Algeria

Compliance/Financial Considerations

If you intend to do any of the following in Algeria, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) or 642-5141:

  • Hire a local to work for you as an employee
  • Purchase or lease office or research space
  • Purchase or lease an automobile
  • Establish a long-term (over 90 days) or ongoing project
  • Conduct a clinical trial 

U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS 

Foreign activities may trigger many U.S. laws, including:

  • Import Controls
  • Export Controls
  • Tax Reporting
  • Foreign Bank Account Reporting
  • Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Anti-Boycott Laws 

Import Controls. UC employees must adhere to U.S. import requirements, and may need to enlist the services of a customs broker, especially for shipments arriving by sea and subject to the Importer Security Filing 71730(link is external), also known as ISF 10+2. 

Export Controls. Export controls may apply to advanced software and technology, research data, and other sensitive assets. UC’s Export Compliance FAQ contains useful information and can be found here(link is external).  Go here(link is external) for the University of California plan for compliance with federal export controls. If you plan on taking or sending potentially export-controlled materials to Algeria, consult the campus Research Administration Compliance Office(link is external) at 642-0120. 

Tax Reporting. The University and its employees may be taxed in foreign countries. The United States does not have a tax treaty with Algeria. For more information about double taxation issues, contact the Controller’s Office at:

Foreign Bank Account Reporting. The U.S. Treasury Department requires U.S. citizens with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a financial account in a foreign country, where accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during a calendar year, to report such accounts on a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts(link is external)(FinCen Report 114(link is external)). Those needing to complete the form should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) or 643-9803 for assistance. An IRS 1040 Schedule B form (Part III–Foreign Accounts and Trusts) must be filed by the signatory for any foreign bank account, regardless of the account balance. 

Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions. In general, collaborations between University personnel and scholars at foreign institutions or organizations do not require export licenses unless they involve export-controlled or -restricted research or involve scholars in sanctioned countries. Before engaging in an international collaboration, the University needs to determine whether export licenses are required and to verify that the foreign collaborator is not blocked or sanctioned. The Office of Foreign Assets Control(link is external) (OFAC) is responsible for enforcing all U.S. embargoes and sanctions. Depending on each country’s embargo or sanction program, activities may be prohibited without specific authorization or license. UC’s International Collaborations(link is external) webpage contains additional information on this topic.   

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is intended to stop bribery. It prohibits offering to pay, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official. The term “foreign official” generally includes any employee or contractor of a foreign government, and may include individuals employed by foreign universities. It is also unlawful to make a payment to a third party knowing that all or part of the payment will go to a foreign official. For more information, review the federal government’s Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. If you need further clarification, contact the UC Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs at 642-7122. Transparency International’s 2018 survey of perceived public sector corruption rated Algeria at 35 out of 100 (105th out of 180 countries reviewed, i.e.  corrupt).

Anti-Boycott Laws.  The U.S. Department of Commerce(link is external) is responsible for oversight of laws prohibiting individuals and entities from participating in boycotts not approved or sanctioned by the U.S. government. The Export Administration Act(link is external) requires that requests to participate in such boycotts or to conduct activities in any of the boycotting countries be formally reported to the Department of Commerce and/or IRS.

For other compliance-related issues, refer to UC’s International Compliance(link is external) webpage.   

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

Foreign Bank Accounts. Employees wishing to open a foreign bank account should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) or 643-9803. Requests to open accounts must be made through the Office of the President’s Banking and Treasury Services Group(link is external) by the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. 

Real Estate Agreements. Only employees with delegated authority to sign contracts on behalf of The Regents may enter into agreements, leases, or other contracts.  Foreign affiliates or operations must submit to the Real Estate Services Office(link sends e-mail) property management agreements, personal property leases, or contracts with a term longer than one year or in an amount greater than $25,000 per year. The campus then seeks approval from the University president or designee. For more information, consult the Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Affiliate Organizations and Foreign Operations

Articles

The US State Department's page on ALGERIA may be found HERE.

Personal Safety

AUTHORITIES IN ALGERIA REVISED CORONAVIRUS DISEASE-RELATED RESTRICTIONS AS OF OCTOBER 31. LAND, SEA, AND AIR BORDERS REMAIN CLOSED. AS PART OF ONGOING EFFORTS TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19), AUTHORITIES IN ALGERIA HAVE REVISED RESTRICTIONS AS OF OCTOBER 31. AUTHORITIES HAVE REIMPOSED A 2300-0500 NIGHTLY CUREW IN 11 PROVINCES, INCLUDING BATNA, BEJAIA, BLIDA, AND ORAN, WHERE PARTIAL RESTRICTIONS WILL CONTINUE DUE TO A RISE IN COVID-19 CASES. THE MEASURE WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL AT LEAST NOVEMBER 15.  OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO IMPOSE A 2300-0500 CURFEW IN MOST PROVINCES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HIGH INFECTION RATES.

