Country Navigation

Profile

Facts
Security
Weather

General Info

Yachting Essentials
Timezone
Money
Communications
Transport
Diplomatic Missions
Events
Education
Emergencies
Links

Courtesy Flag Discounts

YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.

YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.

Use the coupon code NOONSITE-5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.

Buy Now On YachtFlags.com

Formalities

To gain access to Noonsite’s Country Formalities information: New users please Register Here. Existing users please Log in Here.

Courtesy Flag Discounts

YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.

Use the coupon code NOONSITE-5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.

Buy Now On YachtFlags.com

Main Ports - Algeria

Algiers Port of Entry

Annaba Port of Entry

Bejaia Port of Entry

Beni-Saf Port of Entry

Bouharoun Port of Entry

Cherchell

Collo Port of Entry

Dellys Port of Entry

Mostaganem Port of Entry

Oran Port of Entry

Sidi Fredj Port of Entry

Skikda Port of Entry

Tenes Port of Entry

Courtesy Flag Discounts

YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.

Use the coupon code NOONSITE-5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.

Buy Now On YachtFlags.com

Comments

Leave a comment Cancel reply

You must Login or Register to submit comments.

sue-richards says:

April 6, 2022 at 11:46 AM

First I would like to thank you for you excellent site and base of knowledge!
I started a sailing sabbatical on my Oceanis 43 in September 2020 and did a passage from Montenegro to Melilla (with an emergency stop in Skikda, Algeria).
We called the Coastguard on the VHF but they didn’t respond. Only when we called Skikda port control approx. 5 miles out, did the Coastguard respond. We explained that we wanted to check an issue with the rudder and they told us that they would call us back in a few minutes.

They called us back and told us we were welcome to come into Skikda commercial port. I would like to mention that at this time Algeria was pretty much closed due to Covid. The Harbormaster called us shortly after and also welcomed us to the port. We even got a pilot boat to show us the way in.

Once on the quay, we got checked in by Coastguard, Medical service (Covid time), Police and Customs. It wasn’t a problem at all that we didn’t have a visa (of course as it was an unplanned stop) and even my co-skippers Passport being expired wasn’t a problem. Everybody was very nice and kind.

The harbormaster brought us breakfast to the boat the next morning as a gift. We checked our rudder and found everything ok. Spent another night and left the next morning.

The only thing was that it was almost impossible to get Diesel. We would have needed an agent and it would have been very complicated, so we decided to move on with what we still had (as our Ema is a sailboat, right )

Michael
SV Ema

Login or Register to reply
dd-skysail says:

May 31, 2020 at 8:22 PM

i sail all Algeria in end 2019, without visa , but no problem, the algerian people are really friendly, you can see an youtube my travel https://youtu.be/MuMkOslSZPs
go and visit algeria you will like it

Login or Register to reply
cornelis says:

October 11, 2019 at 1:34 PM

Is it possible to just stop at the fuel dock, taking in 10K litre of diesel and leave without the whole papershop hassle ?

Login or Register to reply
Lynda Lim says:

October 4, 2018 at 11:56 PM

We are currently sailing in Algeria (Sep./Oct. 2018).

Language : Arabic is spoken by everyone, french almost the same, but with a limited vocabulary, English not a lot…

Formalities :
Be patient, they are usually very nice, but numerous and it takes time.
Have a photocopier or a phone+small printer on board.
This way you will have in advance copies of all required docs.
They usually require copies of passports, copies of visas, boat registration doc, boat insurance certificate, your skippers licence and radio operator licence.
Call harbour a few miles before arrival and request permission to enter.
Sometimes you will be allowed to go to your berth, sometimes they will ask you to make a quick stop by the coast-guard office.
Have an Algerian flag. Have a Q flag. Have your national flag.
Officials will come to your boat : up to 6 different teams : port control, coast guard, police, immigration, customs, …
Visas are highly recommended as it significantly shortens the procedures.
Visas can be tough to obtain, as they require an invitation, which obviously you won’t have. Explain, insist, … you’ll get it !
Diesel is cheap (about 0.17 €/l)
Ports are safe, as you usually have a policeman 24/7 watching the boat and you.
Ports are not meant for cruisers : you will be in the commercial port, dirty, …
Especially if you have a visa, getting to town is allowed, sometimes witch a policeman watching you.

