Algeria

See the Embassy of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria website for visa information.

Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety: According to local media, Algeria has the fourth highest vehicular accident rate in the world. Problems include poorly maintained roads, a severe lack of roadway signage, insufficient vehicle maintenance, defective, pirated auto parts, driver fatigue, and reckless and unskilled drivers.  Lack of enforcement continues to be a major problem.  While emergency response resources are adequate in Algiers and other populated cities, this is not the case in rural areas.

Travel overland, particularly in the southern regions, may require a permit issued by the Algerian government.

Algeria recognizes International Driving Permits. U.S. citizens who wish to drive in Algeria should obtain an International Driver’s Permit in advance.  See the Department’s Driving Abroad page for more information on driving permits. For information on obtaining an Algerian driver’s license, see the Algerian Ministry of Interior’s page for driving licenses.

Drivers will encounter police and military checkpoints on major roads within/around Algiers and other major cities.

Rather than traffic lights, police control most major traffic intersections in Algiers.

Public Transportation: Trains operate between cities in the coastal regions of Algeria (although not inter-country) and are generally safe and reliable. There is a new urban railway in Algiers that runs along the coast and is clean and well-policed. Due to concerns about crime and mechanical safety, citizens should consider carefully the risks of buses, as well as taxis hailed on the street. There are new radio-dispatch taxis within Algiers.  

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the website of the Algerian Embassy in Washington, DC. for information concerning Algerian driver’s permits, vehicle inspection, road tax, and mandatory insurance. 

Aviation Safety Oversight: As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Algeria, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of Algeria’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards.  Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.

Safety and Security

Terrorist Activity

• The Department of State urges U.S. citizens who travel to Algeria to evaluate carefully the risks to their personal safety. 
• There is a high threat of terrorism and kidnapping in Algeria, as noted in the Department of State's most recent Worldwide Caution. 
• Although the major cities are heavily policed, attacks are still possible. 
• The majority of terrorist attacks, including bombings, false roadblocks, kidnappings, and ambushes have historically occurred in the mountainous areas to the east of Algiers (Kabylie region and eastern wilayas) and in the expansive Saharan desert regions of the south and southeast.
• The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens against travel to the Kabylie region and remote areas of southern and eastern Algeria.
• See our Travel Warning for Algeria for more information.  U.S. citizens in Algeria should keep a low-profile and avoid predictable travel patterns.

Civil Disturbances

Civil disturbances occur throughout the country.  These disturbances are overwhelmingly based in longstanding socio-economic grievances, including over housing and public sector salaries. Protesters have ignited fireworks, thrown Molotov cocktails, damaged property, looted businesses, and robbed passersby. At times police use tear gas and other means to disperse crowds. 

The Embassy may not be able to provide full emergency consular services in certain areas of the country due to security restrictions.

CRIME:  The crime rate in Algeria is moderate.  Algeria has a very visible police presence throughout the country, including many plain-clothes police officers.  Petty theft and home burglary occur frequently in low income areas, and occasionally in affluent neighborhoods.  Theft of contents and parts from parked cars, pick-pocketing, theft on trains and buses, theft of items left in hotel rooms, and purse snatching are common.  Only stay in hotels where adequate security is provided.

See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information on scams.

VICTIMS OF CRIME:  U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault should first contact the U.S. Embassy at (213)770-08-2200. 

The local equivalents to the “911” emergency line in Algeria are:

Fire: dial 14 from a landline; dial 021-71-14-14 from a mobile phone

Police: dial 17 from a landline; dial 021-73-53-50 from a mobile phone

Ambulance: dial 021-23-63-81

Reliability and response time of emergency services varies, but is not to U.S. standards. Emergency operators may or may not speak French; they normally do not speak English.

Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas.

We can:

• help you find appropriate medical care
• assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• provide a list of local attorneys
• provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical
• support in cases of destitution
• help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• replace a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence:  U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the U.S. embassy for assistance.

For further information:

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. 
  
  
• Call us in Washington at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
  
  
• See the State Department's travel website for Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts.
  
  
• Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. 
  
  
• See traveling safely abroad for useful travel tips.