Algeria

Scope

This guide is for owners and crew planning to visit Algeria aboard a private, non-commercial pleasure craft. It summarises available official customs, port, and visa information. Algerian customs law requires internationally navigating vessels to enter ports with a customs office. Foreign nationals generally need the applicable visa in advance, depending on nationality and itinerary. Public official sources do not provide a complete, uniform private-yacht clearance guide or a list of designated yacht entry ports. Confirm directly with the destination port's Customs, port authority, and immigration officials whether the vessel can be accepted, and check agent arrangements, forms, and port services.

Ports of entry

Article 56 of Algeria's Customs Code requires internationally navigating vessels to enter ports with a customs office. If duly evidenced force majeure requires a vessel to call elsewhere, the master must immediately report to the local Coast Guard maritime station (or the legally designated substitute), present the ship's log, and notify the nearest customs office. The official SERPORT group page lists 10 main port companies under its management: Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Béjaïa, Jijel, Ghazaouet, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, and Ténès. This company list is not an approved yacht-entry port list. Before departure, confirm with the port and Customs that it has an office able to process this vessel and that yachts may clear in there.

Before arrival

Algerian Customs' ALCES system provides online services for travellers, including declarations of currency and valuables and vehicle customs transit documents (TPD). Official information says these procedures can be completed online before reaching the border. The information covers traveller customs services at land, sea, and air borders, but does not specify private-yacht notice periods, vessel-document lists, or booking procedures. Contact Customs or a port agent at the intended arrival port before sailing to confirm yacht reporting requirements. Do not treat the traveller ALCES service as a substitute for vessel-entry reporting.

Entry and visas

Algeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that, except for people exempt from visas, foreign nationals must apply for the appropriate visa through an Algerian diplomatic or consular office before travel. Required documents vary by visa category and applicant; the general official list includes a passport valid for at least six months, photographs, travel insurance, and supporting documents for the relevant category. The Ministry states that a stay is generally limited to 90 days per entry. An extension may be requested in special circumstances but may not exceed a further 90 days; the actual total stay must not exceed 180 days per year. The Ministry also says ship and aircraft crew may receive a 2-to-7-day stopover authorisation. This is not an automatic exemption for all yacht visitors or crew. Check visa, crew-document, passenger-list, and shore-leave requirements with the competent consulate and arrival-port immigration authority for each person's nationality and purpose of stay.

Vessel customs declaration

Article 56 of the Customs Code generally allows internationally navigating vessels to call only at ports with a customs office. A force-majeure exception must be reported as prescribed and entered in the ship's log.

Article 57, as amended in 2017, requires the master or vessel agent to submit the following to Customs within 24 hours of arrival: a cargo declaration for goods intended to be unloaded in Algeria; a vessel stores declaration; declarations for crew members' personal effects and goods; and any other documents Customs requires to perform its duties. The documents are required even if the vessel carries no cargo. Fridays and public holidays are excluded from the 24-hour period. Article 57 bis permits the cargo declaration to be filed electronically before arrival, but it must still be confirmed within 24 hours after arrival.

These are general vessel-customs rules. Official sources do not say whether private yachts have a simplified declaration, and no complete yacht-specific temporary-import procedure was found. Before sailing, confirm with the intended entry port's Customs office which forms are required, including vessel registration and ownership papers, crew list, vessel stores, and any security.

Animals, plants, and pets

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's border-quarantine information requires relevant imported plants, animals, and animal products to have the health or phytosanitary permits and supporting documents applicable to their category. General rules for travellers' baggage do not establish that items aboard a vessel are exempt from inspection. A customs notice for travellers published by the Algerian Embassy in Lusaka says pets entering the country must have a veterinary health certificate issued no more than 8 days before entry and valid proof of rabies vaccination. The notice says the vaccination must have been given at least one month before entry and remain valid; the notice was published in 2025.

This pet information comes from an embassy traveller notice and does not replace confirmation with agricultural and veterinary authorities about the specific animal, its origin, or vessel-arrival procedures. Before carrying pets, meat, dairy products, plants, seeds, or other biological material, contact Algerian veterinary and phytosanitary authorities to confirm permits, inspection, and port arrangements.

Restricted items

Algerian Customs' traveller guidance lists drones, binoculars, GPS devices, weapons, and their accessories as sensitive equipment that cannot be brought in under ordinary personal-baggage rules and is subject to special controls. Before carrying such items aboard, check with Algerian Customs and the relevant authorities whether they are permitted and whether advance authorisation or declaration is required. The available public guidance does not explain a special permit process for yacht visitors.

Arrival procedures

Internationally navigating vessels must enter a port with a customs office. If force majeure requires a call elsewhere, the master must immediately report to the local Coast Guard maritime-station officer; if there is no such officer locally, report to the legally designated local authority. Present the ship's log for endorsement and immediately notify the nearest customs office.

After arrival, the master or vessel agent must submit the declarations required by current Customs Code Article 57 within 24 hours; Fridays and public holidays do not count toward the period. Article 57 bis allows the cargo declaration to be filed electronically in advance, but it must be confirmed within 24 hours after arrival.

SERPORT, Algeria's port group, lists 10 port-operating companies and their main commercial ports. This is not a list of ports authorised for yacht entry. Public official sources reviewed did not establish a uniform sequence, agent requirement, or office hours for private-yacht arrivals. Before departure, ask the intended port's Customs, port authority, and border authorities whether it accepts international yachts, and confirm berthing permission, quarantine and immigration procedures, agent requirements, and office hours.

Fees and departure

The Algerian official sources reviewed do not provide a single customs or departure total applicable to all foreign private yachts. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says consular visa fees vary by country. Port calls, agents, services, quarantine, and other charges must be checked separately for the vessel, port, and service. Before departure, confirm vessel-release and passenger-exit procedures, required declarations or certificates, amounts due and proof of payment with port Customs, and check the next destination's requirements. Do not treat cargo-vessel tariffs or old third-party quotes as current yacht rates.