Guidance

Algeria: Knowledge Base profile

Published 15 May 2024

About: Algeria

This document contains useful information about Algeria which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

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Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

• version 2.0
• published for Home Office staff on 10 May 2024

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with minor formatting changes.

Algeria: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Algeria.

Change of name

Name changes are allowed in Algeria. For a person to change their name they must do it through a court in Algeria.

If the parents want to change the child’s name, courts may ask for written consent from the child’s mother. If the mother is unavailable, they may reject or delay the request to change the child’s name.

A person cannot change their surname to the same as their mother or include her surname in their name.

Women will always have their maiden name shown on their identity documents. If they:

• have an Islamic marriage, their husband’s surname will also show in the spouse section (or widow of, if their husband is deceased)
• do not have an Islamic marriage, they cannot add their husband’s name to their documents

Algeria: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Algeria.

Dual nationality is allowed in Algeria.

Algeria: legitimacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy in Algeria.

Legitimacy

Algeria recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.

A child will be considered:

• legitimate if born to:
  • married parents
  • unmarried parents (at the time of birth) who later marry
• illegitimate if the parents never marry

Algeria: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Algeria.

Adoption is legal in Algeria. One of the parents must be an Algerian citizen.

Algeria: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Algeria.

Surrogacy is illegal in Algeria.

Algeria: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Algeria.

Transgender citizens are not recognised in Algeria.

Algeria: marriage

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about marriage in Algeria.

Marriages in Algeria consist of a religious and civil element.

Polygamy is legal in Algeria.

Algeria: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents in Algeria.

Birth certificates

Births should be registered within:

• 60 days in the Sahara region of southern Algeria
• 5 days in the rest of the country

Late registration of a birth is allowed.

Birth registrations are kept on a central register at the Ministry of the Interior and Local Communities (Ministère de l’Intérieur et des Collectivités locales). Replacement certificates can be obtained.

If an error is found, the Ministry of the Interior and Local Communities will re-issue a certificate showing the correct details.

Birth certificates are issued for children if their parents are married.

There are 2 versions of birth certificate in Algeria, these are:

• number (12)
• original (S12) this certificate will only be issued once in a person’s lifetime

The Algeria authorities previously issued birth certificates number (14) and the original (16).

The birth certificate shows:

• gender
• place of birth
• time of birth
• a serial number
• a birth certificate number
• parents details

 It will show both parents names, except when:

• the marriage of the parents is not a civil marriage (this means only the father’s name will show on the birth certificate)
• both of the child’s parents are unknown (this means the child is given 4 names and the last of the 4 names is their family name(surname))
• the father is unknown (this means the child will be given their mothers family name)

Hospital birth notifications are issued and show both parents’ name.

Marriage certificates

There is no central register and no time limit to register a marriage in Algeria. Marriages are registered at the local town hall, Algerian Authorities (Wilaya) and the Ministry of the Interior and Local Communities.

When the marriage is registered the Wilaya issue a marriage certificate and family book to the customer.

There are 2 types of marriage certificate issued in Algeria these are:

• the original (number 02)
• a re-issued certificate (number 01)

All marriage certificates have a serial number and the stamp of the town hall.

Death certificates

Deaths must be registered at the local town hall within 24 hours, unless the person lived in Sahara, where the death must be registered within 60 days. Late registrations are allowed.

There is no central register for deaths. When the death has been registered, the registrar of civil status will issue a death certificate. Replacement certificates can be obtained.

Identity documents

Foreign nationals who are permanently resident need to carry their residency card issued by the Wilaya.