Algeria work permit guide for employers 2026
End-to-end: 1–3 months. Work permit: Wilaya Employment Directorate. Permit fee: DZD 10,000. Minimum wage: DZD 24,000/month from 1 January 2026.
Algeria’s work permit process is a sequence that starts before the foreign national travels. The employer first obtains an accord de principe (approval in principle) through the Wilaya Employment Directorate, which is approved by the central employment services of the Ministry of Labour.
This unlocks the second stage: the APT, a provisional work authorisation issued by the Wilaya Employment Directorate, which is the mandatory document for the work visa application at the Algerian consulate. After the employee arrives, the employer applies for the work title itself.
Foreign companies operating in Algeria under a works or service contract must also include a commitment to train the Algerian national workforce. No stage of this process can be skipped or resequenced.
Quick answer
To hire a foreign national in Algeria, the employer first files for an accord de principe with the Wilaya Employment Directorate. Within one month of the approval being notified, the employer must file a job offer for Algerian nationals with the local employment agency. The Wilaya Directorate then issues the APT.
The employee applies for a work visa at the Algerian consulate covering their place of residence, using the APT and the employer’s repatriation commitment. Within 15 days of entering Algeria (45 days for nationals exempt from entry visas), the employer applies to the Wilaya Employment Directorate for the work permit, and the employee applies to the national police (DGSN) for a residence card.
The work permit follows the fixed-term employment contract and can remain valid for up to two years, renewable. Documents must be in French or Arabic, and diplomas must be certified by an Algerian diplomatic or consular mission.
The national minimum wage is DZD 24,000 per month from 1 January 2026. Employer social security contributions are 26% of gross salary, with 9% deducted from the employee. The work permit carries a DZD 10,000 stamp duty.
Legal framework governing foreign employment in Algeria
- Law No. 81-10 of 11 July 1981 — conditions of employment of foreign workers in Algeria, primary legislation
- Decree No. 82-510 of 25 December 1982 — modalities for the work permit and temporary work authorisation for foreign workers
- Presidential Decree No. 03-251 of 19 July 2003 — situation of foreigners in Algeria
- Law No. 08-11 of 25 June 2008 — conditions of entry, stay and movement of foreigners in Algeria
- Executive Decree No. 06-454 of 11 December 2006 — professional card for foreigners exercising commercial, industrial, artisanal or liberal activities
- Finance Law 2015 — stamp duty on work permits and temporary work authorisations
- Presidential Decree No. 26-01 of 7 January 2026 — national minimum wage (SNMG) of DZD 24,000
The two-stage employer process: accord de principe and APT
Both stages are employer-led and must be completed before the employee travels. The APT cannot be obtained without the accord de principe. The work visa cannot be applied for without the APT.
Stage 1: accord de principe
- Submitted to: Wilaya Employment Directorate
- Approved by: central employment services, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security
- Includes: recruitment forecast table and work execution schedule, company documents, tax and CNAS status certificates, DGE certificate for foreign companies, training commitment for foreign companies on works or service contracts
- After notification: the employer must file a job offer for Algerian nationals with the Wilaya employment agency within one month
Stage 2: APT (provisional work authorisation)
- Issued by: Wilaya Employment Directorate, after the accord de principe is granted
- Filed against: a receipt
- Required for: the work visa application at the Algerian consulate
- The job title must match the accord de principe exactly
- Must be presented at the consulate with the repatriation commitment
Work permit types in Algeria
Work permit (permis de travail)
For foreign nationals in salaried employment. Validity matches the fixed-term employment contract — maximum 2 years, renewable under the same conditions. Issued by the Wilaya Employment Directorate. Stamp duty: DZD 10,000; renewals carry a 50% surcharge.
Temporary work authorisation (autorisation de travail temporaire)
The alternative work title under Law No. 81-10, issued by the Wilaya Employment Directorate for temporary employment. Stamp duty: DZD 10,000. Renewal must be filed at least 8 days before expiry.