Note: this page contains basic risk information. For more details, please contact the Risk Services Office at risk@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail).

If you are traveling to Algeria on University-related business, please sign up for the University’s travel insurance program by going here(link is external). For more information on the travel insurance program, please go here

Because everyone’s health is unique, we suggest seeking the advice of a medical professional before traveling internationally. Members of the campus community interested in protecting their health while abroad may schedule an appointment with the University Health Services International Travel Clinic(link is external)

The quality of health care in Algeria is improving but not at western standards in most locations. Most health care providers speak French but not English. In the event of a medical emergency, dial 14 from a land line for an ambulance or 1548 from a mobile phone for the police. If you need medication, bring enough for the duration of your stay, as not all medicines may be available.

Air pollution can be a problem in urban areas. If you have a chronic respiratory condition such as asthma, please consult a medical professional prior to your trip and carry appropriate medications.

Travelers should assume the drinking water in Algeria is contaminated. To reduce the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort or illness, drink only bottled, boiled, or purified water. Travelers should use sealed, well-recognized brands of bottled water whenever possible.

All food should be eaten well-cooked and hot. Fruits and vegetables should be peeled or soaked in disinfectant solution for at least 15 minutes prior to eating. Street vendors and other unregulated food distributors often maintain substandard hygiene regimens and should be avoided. Travelers should also avoid raw or undercooked meat dishes and unpasteurized dairy products, which frequently harbor bacterial and parasitic pathogens.

 Travelers risk contracting a number of serious illnesses in Algeria, including:

  • Hepatitis A, transmitted via fecally-contaminated food and drink, is a high risk.
  • Hepatitis B, transmitted via bodily fluids, is an intermediate risk.
  • Malaria, transmitted via mosquito bites, is a risk in Illizi province.
  • Tuberculosis. The World Health Organization considers Algeria an intermediate-risk country. Travelers staying for an extended period should get a pre-departure PPD skin test. Avoid crowded public spaces and mass transportation whenever possible.
  • Typhoid, transmitted via contaminated water, milk, shellfish, and other foods.

Generally, the crime rate in Algeria is moderate. Kidnapping is a greater threat than in most countries, with foreigners occasionally targeted for their perceived wealth. Politically-motivated kidnappings have also occurred. Terrorism is a greater threat that in most countries, as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Islamic State (IS) both operate in Algeria and have carried out attacks, mostly against security forces.

The safest forms of travel in Algeria are the metro system in Algiers and taxis elsewhere, although drivers often try to overcharge riders. Renting a car subjects the driver to the risks of hazardous road conditions and corrupt police. Trains usually run on time but are rated only fair in terms of personal and property safety. Buses are also rated only fair in terms of personal and property security, and they also tend to run slowly.

Photographing anything that may be associated with the government or military may subject the photographer to arrest.

Legal/Political

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 by law enforcement officials.
  • Photographing military installations and government buildings (often marked by an Algerian flag over the entrance) is prohibited.
  • Items that are legal to bring into and carry in the United States may not be legal in Algeria. See the U.S. Embassy website for information on Algerian Customs import/export restrictions.
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs could land you immediately in jail.

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. 

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. embassy immediately.

LGBTI Travelers: The law criminalizes public indecency and consensual same-sex sexual relations between adult men and women with penalties that include imprisonment of six months to three years and a fine of DZD 1,000 to DZD 10,000 ($8.50 to $85). The law also stipulates penalties that include imprisonment of two months to two years and fines of DZD 500 to DZD 2,000 ($4.25 to $17) for anyone convicted of having committed a “homosexual act.” If a minor is involved, the adult may face up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of DZD 10,000 ($85).

LGBTI activists reported that the vague wording of laws criminalizing “homosexual acts” and “acts against nature” permitted sweeping accusations that resulted in multiple arrests for consensual same-sex sexual relations, but there were no known prosecutions during the year. LGBTI status is not, in itself, criminalized; however, LGBTI persons may face criminal prosecution under legal provisions concerning prostitution, public indecency, and associating with bad characters. NGOs report that judges give harsher sentences to LGBTI persons.