Algiers, December 16, 2025 – A government initiative designed to ease travel for Algerian citizens has been marred by widespread fraud, turning what was intended as a benefit into a national concern. The Minister of Interior, Local Authorities, and Transport, Said Saayoud, revealed that nearly 100,000 cases of fraud related to the foreign travel grant were recorded in November alone.
Speaking before the People’s National Assembly during a session dedicated to the new traffic law, Minister Saayoud explained that the fraudulent activities involved fictitious trips and the repeated stamping of passports without respecting the legal residency period abroad. He emphasized that networks of brokers and intermediaries, including some travel agencies, are facilitating the movement of Algerian citizens to Tunisia by land, leading to a significant outflow of foreign currency without any tangible benefit to either Algeria or Tunisia.
The Minister highlighted the alarming number of buses, exceeding 5,000, traveling to Tunisia, some of which were used to transport passengers in a fraudulent manner. These individuals were allegedly re-entering Algeria after only six days, in order to illegally claim the 750 Euro travel grant again.
Saayoud stated that the government, in coordination with Tunisian authorities, conducted a thorough assessment of the situation during a recent official visit led by the Prime Minister. The assessment revealed the involvement of certain travel agencies in orchestrating suspicious trips solely for the purpose of acquiring foreign currency. “I accompanied the Prime Minister to Tunisia last week, and we discussed this issue,” Saayoud stated. “We discovered that some travel agencies were transporting Algerian citizens to Tunisia through fraudulent means, allowing them to return to the country through unguarded border crossings after only seven days in order to benefit from the 750 Euro grant.”
The Minister noted that unemployed individuals are particularly targeted in these schemes, with estimates suggesting the involvement of approximately 100,000 people, some of whom are beneficiaries of unemployment benefits, often without fully understanding the illegal nature of their actions.
Saayoud described the recorded figures as “terrifying,” stating that the travel grant had transformed “from a blessing into a curse.” He announced the implementation of urgent control measures, including the imposition of prior authorization requirements for travel agencies’ buses crossing the border. He assured the public that the travel grant would not be abolished, as it is considered a right guaranteed to citizens. However, the severity of the reported fraud necessitates immediate action to prevent further abuse. Further details on the control measures are expected to be released in the coming days.