Short-term detached workers
Workers detached for short missions — such as after-sales service, equipment installation, training or urgent technical interventions — skip the accord de principe and the APT. They enter on a temporary work visa, and the employer files a declaration with the Wilaya Employment Directorate, which issues a receipt. Cumulative stays are capped at three months per year, and no stamp duty applies.
The training obligation — mandatory for foreign companies on works or service contracts
Foreign companies that operate in Algeria under a works or service contract (covering construction, engineering, oil and gas, infrastructure and similar project-based work) must submit a formal commitment to train the Algerian national workforce as part of the accord de principe file.
The commitment should be substantive and linked to the specific roles and qualifications involved, as it supports the justification for bringing in foreign expertise.
The repatriation commitment — a legal obligation
The employer must provide a written commitment to repatriate the foreign worker to their country of residence when the employment contract ends or expires.
The commitment is required in the APT file, the work visa application — where it must be endorsed by the Wilaya Employment Director — and every renewal file. Without it, the consulate will not process the visa application.
Fees, minimum wage and employer contributions
| Category | Rate / amount | Notes and details |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit or temporary work authorisation | DZD 10,000 | Stamp duty for the validity period; 50% surcharge on renewals and duplicates; DZD 1,000 for foreign spouses of Algerian citizens |
| Fee exemptions | — | Workers covered by international agreements, refugees and stateless persons, and short-term detached workers (up to three months) |
| Minimum wage | DZD 24,000 | Per month — from 1 January 2026 (SNMG) |
| Employer social security | 26% | Employer contribution on gross salary |
| Employee social security | 9% | Deducted from gross salary |
All employees in Algeria, including foreign workers, are covered by the Algerian social protection regime regardless of nationality. This includes sickness, maternity, invalidity and death insurance; retirement pension; workplace accident and occupational disease coverage; family allowances; and unemployment insurance. To estimate the full employer cost of a salary, use the Global Payroll Calculator.
How to hire a foreign national in Algeria
1. Employer files the accord de principe with the Wilaya Employment Directorate
The employer submits the accord de principe file to the Wilaya Employment Directorate covering the employer’s location, for approval by the central employment services of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security.
The file must include:
- Recruitment forecast table detailing positions, required qualifications and experience, and employment conditions for national and foreign workers
- Work execution schedule with recruitment timelines at each project stage, where applicable
- Copy of the works contract or service order
- Company statutes
- Extract of the trade register
- Tax and CNAS status certificates
- DGE certificate, for foreign companies
- Training commitment, for foreign companies operating under works or service contracts
Within one month of the approval being notified, the employer must file a job offer for Algerian nationals with the Wilaya employment agency.
2. Wilaya Employment Directorate issues the APT
After the accord de principe is granted, the employer applies for the APT. The application references the accord de principe and includes a worker information sheet, two copies of the recruitment commitment, copies of diplomas certified by an Algerian diplomatic or consular mission, a passport copy, six recent colour photographs and the repatriation commitment. Workers over 60 need an age waiver. The APT confirms that the employer is authorised to hire the named foreign national for the role, and it must be given to the employee for the visa application.
3. Employee applies for a work visa at the Algerian consulate
Using the APT, the employee applies for a work visa at the Algerian diplomatic or consular post covering their place of residence. The request is examined by the Directorate General of Legal and Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The work visa application must include: the original APT; the repatriation commitment endorsed by the Wilaya Employment Director; the recruitment commitment; the nominative list of workers; a completed visa application form; a valid passport; passport photographs; and the supporting documents the consulate requests, such as proof of accommodation and travel insurance.
Visa application methods vary by consulate — in person, by proxy with notarised authorisation, or via an authorised visa agency.
4. Work permit issued by the Wilaya Employment Directorate
Within 15 days of the employee’s entry into Algeria — or 45 days for nationals of countries exempt from entry visas — the employer applies for the work permit at the Wilaya Employment Directorate. The file includes a copy of the passport showing lawful entry, two medical certificates (general medicine and phthisiology) and the fixed-term employment contract signed by both parties. The stamp duty is DZD 10,000.
