Algeria

Last Updated: 2026-04-02

Official Portal: Ministry of Justice — Nationality

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Quick Facts

Category	Details
Residency for naturalization	7 years lawful residence
Language requirement	Arabic (no formal test; practical fluency expected by authorities)
Civics test	None
Processing time	12—36 months (broad administrative discretion)
Naturalization fee	Minimal administrative fees
Dual citizenship	Officially prohibited; widely tolerated in practice
Citizenship by birth in Algeria	No automatic jus soli; birth on Algerian soil alone does not confer citizenship
Citizenship by descent	Automatic through the father; through the mother since the 2005 amendment
Governing law	Ordonnance No. 70-86 of 15 December 1970 (Code de la Nationalite Algerienne), amended by Ordonnance No. 05-01 of 27 February 2005

Dual Citizenship

Algeria officially does not recognize dual citizenship under the 1970 Nationality Code. Article 18 provides that acquisition of a foreign nationality may result in loss of Algerian citizenship by decree.

In practice: The prohibition is almost never enforced. Algeria has one of the largest diasporas in the francophone world — an estimated 5 to 7 million Algerians live abroad, predominantly in France, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Belgium. The vast majority hold dual nationality. Algerian consulates routinely issue and renew passports for citizens known to hold foreign passports, and the government has never pursued a systematic campaign to strip dual nationals of their citizenship.

Key nuances:

The 1996 Constitution (as amended in 2016 and 2020) requires that candidates for President, Prime Minister, and certain senior offices hold exclusively Algerian nationality. This political restriction does not apply to ordinary citizens.
Algeria does not, in practice, require naturalization applicants to renounce their prior nationality, though the legal framework gives the government theoretical discretion to consider foreign allegiance.
France, Germany, and Canada have all confirmed that Algerian nationals do not in fact lose their Algerian citizenship upon naturalizing in those countries.
The gap between law and practice is one of the most pronounced of any country globally. Algeria functions as a de facto dual citizenship state under a de jure prohibition.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

Algeria does not apply unconditional jus soli. Birth on Algerian territory to foreign parents does not confer Algerian nationality.

Limited jus soli provisions:

A child born in Algeria to an Algerian father or (since 2005) an Algerian mother acquires nationality by descent, not by soil — the place of birth is incidental.
A child born in Algeria to unknown parents is presumed Algerian until proven otherwise (foundling rule).
A child born in Algeria to a stateless parent who was also born in Algeria may acquire Algerian nationality under double jus soli provisions designed to reduce statelessness.

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

Nationality by descent is the primary and dominant mode of acquisition.

Pre-2005 rule: Nationality was transmitted exclusively through the father. Children of Algerian mothers and foreign fathers did not acquire Algerian nationality at birth — a provision that left a significant number of persons in a legally precarious position.

Post-2005 reform (Ordonnance No. 05-01 of 27 February 2005): Article 6 was amended to permit transmission through either parent. A child is Algerian at birth if born to an Algerian father or an Algerian mother, regardless of place of birth. This reform was one of the most significant changes to Algerian nationality law since independence in 1962 and was driven in part by obligations under CEDAW.

Generational transmission: There is no statutory generational cut-off for descent-based nationality. However, practical documentation challenges increase with each generation born abroad. Applicants must prove an unbroken chain of Algerian nationality, which often requires colonial-era civil status records.

Colonial-era descent: The 1970 Code defines Algerian nationality with reference to persons who held “Muslim civil status” under French colonial law. This is the foundational definition from which all descent claims ultimately derive.

By Adoption

Algeria follows Islamic law principles in personal status matters. Full adoption (tabanni) is prohibited under the Family Code (Article 46). The legal alternative is kafala (guardianship/foster care).

Kafala does not confer Algerian nationality on the child. However, a child under kafala who is stateless and born in Algeria may acquire nationality through statelessness provisions. A child under kafala who is not stateless must pursue naturalization through standard channels upon reaching adulthood.

By Marriage

Marriage to an Algerian citizen does not automatically confer nationality.

Requirements for a foreign spouse:

The marriage must have existed for at least 3 years.
The couple must be living in a genuine marital community.
The applicant must be lawfully resident in Algeria or demonstrate a genuine and sustained link to the country.
The application is submitted to the Ministry of Justice via the local tribunal.
The government retains full discretion to grant or deny the request.
A foreign woman who married an Algerian man prior to the 2005 reform may have been subject to more favorable provisions under the earlier text.

By Naturalization

Naturalization in Algeria is discretionary and granted by presidential decree upon recommendation of the Minister of Justice.

Requirement	Details
Lawful residence	7 years of habitual and regular residence in Algeria
Good character	No serious criminal convictions; certificate of good conduct required
Health	Must be in good physical and mental health
Means of subsistence	Must demonstrate ability to support oneself and dependents
Language	Practical knowledge of Arabic or Amazigh (no standardized test; assessed by authorities)
Integration	General integration into Algerian society, assessed subjectively
Fee	Minimal administrative charges
Decision	By decree of the President of the Republic

Exceptional naturalization: Persons who have rendered exceptional services to Algeria — in the fields of science, culture, sports, or economics — may be naturalized without satisfying the 7-year residency requirement. This is rare and highly discretionary.

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary renunciation: An Algerian citizen may request release from nationality by decree. The applicant must demonstrate acquisition of or entitlement to another nationality to prevent statelessness. In practice, the government processes these requests slowly, and many applicants find the bureaucratic path difficult to complete.

Involuntary loss:

Ground	Details
Voluntary acquisition of foreign nationality	Article 18 permits loss by presidential decree; almost never enforced in practice
Service in a foreign military	Without prior authorization from the Algerian government
Acts incompatible with nationality	Broadly defined; includes conduct prejudicial to state interests
Fraud	Nationality obtained by fraud, misrepresentation, or concealment may be withdrawn within 2 years of discovery

Restoration of Nationality

Former Algerian citizens who lost nationality may apply for reintegration by presidential decree. The process follows the same procedural pathway as naturalization but may receive more favorable consideration given the applicant’s prior ties to Algeria. The applicant must typically reside in Algeria and demonstrate good character.

Descendants of Algerians who lost nationality during the colonial period (pre-1962) hold a special position under the foundational principles of the 1970 Code. Their claims derive from the original definition of Algerian nationality based on patrilineal descent from persons holding Muslim civil status under French colonial administration.

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

A newborn found in Algeria (foundling) is presumed Algerian until proven otherwise.
A child born in Algeria to stateless parents acquires Algerian nationality at birth.
A child born in Algeria to parents of unknown nationality is treated as Algerian.
Algeria has not ratified the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, but domestic law provides basic protections against statelessness.

Document Checklist

Sources

Ordonnance No. 70-86 du 15 decembre 1970 — Code de la Nationalite Algerienne. Full text in the Journal Officiel. https://www.joradp.dz/
Ordonnance No. 05-01 du 27 fevrier 2005 — Amendment permitting maternal transmission of nationality. https://www.joradp.dz/
Ministry of Justice of Algeria — Official portal for civil status and nationality services. https://www.mjustice.dz/
Constitution of Algeria (2020 revision) — Articles on nationality and eligibility for public office. https://www.joradp.dz/
UNHCR Refworld — Algeria nationality law profiles and country guidance. https://www.refworld.org/
Global Citizenship Observatory (GLOBALCIT) — Country profile for Algeria. https://globalcit.eu/

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