Soft landing in Algeria: set up your company without traveling
You are a foreign company or investor entering the Algerian market. UpGrowth packages and shepherds your entire incorporation file through the official channels: structure, AAPI investment registration, notarized statutes, CNRC, tax IDs, bank account and compliance. The whole chain runs through an Algerian-resident gérant, so you never need to set foot in Algeria to incorporate.
Why Algeria in 2026
45 million consumers
The largest market in the Maghreb, with 70% of the population under 30 and a push to diversify away from hydrocarbons.
100% foreign ownership
The 51/49 rule now applies only to strategic sectors (Executive Decree 21-145: energy and mining, pharma manufacturing, transport, defense) and to pure import-for-resale activities. Everywhere else, services, tech, production, construction, you own 100%.
Dividend repatriation
Law 22-18 Article 8 guarantees transfer of 100% of net dividends, capital gains and liquidation proceeds, after corporate tax and the 15% withholding, for qualifying investments registered with AAPI.
AAPI incentive regimes
Four regimes (sectors, zones, structuring investments, common law) granting IBS, VAT, customs and land-tax exemptions. Activated only if the investment is registered with AAPI: we file it as part of every incorporation.
Which structure fits your project
SARL / EURL (subsidiary)
The default for 95% of foreign market entries. 1 shareholder (EURL) or 2 to 50 (SARL), no legal minimum capital since 2015 (we calibrate it to your sector and credibility needs). 100% foreign-owned outside the restricted activities.
SPA (joint-stock)
For large projects: minimum 7 shareholders, 1,000,000 DZD capital, board governance, statutory auditor. The path for capital raising or JVs with state entities.
Branch (succursale)
Extension of the parent with no separate legal personality. Full commercial activity, no local partner. Profits remitted to the head office bear a 15% branch tax, treaty-reducible. Suits one-contract executions.
Liaison office
Non-commercial presence for market study and promotion, authorized by the Ministry of Commerce for renewable 3-year periods. No invoicing. A scouting step before a subsidiary.
The 51/49 rule, precisely
Since the 2020 supplementary Finance Law, a majority Algerian partner is required in exactly two cases: strategic sectors listed by Executive Decree 21-145 (energy and mining, pharmaceutical manufacturing except innovative products, transport and transport infrastructure, defense), and pure import-for-resale activities reinstated by the 2021 Finance Law, where dividend repatriation is also prohibited. In every other sector your Algerian company can be 100% foreign-owned. The drafting of your activity clause matters: import combined with transformation qualifies as production, not resale, and escapes the restriction. We draft the objet social accordingly.
You never travel: the resident-gérant workflow
Algerian banks and notaries require in-person identification, but from the gérant (the legal manager), not from you as shareholder. The whole incorporation runs through an Algerian-resident gérant:
- 1
The gérant obtains the notary authorization to open a provisional bank account.
- 2
You wire the share capital in USD or EUR to that account through the official banking channel; the bank issues the capital subscription certificate.
- 3
The gérant signs a power of attorney to UpGrowth, and we handle the statutes signing, legal publications, CNRC, tax IDs and social affiliations.
If you have your own Algerian appointee, perfect. If not, our nominee gérant service (USD 600 per month) provides the resident manager that unlocks the entire workflow while you keep full control as shareholder. There is no obligation for you to hold Algerian residency cards: the only rule for a foreign gérant who prefers to stay abroad is one visit every six months, and the nominee structure removes even that.
Ready to start?
Talk to an expert about your Algerian market entry
Firm USD quote within 48 hours, 50/50 terms
The incorporation chain, step by step
- 1
Structure choice and activity drafting (the objet social wording decides whether restrictions apply).
- 2
Gérant identification: your appointee or our nominee gérant.
- 3
Company name reservation at CNRC (certificat négatif).
- 4
Registered address: vetted partner domiciliation for early-stage files, or real-office sourcing when your activity requires a sectoral agrément (premises are inspected).
- 5
AAPI investment registration on invest.gov.dz: the mandatory gateway for any foreign-shareholder company and the key to the incentives and the transfer guarantee.
- 6
Provisional bank account and capital deposit in convertible currency; the bank issues the subscription certificate.
- 7
Notarized statutes signed under power of attorney, then legal publications (BOAL and a national newspaper).
- 8
CNRC registration: the Registre du Commerce is issued and the company legally exists.
- 9
Tax IDs (NIF, NIS), CASNOS and CNAS affiliations, labor inspectorate registration.
- 10
Operational dual-account activation: a CEDAC foreign-currency account for capital and dividends, a DZD account for daily operations. Sectoral agrément filed where the activity requires it.
