Overview

• The French embassy in Algiers said it granted 8,351 student visas for the 2025 intake, roughly 1,000 more than in 2024, with an acceptance rate of 87%.
• The Interior Ministry said it was not informed of the decision, with a senior source expressing anger over the process.
• A diplomatic source described the increase as not significant and within the range of the past four years.
• Right‑wing politicians condemned the move, with some labeling it a “masochistic diplomacy,” and former magistrate Georges Fenech arguing the student track has become an immigration channel.
• Europe 1 reports a widening policy split: the Foreign Ministry says it targets Algerian officials and protects students, while the Interior wants visa control tied to Algeria’s cooperation on readmissions and claims firm guidance was not relayed to consulates.