Southern Algeria, Tourist Destination: new visa issuance measures

• Foreign tourists wishing to travel to Southern Algeria could obtain a visa on arrival, instead of applying for a regular tourist visa in advance.

• This measure applies exclusively to foreign tourists travelling to Algeria as part of Saharan tourism, through travel agencies accredited by the Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts of Algeria.

• The tourist program submitted by the accredited travel agency must include at least, one of the following twenty four (24) Southern Provinces:

Adrar, Laghouat, Biskra, Bechar, Tamanrasset, Djelfa, Msila, Ouargla, El-Bayad, Illizi, Tindouf, El Oued, Naama, Ghardaïa, Timimoune, Bordj Badji Mokhtar, Ouled Djellal, Béni-Abbes, Ain Salah, Ain Guezzam, Touggourt, Djanet, El M'Ghaiar, El Menia.

• Accredited travel agencies are responsible for entering information related to foreign tourists visit programs into a digital platform accessible to the Tourism Directorates of the Provinces concerned.

• This measure enables foreign tourists to obtain through the accredited travel agency of their choice, an authorization document allowing them to travel to Southern Algeria.

• The visa upon arrival is issued at International Airports, Land Border Crossings points and Ports for tourists transiting through Northern Algeria, provided that, the final destination of their visit program include one of the 24 Southern Provinces mentioned above.   

• Foreign tourists interested in taking a tour of Southern Algeria are invited to contact accredited agencies for information on registration procedures and the tourism programs they offer.

• It should be noted that, foreign tourists supported by accredited travel agencies, who travel to destinations or Provinces outside Southern Algeria remain subject to the standard visa requirements.