Capago Algérie – the private outsourcing provider that collects Schengen-France visa applications on behalf of the French consulates – quietly announced on 30 October that, as of 1 November 2025, walk-in applicants at its Oran centre must book a time-slot on the company’s website before filing a dossier. The new rule ends the long-standing ‘sans-rendez-vous’ channel that many short-stay and business-visa applicants had relied on to obtain last-minute slots.
Capago explains that the change is designed to “assure a better flow of applicants and greater comfort for users”. Time-slots will be available 24/7 online and remain free of charge, but only those with a confirmation QR-code will be allowed through the security gate. Retiree-card requests keep a separate, partly paper-based channel for now. The company stresses that it is “the only service provider mandated by the French authorities” and reminds users not to pay intermediaries.
![Capago Algérie switches to mandatory online appointments for Schengen-France visa applicants in Oran]()
The Oran pilot is the latest step in a wider digitisation push. The centres in Constantine and Annaba made online booking compulsory earlier this year, and Capago’s main Algiers hub already uses a hybrid model that combines call-centre pre-screening with limited walk-ins. Industry observers say the move foreshadows a fully biometric, end-to-end e-visa platform that Paris hopes to roll out across North Africa before the 2026 Olympic Games. France’s interior ministry has repeatedly signalled that reducing queues and improving data quality are priorities, especially as the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) gathers pace.
For corporate mobility managers, the operational impact is immediate. Last-minute travel from Algeria to France will require tighter planning, because ad-hoc submissions are no longer possible in Oran. HR teams are advised to monitor slot availability daily and budget additional lead-time for expatriate and project-based staff. The change also raises equity concerns: critics argue that older applicants and workers with limited internet access may struggle to secure appointments, potentially widening an already significant urban-rural mobility gap.
Practically, Capago recommends that travellers create a user profile, upload the required documents (passport bio-page, invitation letter, travel insurance, proof of funds) in PDF format, and print the appointment confirmation. Applicants should arrive 15 minutes before their slot; latecomers must rebook. French consular fees (€80 for adults) and Capago’s service charge (currently €32) remain unchanged. Capago says it will “evaluate the pilot after three months” before extending the rule nationwide – a timeline that suggests full harmonisation by spring 2026.
Capago explains that the change is designed to “assure a better flow of applicants and greater comfort for users”. Time-slots will be available 24/7 online and remain free of charge, but only those with a confirmation QR-code will be allowed through the security gate. Retiree-card requests keep a separate, partly paper-based channel for now. The company stresses that it is “the only service provider mandated by the French authorities” and reminds users not to pay intermediaries.
The Oran pilot is the latest step in a wider digitisation push. The centres in Constantine and Annaba made online booking compulsory earlier this year, and Capago’s main Algiers hub already uses a hybrid model that combines call-centre pre-screening with limited walk-ins. Industry observers say the move foreshadows a fully biometric, end-to-end e-visa platform that Paris hopes to roll out across North Africa before the 2026 Olympic Games. France’s interior ministry has repeatedly signalled that reducing queues and improving data quality are priorities, especially as the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) gathers pace.
For corporate mobility managers, the operational impact is immediate. Last-minute travel from Algeria to France will require tighter planning, because ad-hoc submissions are no longer possible in Oran. HR teams are advised to monitor slot availability daily and budget additional lead-time for expatriate and project-based staff. The change also raises equity concerns: critics argue that older applicants and workers with limited internet access may struggle to secure appointments, potentially widening an already significant urban-rural mobility gap.
Practically, Capago recommends that travellers create a user profile, upload the required documents (passport bio-page, invitation letter, travel insurance, proof of funds) in PDF format, and print the appointment confirmation. Applicants should arrive 15 minutes before their slot; latecomers must rebook. French consular fees (€80 for adults) and Capago’s service charge (currently €32) remain unchanged. Capago says it will “evaluate the pilot after three months” before extending the rule nationwide – a timeline that suggests full harmonisation by spring 2026.
