Southern Wilayas Maintain Visa-on-Arrival for Tourists
Algeria is maintaining its visa-on-arrival policy for foreign tourists visiting its 24 southern wilayas, a measure intended to support the upcoming 2026-2027 Saharan tourism season. This system allows international visitors to obtain a visa directly upon arrival, provided their trip is organized through an accredited Algerian travel agency and their stay does not exceed 30 days. The initiative, first introduced in late 2022, has been instrumental in attracting nearly 39,000 tourists from 120 nationalities to the vast Saharan region since its inception.
The mechanism streamlines the entry process by allowing accredited agencies to submit travel programs via a digital platform, issuing tourists an embarkation authorization with a QR code. Visa fees are settled upon arrival at international airports, terrestrial border posts, and port entry points designated for tours to the southern wilayas. Originally, the policy covered a smaller number of wilayas, but it was expanded to 24 regions in early 2023, encompassing popular destinations such as Djanet, Tamanrasset, Timimoun, and Ghardaïa. This visa-on-arrival is specifically tailored for organized Saharan tourism groups and does not apply to individual travel, family visits, or business trips, which require the standard consular visa procedure.
The Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts, Houria Meddahi, reviewed the system on July 20, 2026, noting its contribution to invigorating tourism and employment in the southern wilayas. Following an interministerial meeting, several measures are planned to enhance the policy's operation, including monthly evaluation reports with travel agencies and continuous coordination by wilaya tourism directorates. The expansion of tourism in the south is evident in recent figures, with these wilayas welcoming approximately 750,000 tourists in 2025, including nearly 65,000 foreign visitors. During the 2025-2026 season, from October to April, about 470,000 tourists, of whom nearly 47,000 were foreign, explored the region, further supported by 258 hotel establishments offering 20,000 beds, with 21 new projects expected to open in 2026.
