ENTRY VISA:

Scholars who have worked in either Morocco or Tunisia will find that traveling to Algeria will entail more preparation time in order to gain a visa.  One needs to have a valid visa in their passports before traveling to Algeria. Visas are not granted upon arrival in Algiers. Visa inquiries are handled by the Algerian Embassy in the applicant’s country of residence. Applications for an Algerian visa submitted outside of the applicants country of residence will be rejected. Visiting scholars must apply for a Cultural visa. CEMA strongly urge those traveling to Algeria to complete the necessary documentation for their visa at least one month in advance of their departure date. While requirements may vary from nationality to nationality, CEMA writes attestation letters for all researchers, who have agreed to pay membership dues, wishing to enter Algeria.

Most consular offices provide the option of sending your passport to them via an express mail service with a pre-paid return envelope enclosed in order for the embassy staff to send your passport and visa back to you. You should call ahead of time to verify that this is the case. Most Algerian visas are granted for a period of three months, although it may be possible to negotiate a visa longer than that time frame.  If you receive no response to your visa request, you should call the embassy to inquire about the status of your passport/visa.

EXTENDING YOUR STAY IN ALGERIA:

Algerian visas are valid for the time listed on the visa. The two most common types of visas include a one-month, single-entry visa and a three-month, multiple-entry visa.  The visa is valid for the length of time specified, starting from the date you enter Algeria.  For those scholars seeking to remain in Algeria beyond three months, one can either extend an existing visa temporarily for one month or to apply for a residency card (shahada al-iqama) for the remainder of your stay.  In Algiers, to apply for a one-month extension of a current visa, you need to go down to the Bureau des Etrangères, located at 20, blvd. Zighout Youcef in Algiers.  Outside of Algiers, the process is done through the Bureau des Etrangères at the local wilaya. They usually work half-days and are open from 8:30 in the morning to 11:30 in the morning.

The minimum requirements for a visa extension are as follows:

-Copies of the title page of your passport and the page in which your visa is listed.
-A timbre-fiscal for 500 Algerian dinars (purchaseable at any post office)
-Several passport-size photos
-A certificat d’hebergement (certificate of housing) legalized at the local arrondisement.
-An attestation from CEMA (the Centre d’Etudes Maghrébines en Algérie) stating that you are a CEMA-affiliated scholar and briefly describing your research project.

The Algerian authorities seem to prefer to grant one-month visa extensions no earlier than 2 weeks prior to the expiration of your current visa. If you apply for a visa extension with fewer than two weeks before the expiration of your current visa, your application will be rejected.

RESIDENCY CARDS (carte de residence/shahada al-iqama)

The minimum requirements for a residency card are as follows:

-Copies of the title page of your passport and the page in which your visa is listed.
-A timbre-fiscal for 500 Algerian dinars (purchasable at any post office, often located in the local wilaya)
-Ten (10) passport-size photos
-A certificat d’hebergement (certificate of housing) legalized at the local arrondisement.
-An attestation from CEMA (the Centre des Etudes Maghrébines en Algérie) stating that you are a CEMA grantee and briefly describing your research project.
-A certificate of good health written after having undergone a general medical examination.
-A chest x-ray certifying that you do not have tuberculosis.
-A legalized copy of the CEMA research protocol with the Algerian Ministry of Higher Education

Residency card applications should be deposited at your local police commissariat. Your landlord should be able to direct your to your local commissariat. This process can be tedious and slow. Keep in mind that Algerians do not get many requests from foreigners to become residents.  Keep your cool and update CEMA about your process regularly and eventually you should receive your residency card.