Government of Canada services and information in Algiers, Algeria

Refer to the International adoption website.

"Kafala" is the legal method for adopting a child in Algeria, but it is not considered adoption as defined by Canadian law.

It should be noted that kafala for Algerian children is only granted to parents of the Muslim faith.

Since kafala is equivalent to guardianship rather than adoption, children under the kafala system are not eligible for immediate Canadian citizenship.

Before the child can join you in Canada, both you and your adopted child will need to complete the international adoption and immigration process.

Surrogacy or the use of a surrogate mother is not recognized in Algeria.

Refer to Children born outside of Canada.

The Canadian registration certifcate of birth abroad are no longer issued since 1977.

If your child is born outside of Canada, you do not need to register the birth in Canada.

If you are Canadian and you have a child born in Algeria, you will need to submit an application for a citizenship certificate for him/her in order to get a Canadian passport.

In Algeria, it is mandatory to register the birth of any child within 5 days of delivery to the civil registrar of the place of birth. After 5 days, regularization by judicial means is necessary. Contact the vital statistics (État civil) office in the city of your residence for conditions to get this document.

More information available under the Acte de naissance.

Refer to Canadian citizenship.

To verify if you are a Canadian citizen, consult the eligibility criteria.

If you were born in Canada, you do not need to apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate. Your proof of Canadian citizenship is your birth certificate issued by the province or territory where you were born.

If you are a Canadian citizen and have a child born in Algeria, you must apply for citizenship certificate for your child in order to request a Canadian passport.

• Children over 14 years old must sign the proof of citizenship application form.

There are 2 ways to apply:

1. Online
   • Consult Apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate
2. In person
   • Book an appointment online to apply on paper
   • Pay your application fees online, and attach a copy of the payment receipt

Note: When booking your appointment, add your full name, phone number and email address. Without these details, the appointment is void.

Check processing times

For requests submitted to the Embassy, you can choose to receive the certificate in one of the following ways:

1. In paper format, at the Embassy.

Given the long processing time for paper citizenship certificate applications, make sure to inform us of any address changes, providing the full name and date of birth of the person for whom the certificate is requested, by email at algercs@international.gc.ca.

Note: If you requested to receive a paper citizenship certificate, it cannot be mailed to your home in Algeria. Once received at the Embassy, you will receive an email inviting you to book an appointment online.

2. In electronic format, sent to your email address.

The processing time for receiving the certificate in electronic format is shorter. Therefore, it is recommended to opt for this format in order to receive the certificate more quickly.

Note: If you requested to receive an electronic citizenship certificate, you will directly receive an email from IRCC upon completion of your application, with instructions on how to download it.

Frequently asked questions

• When and how do I apply urgently for a citizenship certificate?
• I legally changed my name. How do I change the name on my citizenship certificate or card?
• Do I become a Canadian citizen when I marry a Canadian?
• I’ve lost my citizenship card/certificate. How do I replace it?

Australians: Australian citizenship applications are not accepted at this office - you should contact the Australian Embassy in Cairo.

Please get a criminal record verification certificate before leaving Canada from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) headquarters, not from a local or provincial police service.

The consular section at the embassy can issue an Apostille only for the original RCMP criminal record certificates.

Send a copy of the document by email to algercs@international.gc.ca to verify the possibility of issuing an Apostille.

For all other criminal record certificates, you must send your document to the relevant provincial authority to obtain an Apostille, and then have it legalized by the Algerian Embassy in Canada before using it in Algeria.

Note: The Embassy does not provide fingerprinting services and cannot provide updates of any ongoing applications.

Payment method

• Onsite payment with a credit card.
• Only MasterCard and Visa are accepted.
• Present the completed and signed credit card authorisation form at your appointment.
• Algerian CIB cards are not accepted.
• Cash payment is not accepted

Refer to Death abroad.

In Algeria, the declaration of death is mandatory and must be made within 24 hours.

For more information regarding a death declaration, visit acte de décès (in French only).

Cremation services are not available in Algeria.

