VISA REQUIREMENTS & GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING TRAVEL BEFORE VISITING ALGERIA

Algeria may not be the usual place for a holiday, but with its Mediterranean coastline and beaches, magnificent mountains and canyons, topped with opportunities for travelling through parts of the Sahara, the country will surely surprise you. It is however important to make sure to comply to all travel requirements before leaving for Algeria.

This information piece tells you everything you need to know about visa requirements for visiting Algeria.

It is important to familiarise yourself with these legal requirements of entry before your visit. Visa requirements are governed by the Embassy of Algeria and are subject to change without prior notice. Rather check the country’s official website or enquire from a reputable travelling agency or tour operator like MoAfrika Tours what the latest updates or changes to the requirements for a visa application may be.

More information can be found on websites like https://visaguide.world; https://www.visabureau.com/worldwide; or https://visareservation.com/countries-visa-requirements

REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITING ALGERIA

A valid passport is the first requirement to travel to Algeria. The passport must have at least 6 months validity and you will also need to have a blank page or two on your passport for a visa and an entry stamp.

The Embassy of Algeria requires most visitors to be in possession of a valid visa before entering the country. A visa is authorised and issued upon application by a representative of Algeria’s embassy, mission or consulate after it has been determined that you are eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose.

It is best to make use of a reputable travel document expert to avoid errors before you offer your visa application, since it may have a better chance of acceptance when compiled professionally.

WHAT IS A VISA?

A visa is issued to international travellers visiting Algeria for a short stay on a temporary basis for tourism, business, study or medical reasons. Visas are normally issued for a maximum 30 or 90 days, depending on your country of residence.

A valid visa allows you to enter the country through a port of entry and stay in the country for the period specified in your visa. Note that you are restricted to the activity or reason stated in your application, for example, if you applied for a visa for a holiday or family visit, you are not allowed to work in the country during your stay.

COUNTRIES EXEMPTED AND COUNTRIES THAT NEED VISAS

Visitors holding passports from countries that are classified as ‘exempt’ do not need to apply for a visa prior to arriving in Algeria. These countries are Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Seychelles, and Tunisia.

All other visitors must be in possession of a valid visa which can be obtained from any of the Algerian Embassies or Consulate Generals around the world.

Holders of diplomatic and/or service passports from the following countries can also enter Algeria without a visa: Albania, Argentina, Benin, Brazil, Croatia, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Italy, Kuwait, Malta, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, Tanzania, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela and Vietnam.

Visitors traveling to Algeria on a cruise ship do not need a visa to enter the country if they are part of an organised shore excursion. Although UK passport holders are eligible to purchase a visa on arrival, it is still advised to buy it in advance to avoid possible complications.

DIFFERENT KINDS OF VISAS

Visas are granted for the following kind of short visits and the one you apply for will be determined by the reason why you wish to travel to Algeria.

Algerian Tourist Visa – issued only to applicants entering the country for the purpose of tourism where proof of accommodation (e.g. booking confirmation) and an invitation from a registered travel agency in Algeria is needed. Travellers to the south of Algeria may also need to provide a travel itinerary. 

Algerian Transit visa – permits applicants to transfer through Algeria en route to another destination. A transit visa is issued for a maximum of seven days and holders may not engage in any work or extend their stay while on this visa.

Algerian Business visa – requires a similar application process as for a tourist visa with the added requirement of a sponsorship letter from an acknowledged business as proof of the need for the visit. This visa only grants holders the right to attend meetings, conferences and other business-related activities but the holder is still not permitted to be employed in any capacity by anybody while in the country.

Temporary Work visa (since April 2004) – issued to foreign nationals holding work contracts which does not exceed 90 days, or provisional work authorisation from the services in charge of employment.  The employer has to undertake full financial responsibilities for repatriation of their foreign workers upon completion of their work contract.

Work visa (since April 2004) – issued to foreign nationals holding a provisional work authorization (APT) from the services in charge of employment in Algeria, and a certificate from the relevant services in which the employer undertakes full financial responsibilities for repatriation upon completion of the work contract.

Cultural visa – issued to people invited to take part in a cultural, scientific, social or sports events. A letter of invitation from the event organizer must be provided.

Diplomatic visa – issued to holders of diplomatic passports with an official letter from their embassy about the purpose and length of the stay, needed.

Students visa – issued to students that can prove confirmation of enrolment, payment of tuition fees and sufficient funds for studies and accommodation.

Medical visa – issued for travelling to Algeria for medical purposes like surgery, supported by confirmation from the hospital or health care centre and proof of payment of fees.

Press accreditation visa – issued to journalists, reporters and tv producers supported by a request from the employer, itinerary details and appointments, interviews and cities to be visited.

Official visa (visa de service) – issued to holders of official passports and an official letter from their administration stating the purpose and length of stay.

The number of times you are allowed to enter Algeria within the duration of a visa, is also determined by the kind: Single-entry visas only allow the holder to enter Algeria once. Even if you have not spent the entire issued number of days, you cannot return once you have left.

Multiple-entry visas allow a holder to leave and enter the country multiple times, provided that the total number of days they spend in Algeria does not exceed the days issued.

