Algeria self-employed and foreign trader card

Executive Decree No. 06-454 of 11 December 2006 created a professional card for foreigners who carry on a commercial, industrial or craft activity or a liberal profession in Algeria. Law No. 08-11 adds that a foreigner who wants to exercise such an activity must meet all the legal conditions for it; doing so without them is punished by a fine of DZD 50,000 to 200,000, doubled for a repeat offence, and the equipment used can be confiscated.

The card is a work authorisation for independent activity, not an entry visa. The business visa does not allow paid activity, so the foreigner must first hold a resident card (or the receipt for one) before the wilaya will issue the professional card.

The file is filed at the regulation and general affairs service of the wilaya where you live, trade or have your registered office. It contains the special form supplied by the wilaya (also downloadable), an extract of your criminal record, a copy of your resident card or the receipt standing in for it, a copy of the trade register entry, five recent regulation photos and a fiscal stamp set by the stamp code.

When you apply for the resident card itself, the interior ministry asks self-employed foreigners for proof that they carry on a commercial, industrial, craft or liberal activity, issued by the competent services. The two documents therefore go together: the resident card authorises the stay, the professional card the activity. For the 10-year resident card, self-employed foreigners show a CASNOS affiliation certificate.

The foreign trader card is valid for two years and can be renewed. Keep the resident card valid at the same time, since a copy of it is part of the file.

The card covers the registered activity. If the activity or business address changes, check with the wilaya whether the trade register entry and the card must be updated, and declare any change of residence to the police, gendarmerie or town hall within 15 days.