Following the death of a Canadian citizen in Algeria, the family or relatives of the deceased can contact us to get a list of funeral homes as well, as the procedure to follow to repatriate the remains to Canada.

More information available on Foreigners (in French only).

Any divorce judgment issued by a foreign court must be granted exequatur by the competent court in Algeria.

Exequatur is a court decision made by an Algerian judge that makes a foreign judgment or decision enforceable in Algeria.

Please note that the Embassy cannot intervene in a divorce procedure or obtain legal documents.

To get the exequatur for a judgment, it is recommended to consult a lawyer in Algeria.

For a list of lawyers, refer to Ask Travel under General Consular Services for a list of lawyers in Algeria or email us at algercs@international.gc.ca.

The Embassy cannot give any legal advice. If you need to discuss your situation with a professional lawyer, you can contact one of the lawyers listed on Ask Travel. Choose Emergency Assistance and then click on Which lawyers can I contact abroad.

You can also contact a lawyer of your choice, registered with a bar association in Algeria. You can also get a list of lawyers by email at algercs@international.gc.ca.

Refer to Marriage outside Canada.

You cannot get married at a Canadian Embassy or Consulate in a foreign country. Canadian consular officials do not perform marriage ceremonies, and they do not have to attend your marriage.

Any Canadian citizen wishing to marry in Algeria, the marriage should be celebrated according to the Algerian laws.

It is important to check the legal and religious requirements related to this act. Please note that any Canadian male citizen wishing to marry an Algerian woman in Algeria will be required to convert to Islam beforehand.

Further information about the marriage procedure is available at the Algerian Ministry of the Interior and Local Authorities website (in French only).

Before leaving Canada, it is strongly recommended that you ask your fiancé(e) to assist you by confirming the procedure to follow by contacting the foreign nationals office in the Wilaya where you intend to get married.

Please note that the Algerian authorities require, among other documents:

• A criminal record check (refer to Criminal record checks for more details)
• A recent long-form birth certificate
• A certificate of no impediment to marriage.
  • Since Canadian law does not require or provide for the issuance of this certificate, a statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad will be provided to you.

In order for us to prepare this statement, send an email to algercs@international.gc.ca with:

• A copy of page 2 of your Canadian passport;
• A certified true copy of the Canadian birth certificate, if the person was born in Canada;
• A certified true copy of the Canadian citizenship certificate, if the person was not born in Canada;
• A notarized, dated, and signed solemn declaration of civil status (in French or English), mentioning your:
• full name
• residential address
• marital status
• name, citizenship, and residential address of the future Algerian spouse
• A certified true copy of the divorce certificate, divorce judgment, or death certificate of the deceased spouse, if the client has been previously married.
• A payment of CAD $50
• Print and complete the credit card authorization form.

The processing time is 3 business days.

The following template can serve as a reference:

“I, the undersigned [your LAST NAME and first names], a Canadian citizen born on [your date of birth] and residing at [your full residential address], solemnly declare that I am [choose the appropriate status: single, widowed, or divorced] and free to marry [NAME and first names of the future spouse], a citizen of [nationality of the future spouse] residing at [full residential address of the future spouse].”

Once your documents are ready, please book a notarial services appointment online to present your documents in person. When booking the appointment, make sure to provide your first name, last name, phone number, and email address. Without this information, the appointment will be cancelled.

Register a foreign marriage in Canada

Since Canada does not have a central civil registry office, there is no specific procedure to register your Algerian marriage with the Canadian Embassy in Algiers. Although your new marital status is recognized in Canada and your Algerian document is accepted by Canadian authorities, some provincial civil registry services have their own procedures for registering a marriage celebrated abroad. Please contact your provincial civil registry office for more information.

The Embassy of Canada in Algeria offers notarial services exclusively to Canadian citizens, by appointment only.

In limited cases, notarial services may be provided to non-Canadians, provided their documents are intended for use in Canada, but not in the context of an immigration process or visa application.