Your documents: legalization and translation
Foreign corporate documents (articles, board resolution, power of attorney, shareholder KYC) must be legalized before use in Algeria. Until 9 July 2026 this means the consular chain: notarization in your country, authentication by your foreign ministry, then legalization by the Algerian embassy. From 9 July 2026, Algeria joins the Hague Apostille Convention, and a single apostille replaces that chain for documents from member states, including China. Sworn translation into French in Algeria is required in both cases. We provide the exact document list and templates up front so your local notary gets it right the first time.
What UpGrowth handles
- Structure advice and activity-clause drafting (objet social)
- Registered address through the vetted partner domiciliation network, or real-office sourcing for agrément cases
- AAPI investment registration and, where relevant, the separately scoped incentive file (décision d'octroi des avantages)
- Bank introduction, provisional account, capital deposit follow-up and CEDAC activation
- Notary, statutes, legal publications, CNRC, NIF, NIS, CASNOS, CNAS
- Sworn translation coordination and the legalization checklist for your country
- Nominee gérant service when you have no Algerian appointee
- Post-incorporation compliance: monthly G50 filings, annual IBS return, dividend transfer files
Timeline and pricing
A 100% foreign-owned SARL or EURL in services, tech or production takes 8 to 12 weeks end to end once your legalized documents are ready. Activities requiring a sectoral agrément (import, distribution, transport, training, telecoms, pharma, food, security, financial services) run 12 to 20 weeks. A branch takes 6 to 10 weeks. Pricing is in USD at international rates with a firm itemized quote, and payment is 50% on engagement, 50% on delivery of the Registre du Commerce. Government registrations (AAPI, NIF, NIS, CNAS) are free; notary, CNRC, publications and sworn translations are third-party costs billed at cost.
8-12
weeks, standard file
48h
firm quote
Frequently asked by foreign investors
Can a foreigner own 100% of an Algerian company?
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Yes, in every sector except two cases: strategic sectors listed by Executive Decree 21-145 (energy and mining, pharmaceutical manufacturing except innovative products, transport and transport infrastructure, defense) and pure import-for-resale activities (2021 Finance Law), which both require a 51% Algerian partner. Services, technology, production, construction and consulting are fully open to 100% foreign ownership.
Do I need to travel to Algeria to incorporate?
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No. Physical identification at the notary and the bank is required from the gérant (the resident legal manager), not from you as shareholder. With your own Algerian appointee or our nominee gérant, the full chain runs without you: notary authorization, provisional bank account, your capital wire, then a power of attorney under which we complete the statutes, publications, CNRC and tax registrations.
How long does it take?
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8 to 12 weeks for a standard 100% foreign-owned SARL or EURL once your legalized documents are ready, 12 to 20 weeks if your activity needs a sectoral agrément, 6 to 10 weeks for a branch. The critical paths are document legalization in your country and the bank's KYC review, and we de-risk both with prepared dossiers.
Can I repatriate my dividends?
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Yes. Law 22-18 Article 8 guarantees the transfer of 100% of net dividends, capital gains and liquidation proceeds, after corporate tax and the 15% dividend withholding (reducible under tax treaties, verified case by case). Three conditions: the capital entered Algeria through the banking channel in convertible currency, foreign financing covers at least 25% of the investment cost, and the activity is not pure import-for-resale.
What taxes will my company pay?
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Corporate income tax (IBS) at 19% for production and construction, 23% for services, 26% for trade and import. VAT at 19% standard. Dividends to non-residents bear a 15% withholding, treaty-reducible: Algeria has tax treaties with China (in force since 2008), Tunisia, France and others, applied file by file. AAPI incentive regimes can grant multi-year exemptions.
Does the manager need an Algerian work permit?
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No. A gérant is a company director, not a salaried employee, so the salaried work-permit route does not apply. If a foreign gérant wants to live in Algeria, the path is: business visa, incorporation, then the 2-year residence card and the professional card issued by the wilaya. If he prefers to stay abroad, the only rule is presence once every six months, and a resident nominee gérant removes that constraint too.
Where will the company be domiciled?
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Through our vetted partner domiciliation network for early-stage and pre-revenue files. Activities that require a sectoral agrément are inspected on premises, so they need a real office, which we source through our real-estate partner network before the lease is signed. We deliberately separate foreign-invested entities from our local ecosystem hub: it is a compliance choice that protects your file.
How do I get my documents accepted in Algeria?
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Until 9 July 2026: notarization in your country, authentication by your foreign ministry, then consular legalization at the Algerian embassy. From 9 July 2026, Algeria applies the Hague Apostille, so a single apostille replaces the chain for member states. In both cases, sworn French translation in Algeria. We send you the exact checklist and templates before you start.
Ready to start?
Talk to an expert about your Algerian market entry
Firm USD quote within 48 hours, 50/50 terms
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