Visa Fees and Administrative Procedures: Chadian Citizens Voice Their Concerns
By: Charilogone Editorial Team.Many Chadian citizens are denouncing the practices of the French Embassy in Chad regarding the processing of visa applications. Several testimonies describe what they consider arbitrary refusals, often without clear explanation, while the application fee — set at 59,000 FCFA — remains non‑refundable even when the visa is denied. For many, this situation creates a sense of injustice and opacity.
Citizens report that some files appear to be processed almost automatically, without a thorough review of the supporting documents. Yet, in any paid public service, there should be coherence between the fee charged and the quality of the service provided. When refusals seem widespread and applicants receive no detailed justification, the perception of an unjustified financial burden grows.
Based on a theoretical estimate, 1,000 refusals per year in Chad would represent 59 million FCFA collected. Extrapolated to 50 African countries, this could amount to nearly 2.95 billion FCFA per year. These figures are projections, but they fuel public debate about the transparency of consular procedures.
At the same time, several citizens are calling on Chadians to diversify their travel destinations. According to these voices, the idea of “seeing Paris at all costs” has become an outdated cultural pressure. For them, travel should be directed toward countries where visitors feel respected and valued. They believe it is time to move away from the ideology that France is an unavoidable destination and instead prioritize countries offering greater opportunities and consideration.
Other concerns are emerging regarding the management of Chadian passports. Some citizens question why Chadians living abroad are required to return to N’Djamena to renew their passports, while many African countries now offer remote renewal procedures. Testimonies also report that non‑Chadian individuals may be using Chadian passports to travel — a phenomenon allegedly flagged by international partners, including the United States. Recently, a Chadian student in Russia claimed that Sudanese nationals were traveling with Chadian documents, raising questions about the security and management of official identification.
For some citizens, these issues reflect an attempt to control the movement of Chadians, or even to limit their international mobility. They believe that national authorities and certain foreign partners closely monitor the travel of Chadian nationals, which may restrict their freedom of movement and their ability to express themselves politically. Whether these perceptions are accurate or not, they highlight the need for transparent dialogue between citizens, national authorities, and diplomatic representations.
The aim of these public concerns is not to accuse, but to raise awareness, encourage transparency, and remind institutions that citizens are entitled to administrative services that are clear, fair, and respectful. The issues raised deserve serious attention and thorough examination in order to restore trust between users and institutions.
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