Algeria
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- Unclear restrictions - it is not clear to what extent restrictions apply.
Restrictions on entry to Algeria
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to Algeria based on HIV status.
Both the US Department of State and UNAIDS report that Algeria does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
Neither a medical certificate nor an HIV test result is required.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad provides a list of supporting documents that should be included with the entry visa application and none of those documents makes reference to HIV or general health of the applicant.
The visa application form published by the Embassy of Algeria in Washington does not contain questions or fields in relation to any health condition or status.
Restrictions on short-term stay in Algeria
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on short-term stay in Algeria based on HIV status.
Both the US Department of State and UNAIDS report that Algeria does not have any HIV-related restrictions on short-term stay.
Restrictions on long-term stay in Algeria
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on long-term stay in Algeria based on HIV status.
Both the US Department of State and UNAIDS report that Algeria does not have any HIV-related restrictions on long-term stay.
However, anecdotal information shared by a user suggests that practice may differ from official policy on the restrictions in Algeria. See the case studies section below.
Treatment access in Algeria
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in Algeria. There is no evidence that non-nationals are restricted from accessing treatment in the same way as nationals.
According to an interview conducted in 2021 with Amel Zertal (consultant in Infectious Diseases in El Kettar Hospital), Othmane Bourouba (AIDS Algérie), and the late Adel Zeddam (UNAIDS Algeria), the treatment of people living with HIV in Algeria is universal, not just for Algerians but also for non-nationals, including irregular migrants.
Algeria has a substantial legislative and legal arsenal to protect human rights, guaranteeing non-discriminatory care with high-quality treatment and the right to a decent life within the family or society. This is enshrined in several articles of the Algerian Health Law of 16 February 1985, which states that access to all healthcare is free and universal for everyone, and there can be no discrimination on the grounds of gender, origin, religion etc. Additionally, the Constitution states that: ‘citizens are equal before the law, without any discrimination on grounds of birth, race, sex, opinion or any other personal or social condition or circumstance’.
This system provides a whole range of remedies for people living with or affected by HIV, enabling them to assert their rights, firstly by turning to civil society, including the ‘El Hayet’ association of people living with HIV, as a mediator, then to institutions depending on the right they have been denied, to the Human Rights Council, and finally to the courts.
A list of HIV testing centres and centres for the management of HIV is available on the website of AIDS Algérie.
Case Studies
I went to Algeria for work, on a 2-year contract. I’m a French national, and I got my visa without any problem at the Algerian Embassy in Paris. Once established in the country, I had to apply for a residence permit, as my work visa expired after 90 days. For obtaining a residence permit, a health test including HIV, hepatitis and syphilis is mandatory. The test results have to be attached to the residence permit application. I was denied residence and had to leave the country. Unfortunately, this information is not public anywhere.
French national, 2014
Sources
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
Visit the Algeria page on the Global HIV Criminalisation Database to see more information about known HIV criminalisation laws in this country, an overview of how the laws are used, and any significant advocacy developments.
UNAIDS Global AIDS monitoring data
This information about access to HIV services comes from UNAIDS https://lawsandpolicies.unaids.org/, a platform to view data on HIV-related laws and policies. This is information provided by national authorities and civil society and may contradict other sources.
Migrant populations
| Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Migrants are able to access HIV services | N/A |
Refugees and asylum seekers
| Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
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This site focuses on information about HIV travel. Please also consult your own Foreign Office/Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, or the local consulate of the country you are visiting, to see what restrictions there are specifically for you as a citizen of your country, regardless of your HIV status.