The work permit validity corresponds to the duration of the fixed-term employment contract, not exceeding 2 years. Renewal must be filed at least 45 days before expiry.
5. Residence card issued by the DGSN
The employee applies for a residence card (carte de résidence) at the national police authority (DGSN — Direction Générale de la Sûreté Nationale), with proof of accommodation and the supporting documents the police station requests. The residence card cannot exceed the period of the employment contract.
| Stage / requirement | Timeline | Authority / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Accord de principe | Weeks to months | Wilaya → central employment services |
| Job offer to nationals | Within 1 month of approval | Wilaya employment agency |
| APT | Weeks | Wilaya Employment Directorate |
| Work visa | Weeks | Algerian consulate covering the place of residence |
| Work permit application | Within 15 days of entry (45 if visa-exempt) | Wilaya Employment Directorate |
| Residence card | After arrival | DGSN |
| Total end-to-end | 1–3 months | Accord de principe to residence card |
Documents required for an Algeria work permit and visa
Employer documents — submitted to the Wilaya Employment Directorate
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Recruitment forecast table | Positions, required qualifications, experience and conditions for nationals and foreigners; includes the work execution schedule with recruitment timelines where applicable |
| Company statutes | Of the employing entity |
| Trade register extract | Confirming the employer’s legal registration in Algeria |
| Tax and CNAS status certificates | Confirming the employer is up to date with tax and social security obligations |
| DGE certificate | For foreign companies |
| Copy of works contract or service order | Required for foreign companies operating under such contracts |
| Training commitment | Required for foreign companies on works or service contracts; linked to specific roles |
| Recruitment commitment — 2 copies | Submitted with the APT application |
| Repatriation commitment | Required in the APT, visa and renewal files; endorsed by the Wilaya Employment Director for the visa |
| Fixed-term employment contract | Signed by both parties; submitted with the work permit application |
Employee documents — APT and consulate
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| APT | Original; issued by the Wilaya Employment Directorate; mandatory for the visa application |
| Worker information sheet | Submitted with the APT application |
| Valid passport | Copy with the APT application; original at the consulate |
| Six recent colour photographs | For the APT application |
| Diplomas | Copies certified by an Algerian diplomatic or consular mission; in French or Arabic |
| Completed visa application form | Submitted to the Algerian consulate covering the applicant’s place of residence |
| Proof of accommodation and travel insurance | Where requested by the consulate |
| Age waiver | For workers over 60 |
Post-arrival documents — work permit and residence card
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport copy showing lawful entry | Visa page with entry stamp; for the work permit application |
| Two medical certificates | General medicine and phthisiology; for the work permit application |
| Fixed-term employment contract | Signed by both parties |
| Residence card application | Completed at the police station (DGSN) |
| Proof of accommodation in Algeria | For the residence card |
Employer obligations after the hire
- Notify the employment services within 48 hours when a foreign worker’s contract ends; the permit is returned and forwarded within 15 days
- Submit an annual nominative list of foreign staff in the first quarter of each year
- File renewals at least 45 days before a work permit expires (8 days for a temporary work authorisation); a change of employer requires a certificate from the former employer and a work certificate
- Penalties: DZD 10,000–20,000 per infraction for employing a foreign worker without a valid permit or outside the permitted job; DZD 5,000–10,000 for failing to file the termination notice or annual list, doubled for repeat offences
Algeria work permit — at a glance (2026)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary legislation | Law No. 81-10 of 11 July 1981 + Decree No. 82-510 of 25 December 1982 |
| Stage 1 — accord de principe | Filed with the Wilaya Employment Directorate; approved by the central employment services of the Ministry of Labour |
| Job offer to nationals | Within one month of the accord de principe notification |
| Stage 2 — APT | Issued by the Wilaya Employment Directorate; mandatory for the work visa application |
| Work visa application location | Algerian consulate covering the employee’s place of residence |
| Work permit application | Within 15 days of entry; 45 days for visa-exempt nationals |
