Traveling to Algeria

What to do before you leave, checked against official sources.

Country

Passport

Yes, you need a visa

With a US passport, apply for your visa at the embassy or consulate before you leave.

Visa on arrival possible for a tour of the Deep South organized by a licensed agency (30 days max).

Our advice: apply one to two weeks before you leave, even if the answer often comes sooner.

Entry and visa

Visa depends on your nationality, apply at the consulate

Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality. Check with the passport selector above or with the Algerian consulate that covers your place of residence.
If you need a visa, apply at the Algerian consulate that covers your place of residence. France has 18 of them, including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Nice, Bordeaux, Nantes and Toulouse.
There are several types of visa: tourist, family, business, work, cultural, study and transit. A business visa requires an assignment letter or an invitation from an Algerian partner, plus a hotel booking or a proof of accommodation.
Official sources give neither a processing time nor a fee. Ask your consulate directly.
Our advice: apply at least two weeks before departure, and earlier if you can. One missing document can hold everything up.
For a tour of the Deep South (Tamanrasset, Djanet, Illizi, Adrar, Timimoun, etc.) organized by a licensed agency, a visa can be issued on arrival, for 30 days at most. The agency sends you an authorization with a QR code, and the visa fee is paid on arrival.
Journalists, bloggers and influencers need an accreditation visa. France Diplomatie strongly recommends stating any intention to publish content online when you apply.

Yellow fever depending on where you arrive from, no malaria

The yellow fever vaccine is required only if you arrive from a country where the disease circulates, from the age of 9 months, including after a transit of more than 12 hours at an airport in such a country. It is therefore not required if you fly in directly from a country with no risk.
Reminder: since 2016, a single dose is valid for life for most adults, and so is the certificate (WHO). A second dose is recommended before a new trip if you were vaccinated before the age of 2, during pregnancy, or if you are living with HIV or a weakened immune system. Keep your yellow card (international certificate of vaccination) with your passport, and ask the vaccination center if you are unsure.
Bring your routine vaccinations up to date (diphtheria, tetanus, polio, whooping cough, measles). Hepatitis A is recommended. Typhoid, hepatitis B and rabies are worth discussing depending on the length and conditions of your stay.
There is no malaria transmission in Algeria, and no preventive treatment is recommended.
Drink only bottled water with an intact seal, filtered water or boiled water. Avoid raw vegetables, shellfish and reheated dishes: cholera and typhoid spread through water and food.
Carry your medicines in their original packaging with the prescription, and check that they are allowed in Algeria.
Insurance covering all medical costs and repatriation is essential. Your embassy cannot pay these costs.

Algerian dinar, cash withdrawals are hard

The currency is the Algerian dinar (DZD), issued by the Bank of Algeria.
Withdrawing cash in Algeria is difficult. France Diplomatie advises exchanging foreign currency instead.
Foreign currency amounting to €1,000 or more must be declared to customs, both on entry and on exit.
Keep the customs form stamped by a Bank of Algeria counter, a bank or an authorized exchange office: it lets you take unused foreign currency back out.
Only residents may bring dinars in or out, up to 10,000 DZD.

Avoid the borders, Sahara only with a guide

According to the French foreign ministry (France Diplomatie), travel is strongly advised against in the border areas, particularly those with Libya, Mali and Niger, as well as along the Tunisian border south of Tébessa. The crossing into Libya is closed.
Advised against unless essential: the wilayas of Aïn Defla, Batna and Sétif, the Aurès and Chréa mountains, the area near the Moroccan border (closed since 1994), the Tindouf region and the Hassi Messaoud region.
The Sahara, especially around Tamanrasset, is under increased vigilance. You cannot travel there without a guide: go through a licensed agency and stay on the planned routes, with an escort.
Algiers and Oran are under normal vigilance. Keep your papers and valuables on you, and avoid deserted places at night, crowds and demonstrations.
Road accidents claim many lives. For long distances, flying is recommended. The earthquake risk is high.
Do not photograph official buildings. Drones, binoculars and GPS devices are subject to very strict import authorizations.
Also check your own government's travel advice, which may be stricter.

Arabic and Tamazight, type C/F plugs, Fri. and Sat. weekend

The official languages are Arabic and Tamazight.
Type C and F plugs, 230 V and 50 Hz.
Algeria is on UTC+1 all year: same time as Paris in winter, 1 hour behind in summer.
The weekend is Friday and Saturday. Supermarkets, shops and post offices open on Saturdays.
For French travelers: a French license lets you drive for a stay of up to 90 days. The dialing code is +213.
Dress discreetly. At places of worship, shoulders and legs must be covered, and women must cover their hair. Nudity and topless sunbathing are prohibited on beaches.
During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking in public between sunrise and sunset is prohibited. Drug offenses are severely punished.

Spring and fall on the coast

In Algiers, the hot season runs from late June to late September. August is the hottest month, with about 29 °C during the day and 19 °C at night.
The cool season runs from late November to late March. In January, expect about 16 °C during the day and 6 °C at night.
November and December are the wettest months in Algiers. According to WeatherSpark, the most pleasant time to visit runs from late May to late July.
The Sahara has an extreme climate: bring plenty of water, food and clothing that protects you from the sun.
Independence Day is on July 5. November 1, the anniversary of the start of the revolution, is also a public holiday.

Rules can change without notice: before you leave, always check with the embassy of Algeria and your own government's travel advice.