Four Ministries to Control the Entry of Sensitive Equipment into Algeria
The government, through a joint ministerial decree signed by four ministries, including the Ministry of National Defence, has imposed strict conditions for the entry of sensitive equipment into the country.
These conditions require prior authorisation, which must include the applicant’s identity and place of business, as well as a review of the legal status of foreigners residing in Algeria. The decree stipulates that the authorisation is valid for one year and renewable based on the needs related to the equipment’s use, to prevent misuse.
The latest issue of the Official Gazette included a joint ministerial decree dated July 31, 2025, outlining the conditions and procedures for granting prior authorisations for the temporary entry, re-export, and re-import of certain sensitive equipment. The Ministries of National Defence, Interior and Local Authorities, Transport, Finance, and Post and Telecommunications signed the decree.
The second article of the decision stipulates that the temporary entry of sensitive equipment is subject to a prior authorisation issued by the Interior Minister after consulting with the Ministry of National Defence. The application for this prior authorisation, prepared according to the form in Annexe 1, must be submitted to the Regulatory Department of the Wialaya where the applicant resides or conducts the business.
This application must be accompanied by several documents, including a copy of the articles of association or, for legal entities, the incorporation document; proof of the legal status of foreigners within the national territory; a technical specifications sheet for the equipment in question; and a document confirming the intended purpose of the sensitive equipment.
In the same context, the decision stipulates that applications submitted within the framework of official visits by foreign delegations are to be processed in accordance with the provisions of international agreements and applicable legislation and regulations. The Interior Ministry issues the prior temporary entry permit according to the form in Annexe II and notifies the applicant without delay.
Article 7 stipulates that the validity period of the temporary entry permit is a maximum of one year, renewable as needed to fulfil the purpose of the temporary entry. The equipment must be imported in a single operation.
The decision also allows for the extension of the license upon a reasoned request submitted to the Interior Minister before two-thirds of its validity period has elapsed, after consulting with the Ministry of National Defence. The same Minister may also authorise the transfer of equipment to an authorised operator or a licensed natural or legal person, after consulting with the Ministry of National Defence.
The provisions of the decision also require the re-export of equipment upon expiry of its validity period, in accordance with a prior declaration prepared according to the form in Annexe 5. This declaration must be submitted to the Interior Ministry at least 15 days before the date of the re-export operation, which is carried out in a single transaction and under the conditions stipulated in the applicable legislation. A copy of the status of temporary import and re-export activity is sent by the Customs authorities to the Interior Minister every three months.
Regarding prior licenses for the temporary export and re-import of equipment, temporary export is subject to a prior license issued by the Interior Minister after consulting with the Ministry of National Defence. This license is granted for equipment intended for technical repair or maintenance.
The license application is submitted to the Regulatory Department of the Wilaya, accompanied by several documents, including copies of the documents justifying the temporary export, a copy of the acquisition license for the equipment in question and its technical specifications, and a written undertaking to re-import the equipment, conforming to the model in Annexe VII. If the applicant is a legal entity, a copy of its articles of association or incorporation contract must be included.
The Interior Minister will decide on the license application within 60 days of the submission date. The temporary export license is valid for one year and is renewable within the period necessary to achieve the purpose of the temporary export.
The license can be extended upon a reasoned request submitted before two-thirds of its validity period has expired. The decision prohibits any alteration to temporarily exported equipment, particularly to its characteristics, technical specifications, and components as defined in the license.
It is required that the process of re-importing temporarily exported equipment be carried out in one operation and in accordance with the applicable regulations, provided that the status of the temporary export and re-import movement is accurately determined, including the number of equipment and its full designation “brand, type, model, serial number”, in addition to the reference of the prior license for temporary export and re-import.
