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.
After the decision, receive your travel document from the mission or its service provider. If approved, check the visa sticker's validity dates, number of entries and permitted stay before travelling.
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).