| Work permit issuing authority | Wilaya Employment Directorate (Direction de l’Emploi de la Wilaya) |
| Residence card issuing authority | DGSN — Direction Générale de la Sûreté Nationale (national police) |
| Fee | DZD 10,000 stamp duty; 50% surcharge on renewals |
| Permit validity | Matches the fixed-term employment contract; maximum 2 years; renewable |
| Renewal | At least 45 days before expiry (8 days for a temporary work authorisation) |
| Short-term detached workers | No accord de principe or APT; declaration to the Wilaya; up to 3 months cumulative per year |
| Repatriation commitment | Mandatory in the APT, visa and renewal files |
| Training commitment | Mandatory for foreign companies on works or service contracts |
| Document language | French or Arabic; diplomas certified by an Algerian diplomatic or consular mission |
| Minimum wage (SNMG) | DZD 24,000/month — effective 1 January 2026 |
| Social security contributions | Employer 26% | Employee 9% — on gross salary |
| End-to-end timeline | 1–3 months depending on document preparation lead time |
Official government resources
Employment of foreign workers in Algeria — procedures guide
The official guide to the accord de principe, APT, work visa, work permit, renewal and reporting procedures, with document checklists and fees.
Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security
The primary authority for work permits, the accord de principe process and foreign employment authorisation in Algeria, acting through the Wilaya Employment Directorates.
Manages residence documents for foreigners in Algeria, administered through the DGSN.
Work visa applications are examined by the Directorate General of Legal and Consular Affairs, via the Algerian consulate covering the employee’s place of residence.
AAPI — Algerian Investment Promotion Agency
Publishes guidance for foreign investors, including the employment of foreign workers.
The full text of the primary legislation on the employment of foreign workers.
Why partner with Acumen International as your employer of record in Algeria
Hiring a foreign national in Algeria requires more than issuing a contract and running payroll. The employer must justify the role against the local labour market, file the workforce forecast and, for project companies, the training commitment, carry the repatriation obligation, and keep the permit valid through renewals and contract changes.
Acumen International employs your staff in Algeria without you setting up a local entity, through our Global EOR service.
With Acumen International, you gain:
- A qualifying employer for the accord de principe and APT, with the recruitment forecast, role justification and training commitment prepared to match the job title exactly
- Employment contracts aligned with the Algerian Labour Code and the fixed-term permit cycle
- Work permit and residence card sponsorship for foreign hires through our Global Mobility solutions, with the 15-day post-arrival filing deadline met
- Payroll administration, statutory deductions and CNAS registration
- Renewals filed ahead of the 45-day deadline, and the 48-hour termination notice and annual foreign-staff list handled on time
- Renewal, amendment and offboarding coordination when employment status changes
For international employers, this keeps employment, payroll and immigration obligations in one compliant structure while you assess whether a local entity is justified as part of your wider global expansion.
Hiring foreign nationals in Algeria?
Acumen International’s Employer of Record service in Algeria gives your business a compliant route to employ eligible workers in Algeria without setting up a local entity. We manage the employment, payroll, statutory administration and work authorisation, so you can hire with speed, control and confidence in compliance.
Important: Acumen International supports companies employing their expatriate staff in Algeria through our Global EOR service. As the employer of record, we prepare the accord de principe and APT files with the Wilaya Employment Directorate and manage local employment compliance. We do not provide standalone immigration advice or services to individuals seeking work in Algeria.
Hiring foreign nationals in Algeria?
Acumen International’s Global EOR solution gives your business a compliant route to employ eligible workers in Algeria without setting up a local entity. We manage the local employment structure, payroll, statutory administration and work authorisation, so you can hire with greater speed, control and compliance confidence.
Important: Acumen supports companies employing their expatriate staff in Algeria through our Global EOR service. As the registered Algerian employer, we handle Approval in Principle and APT applications with the Wilaya Employment Directorate and manage local employment compliance. We do not provide standalone immigration advice or services to individuals seeking work in Algeria.