) .

[roro]

I've got an info on the french forum :
A traveller have got a "classic" visa in Metz (33euros) like six monthes ago , with only a "classic" invitation from an agency in Tam...

[Budrinna]

Hi

Six months ago was before the holding of 32 travellers. But now ?

The problem is that we often hear about visas issued , but not the way how to proceed .Nobody related about when back !

Cheers

[roro]

This visa has been delivered YESTERDAY !
And I've phoned to my consulate for me and to a guide in Djanet : same procedure than 6 monthes ago , so I don't believe there are new conditions to obtain the visa .

RR.

[Budrinna]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by roro:

It wasn't clear . So hope to read Yrinfos when back .

I am planing same travel but counterclockwise as i stay in Grat Jamihiriyah.

Cheers]