HOW AND WHERE TO APPLY FOR TOURIST AND TRAVEL VISAS WHEN VISITING ALGERIA

One needs to approach one of the Algerian Embassies or Consulate Generals located in the country where you live to apply for an Algeria visa.

Details about Algerian Embassies and Consulates around the world can be found on www.embassy-worldwide.com. In some countries you will be able to apply at the Algerian Embassy or consulate itself, but some consulates have outsourced their visa application to third parties.

Take account of processing times to decide when to apply for your Algerian visa. It may be worth checking with the embassy or consulate you are dealing with well in advance of your trip because timescales may differ considerably. The processing time also depends on the type of visa, the nationality of the person applying and the time of year.

If you have to submit your application and supporting documents in person, first make an appointment at the Algerian Embassy or Consulate General. Most visa authorities have online booking systems, or you may need to phone or email to make an appointment.

An Algerian visa application form can usually be downloaded from their website.

More information is available at https://www.visabureau.com/worldwide or

https://visareservation.com/countries-visa-requirements

DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR APPLICATION FOR AN ALGERIAN VISA

It is important to submit your application accompanied by the correct documents, so, make double sure about the requirements before you begin. One usually need to provide original documents as well as photocopies.

The documents include:

• Original passport valid for 6 months beyond your stay in Algeria, with at least 2 free pages for your Algerian visa to be attached.
• Fully completed and signed Algerian visa application form. You may need one or more copies depending on the particular embassy or consulate.
• Two passport-sized front view photographs in colour, with a plain or white background.
• Proof of residence with ID. A person must live in the jurisdiction of the embassy or consulate that you are dealing with.
• Flight itinerary and/or ticket showing entry and departure points in Algeria.
• Proof of accommodation in Algeria, like a hotel reservation and/or cruise reservation.
• If you are staying with family or friends in Algeria, an inviting letter from the host is needed.
• Proof of sufficient funds in the form of a bank statement and/or payslips.
• Proof of financial support in Algeria.
• Travel insurance for a minimum of €30,000 is mandatory for citizens of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Romania.
• Proof of employment status, a document to prove you are employed, self-employment, a student or retired.
• Birth and/or marriage certificate
• Letter of employment stating position held and purpose of visit to Algeria
• Work contract and/or work permit.
• Enrolment letter from a school or university approved by the Algerian authorities.
• Letter of invitation from an authorised travel agent if you are traveling to Algeria as a tourist, or a notarised invitation letter plus the inviter’s ID and passport, if you are planning to visit family or friends.
• Proof of and event or activity if applicable and
• Pre-paid, self-addressed envelope for the return of passports by mail.

COST OF AN ALGERIAN VISA

There is no standard or uniform visa fees for people visiting Algeria. It differs for the type of visa (single-entry/multiple-entry, long-stay/short-stay) as well as the Algeria consulate or embassy handling the application.

The required payment method also differs depending on the way of application. If you apply in person, you may have to pay in cash at the time of application. You may also be asked to pay in advance via bank draft and provide a payment slip. If you apply by mail, you may have to pay through bank transfer.

If a third-party visa application centre is used, there may also be a service fee payable. Fees are non-refundable even if the application is refused.

VACCINES NEEDED WHEN VISITING ALGERIA

Most travellers need the hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines while some should receive the cholera, malaria, hepatitis B, rabies, and yellow fever vaccines. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is usually required for a foreign visitor who is travelling from or transiting through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Yellow fever is endemic in tropical areas of Africa and Central and South America.

A yellow fever certificate is valid 10 days after the vaccination is administered, making it important to get the vaccination in time before leaving for Algeria. You may be refused entry if you leave it too late and arrive in Algeria within the 10-day waiting period.

OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS WHEN VISITING ALGERIA

VISITING ALGERIA WITH MINORS

There are no special requirements to visit Algeria with children except a valid individual passport, valid visa if necessary, parental authorisation if unaccompanied, a certificate of vaccination if necessary.

Some restrictions exist for children to leave the country. A minor with an Algerian citizen as father (stipulated on his or her birth certificate) can only leave Algeria if the father signs an ‘Autorisation Paternelle’. If travelling with just one parent, the parent (mother or father) must prove their parental link through a Livret de famille or a certified copy and unaccompanied minors need a letter from their parent or guardian granting them permission to travel out of the country. 

WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OVERSTAYS ON A VISA IN ALGERIA

All visitors should check the details of their visas, including validity dates, before travelling. A person that overstays the duration of his visa or the time he is permitted to stay in country as granted upon arrival, may be detained by the immigration police at the port of exit when attempting to exit. This may result in a criminal prosecution and up to three months in jail.

Anybody that needs to stay in Algeria for a longer period than his visa or entry stamp allows, may be able to extend it. You must apply for an extension at least 15 days before your current visa expires at the Foreigners’ Office (Bureau des Étrangers) in Algeria and have a valid reason as well as an invitation from someone in the country. The person inviting you must provide an Invitation Letter and accompany you when applying for the extension.

ENJOY A SAFE HOLIDAY IN ALGERIA WITH A REPUTABLE TOUR OPERATOR

MoAfrika Tours is a leading tour operator in South Africa that offers an outstanding selection of tours to Algeria. We have a close association with the most reputable tour operators in Algeria who make safety a priority.