Algeria: any change in obtaining Visa on the road? 6 embassies contacted, zero reply
 

Still on road (18 months consecutive this trip; 1800+ days since 2007). I did read 1.5 yrs ago someone got the Algeria visa in Tunisia after 14 day wait, and someone mentioned Brussels as an international body where the Visa would be possible.

Anyone get the Algerian visa outside their country of residence?


I've emailed 6 Algerian embassies in "Europe" and Tunisia (emails that went through; couple of other address bounced back) but zero responses.

Reason for writing is I explained my situation and give it in writing so they can read at their own pace and provide advice in writing so i have proof. On phone they will likely just be parrots repeating the Visa "policy".

Algeria policy "get visa in country of residence" but
-- impossible as no Algerian embassy in my country (yes could try a country near to "residence country" but i'm on the road)
-- cannot get all visas for world trip before starting or trip would never start, and many have 1-3 months validity for entry so would expire and need to restart the process

I always thought that Tunisia visa 1.5 yrs ago was a fluke; I have never heard of it before or since.

Algeria tourist visas must rank as among the most difficult in the world. Now more than ever they don't want the hassle of tourists unless closely controlled by an accredited tour agency. Though it may have happened on occasion, I would never expect to get any useful email response from a consulate like Algeria. Unless you have a 24-carat contact, no one will have the slightest interest in bending the rules for you and risk getting reassigned to Murmansk.

Just because you're on the road it doesn't mean you may not have to return home or fly somewhere else if you want to get an onward visa. That's just the way it is, as some have found on the African west coast route.

Fyi, I understand the southern border with Niger is closed or is only opened briefly for locals (all others long time closed for tourists, except Tunisia).

I assume though, that you are hoping to travel in the north of the country without an escort. That has been done once or twice in recent years but I think things have tightened up since. I believe one Iberian guy here managed to pull off a very short transit of the north in the last year.

I would suggest contacting a visa agency in your home country or close to it, instead of an embassy. They have more of an incentive ($$$) to respond, may have the ear of a given embassy, and will know the requirements by heart.

Chances are they will include an invite from the right sort of local (for the north + an itinerary?) or an agency with an itinerary for the south.

In Africa that has long been the problem that has limited or imposed itineraries, and is one of the reasons why most overlanders stick to a couple of routes. It's just the way it is but is where a spare passport can be handy.

good luck

Thanks Chris.

Re your comment that my travels may take me back to my home country ...as mentioned there is no Algerian embassy in the country where i'm resident.... and i may relocate to another country but it , too, has no Algerian embassy.
So, there could be an ALgerian embassy near to my country of residence, so why not use any of the ALgerian embassies.

In today's technology advanced world, perhaps any Algerian (or other country) embassy can verify me ... as compared to an embassy (1) in my country of residence (2) a country near to my country of residence

I just do not understand embassies with that policy of "get the Visa in your country of residence" ... they don;t really want tourists but business delegations ... as the Guinea-Bissau embassy in Gambia stated last year.

Just FYI, re those Visas for those West Africa top to bottom/vice verse trips, i got them all ... on the road ...in Africa ... no agencies (and many of those agencies VisaHQ, EmbassyFinder, etc have WRONG contact info for the embassies! ... hardly gives potential customer any confidence in them!)

Visa for Algeria
 

What you need to do is get on the web site for your country of residence and fill out the form, print it and send it along with the required photo''s and money by DHL along with your passport and in around 2 weeks you should be in business..It would also help lots if you can get a letter of invitation from someone in Algeria