Algeria Travel Guide

Algeria — Passport and Visa Information

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Passports

Country	Passport Required	Visa Required	Return Ticket Required
Other EU	Yes	Yes	Yes
USA	Yes	Yes	Yes
Canadian	Yes	Yes	Yes
Australian	Yes	Yes	Yes
British	Yes	Yes	Yes

Passport valid for at least six months required by all nationals referred to in chart.

Visas

Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except the following:
(a) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within 24 hours provided holding sufficient funds, onward and return documentation and not leaving the airport. If transit exceeds 24 hours, transit visa should be obtained before entering Algeria.

Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the consulate to check visa requirements.

Note: Children traveling with parents need a visa regardless of their age. If children are traveling on their parents passport then three photographs of the child are required in addition to the parents application.

Transit

One or two entries, seven days max costs £60.

Types of Visa and Cost

Cost varies according to nationality. For British passport holders, it costs £85 for a single or multiple entry tourist visa. Contact the consulate (or consular section at embassy) for details.

Validity

Tourist: approximately 30 days. Multiple-entry: up to 90 days. Transit: maximum 48 hours. Business: dependent on each case.

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy)

Working Days Required

Dependent upon nationality, but generally at least 10 working days for applications made in person and at least 10-15 for postal applications.

Travel Warnings

Travel to the area south of Arak is not advised.

Travelers are also advised to avoid all but essential travel to the administrative districts (wilayas) of Boumerdès, Bouira, Tizi Ouzou, east of Algiers, which have been the focus of sustained terrorist activity over the last three years.

Travelers should also exercise caution in the wilayas of Bejaia, the the east of Algiers, and Blida, Medéa, Chlef and Ain Defla, south and west of Algiers. Journeys within Algeria should be made by air where possible.

There is a high threat from terrorism in Algeria. Exercise extreme caution at all times as terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate, targeting places frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers, such as restaurants, hotels and shopping centers.

If visiting Algiers, exercise caution at all times. It is generally safe to move around the center of the city during the day. You should avoid areas that you do not know, particularly in the suburbs of the city, and especially after dark.

We advise against travel by road at night outside the major cities.

The high threat from terrorism in Algeria remains. On 22 October 2009, seven Algerian security guards were killed and two were injured in a gun attack south-east of Tizi Ouzou, between Maatkas and Souk El Tenine. The security guards were en route to work, where they were responsible for protecting the building site of a Canadian company.

On 29 July 2009, 14 Algerian soldiers were killed and several others wounded in an ambush in Damous, in the wilaya of Tipaza. A roadside bomb was detonated and then the soldiers were fired upon.

There were two explosions in Bordj el Kiffan, in the suburbs of eastern Algiers on 4 June 2008. A suicide bomber who was targeting the Republican Guard barracks, is reported to have died along with at least one soldier and several people were injured. The second explosion was at a cafe close to the barracks. In 2007, there were a number of bomb attacks in Algeria. There were two explosions in central Algiers on 11 December 2007, causing over 30 fatalities.

Foreigners have been targeted by terrorists. Travelers should exercise extreme caution at all times as terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers such as restaurants, hotels and shopping centers.

If you are planning to travel to Algeria, you should be very careful about your personal security arrangements throughout your visit. It is recommended that you vary your daily travel routines, changing the timings and routes of regular journeys where possible. Check travel advice regularly for updates.

Overland travel between major cities should be avoided at night. Sustained small-scale attacks, including bombings, illegal roadblocks, kidnapping and murder, occur in rural and remote sections of the country.

Travelers are recommended to vary unavoidable travel, changing the timings and routes of regular journeys where possible.

Crimes against individuals, such as assaults and muggings, are on the increase in urban areas. Visitors should avoid carrying large amounts of money or valuable property.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

Health Care

Healthcare facilities are generally of a reasonable standard in the north but more limited in the south. Doctors and hospitals usually ask for immediate cash payment for their services. Emergency cases will be dealt with free of charge. Comprehensive travel insurance is essential.