Tunisia: employment grants Algerians residency

Tunisian authorities decided to offer new facilities to Algerians who wish to stay in the country, pointing out that any Algerian will be able to stay in Tunisia starting from next June, once he receives an employment contract signed by a Tunisian institution. A statement, issued by the Tunisian embassy in Algeria Tuesday stated: "for those Algerians who want to obtain residency cards, it was decided that it is sufficient to have a contract signed by a foundation located in Tunisia, without requiring a work license". The statement pointed out: "the Tunisian authorities also decided to terminate the exemption certificate of employment contract visas for Algerian citizens living in Tunisia and non-residents who wish to work”. The statement added: "these decisions are considered an implementation of the measures announced by Tunisian president Mohammed Moncef Marzouki, during his recent visit to Algeria and an application of the initiatives made by the Tunisian delegation during a meeting with the working group in charge of reviewing the settlement Convention that took place in Algiers on April 11 and 12, 2012”. The Tunisian ambassador in Algeria, Mohammed Naguib Hachanh has said recently that the four freedoms (the right of travel, employment, residence and property), are mentioned in the Convention of the Settlement of 1963. However, they were not applied for reasons related to the former regime. He added: “activating this agreement will exempt Algerians from property or employment licenses”.