Local Laws

Criminal Penalties:  You are subject to local laws.  If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. 

Always carry your passport, or a copy of it, with you, or you may be taken in for questioning.

It is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. Photographing military and government installations is prohibited.  

It is also illegal to bring in weapons, body armor, handcuffs, GPS devices, or binoculars.  

Driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail.

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law.  For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest Notification:  If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. embassy immediately.  See our webpage for further information.

Faith-Based Travelers:  Islam is the state religion of Algeria.  The Algerian government allows non-Muslim religious worship only in structures exclusively intended and approved for that purpose. Activities such as proselytizing and encouraging conversion to a faith other than Islam are prohibited. Penalties may include fines and imprisonment.  See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report.

LGBTI Travelers:  Consensual same-sex sexual relations are criminalized in Algeria. Penalties include fines and terms of imprisonment of up to three years. Although the U.S. Embassy is not aware of any recent arrests or prosecutions for such activities, they remain illegal.

Existing laws on associations may be used to refuse full legal standing to LGBT associations. LGBT persons face societal discrimination.

Some LGBTI individuals receive violent threats and feel compelled to flee the country. While some LGBT persons live openly, the vast majority does not, and most fear reprisal from their families or harassment from authorities.

See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section 6 of our   Human Rights report for further details.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance:  Physical accessibility and accommodations tend to be lacking, as compared to the United States.  The condition of sidewalks and streets is often poor, and there are almost no curb cuts or other modifications made for wheelchairs.  Street curbs in Algeria stand much higher than those in the U.S., and a person in a wheelchair would require significant assistance in negotiating curbs. 

Hotels, restaurants, and most government buildings are not accessible to persons with physical disabilities.  Restrooms and elevators rarely can accommodate wheelchairs.  Very few vehicles, notably buses and taxis, are accessible for persons with serious physical disabilities.

Students:  See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips.

Women Travelers:  Expatriate women walking along the streets in Algeria may experience sexual harassment from passing motorists and pedestrians.  See our travel tips for Women Travelers.

Travel within Algeria: All employees of foreign companies or organizations based in Algeria who are not Algerian citizens must contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before engaging in any travel within the interior of the country.  The Ministry will notify local police of the planned travel and the police may choose to assign escorts for that travel.

Disaster Preparedness:  Algeria is a seismically active country, with earthquakes regularly occurring throughout the country.  Make contingency plans for your travel in Algeria and leave emergency contact information with family members outside of Algeria.  General information about natural disaster preparedness is available from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and at Ready.gov.  For more information on disaster preparedness, please see the following links:

• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
• FEMA: Earthquakes
• FEMA for Kids: Emergency Preparedness
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Earthquake Preparedness

Currency:  Algerian dinar cannot be brought into or taken out of Algeria.  Declare all foreign currency at Customs upon arrival, using the form provided.

The official exchange rate may vary considerably from the actual exchange rate on the street.  Only exchange foreign currency at banks or authorized currency exchange locations, such as major hotels. 

Upon leaving Algeria, authorities may ask if you have any foreign money and possibly search you.  They will compare the amount of foreign currency you declared when entering and the amount you are taking out, and you will need to show documentation that your currency was exchanged legally. 

Penalties can be severe if you failed to declare foreign currency upon entering Algeria and are found to possess foreign currency when exiting the country.