Tunisian academics worried about French visa refusals

An academic controversy revives the debate on visa policy between France and Tunisia. Tunisian academics denounce the refusal to authorize their students to participate in an international scientific conference planned in Nancy.

The event in question, the International Congress of Electronic Circuits and Systems (ICECS), scheduled from November 18 to 20, 2024, is considered a major meeting in this field. Voices are being raised in the academic community, questioning the consistency of these refusals with the principles of international scientific cooperation.

Official statistics reveal a worrying trend: among the countries of the Schengen area, France appears to be the first country in terms of visa refusals for Tunisian nationals, with more than 17,000 applications rejected in 2023, representing nearly 45% total refusals. The university community is calling for a review of procedures, particularly for requests of an academic nature. These administrative restrictions risk having a lasting impact on scientific exchanges between the two countries.

The figures already show a significant development: in four years, visa applications from Tunisia have decreased considerably, taking the country from tenth to nineteenth place for applicants. This situation occurs in a broader context of redefinition of Franco-Tunisian relations, particularly in the field of higher education. Several university cooperation agreements are currently being renegotiated between the two countries.