When making an appointment, please provide your first name, last name, email address, and phone number. Without this information, the appointment will be canceled.

Note: At your appointment, you must:

• Be in possession of a valid Canadian passport or a valid ID for non-Canadians.
• Present the original documents to be notarized.
• Ensure that the documents are written in French or English, or are accompanied by an official translation in one of these two languages.
• A payment of CAD $50 or CAD $20 per document, depending on the service requested. To do this:
• Print and complete the credit card authorisation form (PDF) with your application.
• Adjust the amount based on the number of documents to be notarized.

Identity confirmation form: Please note that we cannot complete documents aimed at confirming your identity as part of notarial services, such as identity confirmation forms for a bank, lawyer, the Canadian Medical Council, or other identity confirmation for a professional order in Canada.

Canadian driver’s licenses are not renewed at the Embassy, but directly with your province of residence. See Driving in Canada. We do not offer certification services for Canadian driver's licenses. However, it is possible to get a certified true copy of your Canadian driver's license.

Apostille (formerly legalization or authentication of documents)

The Apostille Convention came into effect in Canada on January 11, 2024.

Since January 11, 2024, if your Canadian documents need to be legalized or authenticated for use abroad, you must request an apostille. For further information, see Changes to authentication services in Canada.

The consular section can now only issue an apostille for the following documents:

1. Civil status documents (birth, marriage, death, or name change) issued by a provincial office responsible for civil status in Canada.
2. The original criminal record certificates (police check) issued by the RCMP in Ottawa.

Please send a copy of your document by email to algercs@international.gc.ca to verify the possibility of issuing an apostille.

For any other documents, you must send them to the relevant competent authority to get an apostille, and then have it legalized at the Algerian Embassy in Canada before using it in Algeria.

The apostille service is available by appointment. You must present the following documents:

• The original document to receive the apostille;
• Your Canadian passport;
• A payment of CAD $50 per document. To do this:
• Print and complete the credit card authorisation form (PDF) with your application.
• Adjust the amount based on the number of documents to be notarized.

Certified true copy of the original:

• Documents intended for use in Canada (fees applicable).
• Government-issued ID documents that need a certified copy (fees applicable).

Certification of a signature, affidavit, statutory declaration:

Documents presented by a Canadian citizen for use in Canada or Algeria, requiring signature certification by consular services (fees applicable).

Before your appointment, you must:

Complete all documents, ensuring that the date and signature are added in the presence of a consular officer. If witnesses need to sign your document, they must be present at the appointment. The witnesses must present original, official, and valid ID. It is your responsibility to ensure that your witnesses meet the eligibility criteria.

Note:

• Processing times for notarial services vary between 3 and 10 business days.
• We will contact you by email as soon as your documents are ready for pickup, to proceed with the payment and collect them.
• Consular Services: Service Standard

If you have any questions regarding notarial services, you can email us at algercs@international.gc.ca.

Australians: In accordance with the Canadian-Australia Consular Services Sharing Agreement, notarial services are not offered to Australian citizens.

Refer to Canadian passports and travel documents.

• As a Canadian citizen, you cannot obtain a Canadian visa. You must have a valid Canadian passport to enter Canada.
• The validity of the passport cannot be extended; you must apply for a new one.
• If your passport no longer has blank pages, you can renew it.
• Any passport application must be paid online before submission. Please present your payment receipt with your application at your appointment.
• Book an appointment online to submit your application in person.
• When booking the appointment, please provide your first name, last name, phone number, and email address.
• Without this information, the appointment will be cancelled.

Important:

• Select the "Outside of Canada and the USA" passport application form.
• For a first-time adult passport application (over 16 years old), this is not a simplified renewal.
• A birth certificate in French will also be required.
• A guarantor is required for any passport application for a child under 16 or a first-time adult passport application (over 16). You do not need a guarantor unless you are eligible for a simplified renewal.
• If you have multiple applications to submit, please select "passport application for a family" when booking an appointment.
• Applications sent by mail or email are not accepted.
• Passports cannot be sent by mail. You will receive an email to book an appointment online to pick up your passport at the embassy.