Tenes : small town, great market, port was free.
Mostaganem : avoid !!! Dirty, dirty, and a “gift” which I refused to pay : 24000 DA (210€) for one night. I lowered to 6000… City is big, with special interest.
Oran : as always, no berth for sailboat, so installed between cargoes… worth a visit in town.
Moorings not recommended ; not many places for moorings, coast is very straight in general.

Login or Register to reply
Data Entry3 says:

February 14, 2018 at 12:34 PM

Posted on behalf of Jan Harzem

Fly the Algerian courtesy flag
The coast guard will call you on VHF16 as you approach Algerian waters, asking your intentions.
You will be a novelty and will be treated as such, everybody will want to talk to you and take selfies on your yacht. Best to be strict and say a polite no thank you.

You can expect the formalities to take at least an hour or so. You will see the Coast Guard first, usually at the entrance to the port, they will wave you down and ask you to tie up at their wharf. You will have to fill in some paperwork. Best is if you have copies of passports, ship registration documents. insurance and your sailing qualifications at hand. Next, is police and Customs, depending on location. Whoever is the senior of all three, will run the show. They are extremely courteous and helpful, but will do a cursory search of the vessel. You will have to provide a Customs declaration and declare currency etc, The Police will retain your passports, which you will get back upon leaving. Sometimes the Harbourmaster and the quarantine doctor will come and see you, but really only out of curiosity.

If you want to leave the port area and do not have a visa, you need to ask for a permit d’escale, which is usually granted and you will be escorted into town by police in civilian clothes. In our case we were driven into town to change money and then taken for a scenic tour to the town and surrounding country side. Diesel is Dinar 23 per litre equivalent to Euro 0.18 per liter.
It helps if you speak some French, but a lot of the officials will be able to speak English as well.

Login or Register to reply
Data Entry3 says:

November 15, 2015 at 11:29 PM

Most important thing: have Algerian courtesy flag onboard. Even if you are just passing by – in case of entering their harbour in emergency. They will not let you just buy it in the first port. I’ve just had an full blown court case two weeks ago in Tenes because of that. They will give you penalty between 200 and 1000EUR (I was lucky – only 200EUR).
Just in case – harbourmaster and his men are your best friends. Immigration – greedy and corrupted. Customs – neutral. Coastguard – mostly ok, except the one that started whole thing. Maybe it was just a bad luck we’ve entered the port on his shift. According to their procedures after being sentenced you have to spend there 10 days before you can pay the fine and then leave.

Login or Register to reply

Offline Access (Downloads)

This feature is only available to Premium members. You need to Login or Register to access port and formalities downloads.

Special Offers for Noonsite Members

This feature is only available to Basic and Premium members. You need to Login or Register to access special offers.

Algeria - Update History

Oct 31, 2025

View Special Offers for Algeria

October 2025: Inactive country statement added.
April 2022: Facts amended with feedback from cruising yacht.
October 2018: Extra clearance information from Eric Moreau
February 2018: Clearance & Immigration updated with information from Jan Harzem.
October 2017: Publications updated.
September 2016: Formalities checked where possible. Security updated.
April 2015: Publications reviewed and updated.
July 2014: Great updates from Tom and Suzie Partridge of SY Adina.
March 2013: Formalities reviewed.

Read and Post Related Comments

If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).

Next Section: Profile: Facts

Algeria was last updated 3 months ago

Related to following destinations: Algeria

Home
Site Policies
Advertising
About Us
Contact
Partners

© 2000-2026

error: Content is protected !!

Search the site

Log in to your account

Username or Email Address

Password

Remember Me

Lost your password?

Become a Noonsite Member

As a free user of Noonsite you are restricted to viewing 3 country formalities per month. You have viewed 0 formalities this month – but can view the countries you have accessed to date as many times as you want.

Become a Noonsite Member and you can view unlimited formalities each month and enjoy additional member benefits. Membership fees help our team keep country formalities information up-to-date in support of cruisers worldwide.

Find out more about membership levels and Become a Noonsite Member.