Romania Transfers Visa Processing for Algerians to Tunis

The Romanian Embassy in Algiers has stopped processing visa applications, with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcing on November 13 that the responsibility has been transferred to the Romanian Embassy in Tunis. This decision aims to resolve the backlog caused by the lack of personnel at the Algiers post and ensure the resumption of file examination. Existing applications will be handled individually via email.

The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the activities related to visa processing have been transferred to the Tunis embassy to address the personnel shortage in Algiers. Applicants with pending files will be contacted individually by email and advised to monitor their spam folders. However, several practical questions remain unanswered, including the duration of this arrangement and the impact on processing times.

The Algiers consular section, which also covers Niger and Chad, had been operating intermittently. On June 19, the embassy announced its suspension due to the vacancy of the consul position. The last resumption of services occurred on December 2, 2024. In 2025, the Romanian Embassy in Algiers received 382 short-stay visa applications, approving 296 and rejecting 96.

According to the European Commission's consular statistics for 2025, the Romanian Embassy in Algiers processed 0.09% of the total 444,577 Schengen visa applications submitted in Algeria. In contrast, the Romanian Embassy in Tunis handled 527 applications with a 21.9% rejection rate. The Romanian Embassy in Tunis will now handle visa applications from Algerians.

To apply for a visa, applicants must use the eViza portal, which requires them to submit their applications to the mission responsible for their domicile or residence. The portal allows temporary and legal residents in the country to apply. However, applicants must still travel to Tunis to provide biometric data, including fingerprints, and submit their documents in person.

A short-stay visa application must be submitted at least three weeks and no more than three months before the intended departure date. The visa fee is 90 euros, with a reduced fee of 45 euros for children aged 6-12. These fees apply to all Schengen visa applications submitted from Algeria.

The Romanian Embassy in Tunis will handle visa applications from Algerians, but several questions remain unanswered, including the duration of this arrangement and the resumption of normal services in Algiers. Applicants can find more information on the eViza portal and the Romanian Embassy in Tunis's website.

Key points

• The Romanian Embassy in Algiers has stopped processing visa applications due to personnel shortages.
• Existing applications will be handled individually via email.
• The Romanian Embassy in Tunis will now handle visa applications from Algerians.