Short-stay visa (C) — tourism & visiting: Algerian citizen in Algeria → France
Algerian citizens need a Schengen short-stay visa for France — apply at the France visa application centre and give biometrics.
Uniform Schengen short-stay visa for tourism or visiting, applied for through France as the main destination.
- Validity
- The consulate decides how long it lasts. A first or occasional visa usually just covers your trip; the more you travel (with a clean record), the longer a multiple-entry visa you can get — up to 5 years (the EU visa cascade).
- Entries
- Single, double or multiple entry — shown on the visa as 1, 2 or MULT
- Max stay per visit
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period — this cap applies even with a 5-year visa
When to start
Start 30 days–6 months before your travel date.
Submit your application no earlier than 6 months before your trip, and at least 15 days before you travel.
For short-stay visa applications, plan to submit your file at least one month before your planned departure date.
Pay the Schengen short-stay visa fee — €90 for adults (reduced for children aged 6–12).
Applications in Algeria are decided only by the French Consulates-General in Alger, Annaba and Oran.
Applicant intake and document submission in the Algiers consular district are handled by the Capago centre; apply via the online form on France-Visas.
Attend the visa application centre in person to give your fingerprints and have your photo taken. Some categories of applicant are exempt.
What you'll need
- Valid passport — Your passport's expiry date must be at least 3 months after the date of your departure from the Schengen area. ✓ verified
- Schengen application form — A completed Schengen short-stay visa application form. ✓ verified
- Photo — One recent photo compliant with ICAO standards. ✓ verified
- Travel medical insurance — Medical insurance covering emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation (including in the event of death). ✓ verified
- Supporting documents — Evidence of the purpose of your stay, your financial means, accommodation, and your intention to return home after the stay. ✓ verified
Where you'll apply
Where you'll apply in Algeria
Apply in your districtApplications in Algeria are received by Capago centres and decided by the French Consulates-General in Alger, Annaba and Oran.
Getting a slot — book early · community-reported, checked 2026-06-13
- Slots are released in batches with no fixed public schedule — most often early morning local time, on Monday mornings, and around the 1st of the month.
- For popular consulates (e.g. France, Italy and Spain in big cities), a fresh batch can be gone within minutes — be registered and logged in before you look.
- Cancellations free up slots throughout the day, so check daily even when it shows ‘no availability’.
- Because of this, apply as early as you are allowed — up to 6 months before travel. Waiting until 1–2 months out often means no slots are left at all.
Fees
Gotchas to watch
- France–Algiers is one of the highest-volume visa consulates worldwide — appointment demand is intense, so apply as early as possible.
- Apply through France only if it is your main destination (longest stay).