Tunisian Students Stranded in Visa Limbo for Romanian Universities

Tunisian students, officially accepted into Romanian public universities for the current academic year, are facing a critical administrative situation. Their long-stay student visas (D/SD) are blocked, with no decision or timeline from the Romanian Embassy in Tunis.

The students have completed all required procedures, including obtaining official acceptance letters from the Romanian Ministry of Education, preparing compliant dossiers, and paying tuition fees in foreign currency. Despite this, their passports have been held by the Romanian Embassy for weeks without explanation or notification of progress. This delay has led to severe consequences, including the risk of academic expulsion, significant financial and moral damage to families, and a violation of the freedom of movement due to the prolonged retention of official identity documents.

With the academic year already underway in Romania, the delay threatens to waste an entire year of study for these students, who have complied with all regulations. The situation has prompted an urgent appeal to the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad to intervene and secure the immediate return of the passports and the unblocking of the visa applications. The Romanian authorities are also urged to address this institutional contradiction where state universities have validated the students' admissions.

The Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has expressed concern and is monitoring the situation. The ministry has called for diplomatic intervention to resolve the issue and ensure the students' academic futures are not jeopardized. The ministry has also emphasized the importance of protecting the rights and interests of Tunisian students studying abroad, highlighting the need for swift and effective action from both Tunisian and Romanian authorities.

In response to the crisis, the Tunisian General Union of Students has organized protests and advocacy efforts to raise awareness about the students' plight. The union has called on the Tunisian government to take decisive action to protect the students' rights and ensure their safe and timely departure to Romania. The union has also urged the Romanian authorities to expedite the visa process and provide a clear timeline for the resolution of the issue. The union has emphasized the importance of international cooperation and diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis and ensure the students' academic futures are not compromised.

The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged the situation and is working to address the visa delays. The ministry has stated that it is committed to resolving the issue as quickly as possible and ensuring that the students can begin their studies in Romania without further delay. The ministry has also expressed its commitment to protecting the rights and interests of international students and ensuring that the visa process is fair and transparent.

As the situation continues to unfold, the Tunisian students remain hopeful that a resolution will be reached soon. They have expressed their gratitude for the support they have received from their families, the Tunisian government, and the international community. The students have also emphasized the importance of education and the need for international cooperation to ensure that students can pursue their academic goals without unnecessary obstacles.