Lost, stolen, or damaged passports

If your valid passport is lost, stolen, inaccessible, or damaged, email algercs@international.gc.ca with:

• A copy of page 2 of the passport (if available)
• Your first name, last name, and date of birth
• Date of arrival in Algeria
• Planned travel date (if available)
• Phone number

To replace a lost, stolen, or damaged passport, you must submit a complete passport application including:

• The duly completed statutory declaration form - PPTC 203.
• The original police report, with a translation in French or English.
• The receipt for the additional fee of CAD $45.

Child:

• For a child's passport application, the child's birth certificate (in French or English) is mandatory.
• The presence of both parents and the child is required at least once during the processing of the passport application, whether for submission or collection.
• Both parents must sign the application form and provide their original IDs. If one parent is outside Algeria, they must complete the PPTC 028 form ("Letter of Consent") at a Canadian Passport office. A number will be provided when submitting the application.
• For applications submitted outside Algeria, the parent in Algeria can come to the Canadian Embassy in Algiers without an appointment to sign the parental consent, during the following hours:
  • Sunday to Wednesday: between 9:00am and 11:00am
  • Sunday and Wednesday: between 1:30pm and 2:30pm
• Children under 16 are not required to sign the application form, but those aged 11 to 15 are encouraged to do so.

Important: Parents should never sign the passport or any other Canadian travel document of their child.

Frequently asked questions

• Who can act as a guarantor?
  • A guarantor is a person who has known the applicant for at least 2 years. This can be either:
    • A Canadian passport holder, or
    • Regardless of their citizenship, a person working in Algeria that meets the requirements.
  • A family member or someone residing at the same address as the applicant can act as a guarantor provided they meet the applicable requirements listed above.

• I can't find a guarantor, what can I do?
• Who can act as a reference?
• References are not required to reside in Algeria or Canada, nor to be Canadian citizens.

• What proof of Canadian citizenship is acceptable?
• What are the photo requirements?
• In the case of separation or divorce, who can apply for a child passport?
• What are the processing times for a regular passport application?
• I’ve been in Algeria for less than 2 months, what should I do if I am turned away at the airport because I didn’t have a valid Canadian passport to return home?

You can submit a temporary passport application in person at the Canadian Embassy in Algiers. Processing times are usually less than 20 business days.

To submit your application, you must complete the required form and submit it between 9:00am and 11:00am, Sunday to Thursday. Follow the instructions on the passport application page and select the "Outside of Canada and the USA" form.

Add the following to your application:

• The passport used to enter Algeria and the missed flight ticket;
• A duly completed and signed passport application form, with supporting documents.
• The payment receipt for the fees of a regular passport and a temporary passport (CAD $110).

Australians: Australian passports are not issued by this office. Contact algercs@international.gc.ca for more information.

Refer to Benefits for Canadians living abroad and Retiring abroad.

To apply for a retirement benefit in Canada, contact the relevant services in Canada directly. Find information at Public pensions.

For the province of Québec, contact Retraite Québec for more details.

The consular service of the Embassy does not have access to individual files related to pensions. If you have a question about your file, contact the service in Canada directly.

The consular service can help you to get certified copy of your Canadian documents if you need them to submit your retirement file in Canada.

Same-sex marriage is not recognized in Algeria.

Refer to Studying abroad and EduCanada.

The consular section at the Embassy of Canada in Algiers does not offer visa and immigration services. The consular section does not provide information related to visa applications, immigration, permanent residency and sponsorship and do not respond to emails or calls on this subject. The consular section is only responsible for services to Canadian citizens.

Refer to Travel documents – Visas.

• Apply to travel, study, work or immigrate to Canada.
• Find a visa application centre (VAC) to book an appointment to give your biometrics (fingerprints and photo).
• Submit an enquiry using the IRCC web form to contact a visa office.

Permanent residents of Canada: Find out how to apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD).

Refer to Voting in an election while outside Canada.