At a Glance
- Capago Algeria closed France visa centers after forecasts warned of 120 km/h winds.
- TLS Contact shut Spain visa services, postponing appointments until conditions improve nationwide.
- Storms disrupted flights, schools and parallel currency trading in Algiers markets Wednesday.
Capago Algérie, the exclusive provider responsible for collecting France visa applications in Algeria, announced an exceptional closure of its centers from 1 p.m., following forecasts of wind gusts reaching up to 120 kilometers per hour in several wilayas. Authorities cited safety concerns as the storms prompted school closures and multiple flight cancellations nationwide.
In a statement, Capago said applicants with appointments scheduled during the affected period who were unable to attend earlier in the day should contact customer service to reschedule. The company added that a decision on whether visa centers will reopen on Thursday, Jan. 29, will be communicated later, depending on weather conditions.
Spain visa services also affected
The disruption extended beyond France-bound travelers. TLS Contact Algeria, which manages visa applications for Spain, also announced an exceptional closure of its centers, citing risks linked to strong winds.
TLS said its offices would remain closed Wednesday afternoon and throughout Thursday, with services expected to resume on Sunday, Feb. 1. Appointments booked during the closure period will be postponed to the following week, with affected applicants notified of new dates.
Flights, schools and currency markets hit
The severe weather has had wider economic and logistical consequences. At Port-Saïd Square in Algiers, a key hub for parallel-market currency exchange, traders were largely absent, halting updates to euro and U.S. dollar exchange rates.
Aviation authorities also canceled several domestic and international flights, while schools across affected regions were ordered shut as a precaution.
Growing impact on mobility
The closures highlight how extreme weather events are increasingly disrupting cross-border mobility and visa processing in North Africa, where application systems remain highly centralized.
For travelers, students and businesses, even short-term shutdowns can trigger cascading delays across travel, education and financial planning.
