Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Passports
1.1 Biometric Passports

According to sources, Algeria started issuing biometric passports in January 2012 (Magharebia 13 Jan. 2012; Tout sur l'Algérie 4 Jan. 2012). Magharebia, a website sponsored by the US Department of Defence that provides information about the Maghreb region (Magharebia n.d.), reports that a biometric passport contains physical and digital security measures (ibid. 13 Jan. 2013). Two sources indicate that the biometric passport has an electronic chip that contains information about the passport holder, including a digital photograph, the individual's signature and his or her fingerprints (ibid.; Tout sur l'Algérie 4 Jan. 2012).

1.2 Obtaining a Passport From Within Algeria

In a telephone interview with the Research Directorate, an official of the Consulate General of Algeria in Montreal indicated that offices in Algeria issue both biometric and ordinary passports (Algeria 25 July 2013). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to the website of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Governments, in order to obtain a biometric passport in Algeria, an individual must provide the following to a daïra [or a "city hall" (ibid.)]:

• Birth certificate in special format 12-S;
• Algerian nationality certificate;
• Residence certificate, issued within the last three months;
• Family record delivered by the Civil Registrar, for those who are married;
• Proof of employment or certificate of school attendance for students;
• Four recent photographs;
• Fees; and
• Copy of a blood type card (ibid. n.d.d).

An application form for acquiring a biometric passport in Algeria is available on the website of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Governments (ibid. n.d.f). Further information on the requirements and procedures to obtain a passport in Algeria could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

1.3 Obtaining a Passport From Abroad

According to the website of the Algerian Embassy in Ottawa, Algerian citizens who wish to obtain "any identity, travel or civil status administrative documents," must be registered at the Embassy or the Consulate of Algeria (ibid. n.d.a). Similarly, the website of the Consulate General of Algeria in Montreal indicates that individuals who wish to acquire documents at the Consulate should have consular registration (ibid. n.d.b).

1.3.1 Consular Registration

The website of the Embassy of Algeria in Ottawa indicates that to register at the embassy for the first time, an Algerian citizen must submit the following documents:

• Copy of the Algerian Identity Card;
• Birth Certificate;
• Algerian Nationality Certificate. If the applicant does not have this document, he or she can:
  • If born in Algeria , provide his or her father's birth certificate;
  • If born abroad, provide two birth certificates of the paternal ascendants who were born in Algeria;
• Copy of the residence certificate as [proof] of regular stay in Canada;
• Proof of employment (Work Certificate or school registration certificate for students);
• Proof of address (copy of the tenancy agreement, title deed or for lack of these documents, please provide a copy of the telephone or cable bills);
• (4) four recent and same print photographs;
• A prepaid envelope for returning the documents;
• A Marriage certificate if the applicant is married;
• A birth certificate for each under age child. (ibid. n.d.a)

Sources state that a registration card is valid for five years (ibid.; ibid. n.d.b). According to the embassy's website, the card can be renewed after its expiration (ibid. n.d.a). There is no fee for issuance of the registration card (ibid.).

1.3.2 Requirements to Obtain a Passport

The official of the Consulate General of Algeria in Montreal indicated that the consulate issues both biometric and ordinary passports (ibid. 24 July 2013). However, ordinary passports will be issued only until 2015, after which the consulate will be issuing only biometric passports (ibid.). The website of the Consulate General of Algeria in New York also indicates that "[i]n accordance with the guidelines of the organization of international civil aviation concerning the date limit of use of (non-biometric) ordinary passports worldwide," all non-biometric passports, which are renewed or extended by the consulate general, will be valid until 2015 (ibid. 17 June 2013).

In order to obtain a new passport, renew it or extend it in Canada, an individual must provide the following documents to the embassy:

• Consular registration card;
• Old passport;
• Four (04) recent passport type photographs;
• Certified cheque or money order of CAN$ 27.00 in the name of the Embassy of Algeria in Ottawa; and
• An application form, which is available at the embassy or can be downloaded from the embassy's website. (ibid. n.d.c)

The official of the Consulate General of Algeria in Montreal indicated that the documents required for issuing an ordinary or a biometric passport are the same (ibid. 24 July 2013). However, individuals applying for biometric passports must also provide their blood type and they must be fingerprinted (ibid.).

According to the website of the embassy, if the passport is lost or misplaced, an individual must submit a confirmation from the "local competent authorities" that the incident was reported to them and notify the nearest Algerian mission (ibid. n.d.c). A deteriorated passport must be returned along with the application for a new passport (ibid.). In addition to the passport fee, C$95 will be charged for a passport's renewal, loss or deterioration (ibid.).

2. National Identity Card
2.1 Obtaining an Identity Card from Within Algeria

According to the website of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Governments, the requirements for obtaining an identity card are the same as the requirements for obtaining a biometric passport in Algeria (ibid. n.d.d). An application form for acquiring a national identity card in Algeria is available on the website of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Governments (ibid. n.d.f).

2.2 Obtaining an Identity Card from Abroad

According to the website of the Embassy of Algeria in Ottawa, individuals who wish to obtain an identity card must be registered at the embassy (ibid. n.d.e). In order to obtain an identity card in Canada, an individual must provide the following to the embassy:

• Application form;
• Four recent passport photographs;
• C$2 for a stamp; and
• Expired identity card (ibid.).

The embassy's website indicates that the documents must be submitted in person (ibid.). Two sources state that national identity cards are valid for ten years (ibid.; ibid. 7 June 2013).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Algeria. 25 July 2013. Consulate General of Algeria, Montreal. Telephone interview with an official.

_____. 24 July 2013. Consulate General of Algeria, Montreal. Telephone interview with an official.

_____. 17 June 2013. Consulate General of Algeria, New York. "Passport Issuance." [Accessed 3 July 2013]

_____. 7 June 2013. Consulate General of Algeria, New York. "Identity Card." [Accessed 3 July 2013]

_____. N.d.a. Embassy of Algeria, Ottawa. "Consular Registration." [Accessed 3 July 2013]

_____. N.d.b. Consulate General of Algeria, Montreal. "Immatriculation Consulaire." [Accessed 24 July 2013]

_____. N.d.c. Embassy of Algeria, Ottawa. "Passport." [Accessed 3 July 2013]

_____. N.d.d. Ministry of the Interior and Local Governments. "Passeport biométrique électronique." [Accessed 24 July 2013]

_____. N.d.e. Embassy of Algeria, Ottawa. "The National Identity Card." [Accessed 3 July 2013]

_____. N.d.f. Ministry of the Interior and Local Governments. "Formulaire de demande du passeport et de la carte nationale d'identité électroniques et biométriques." [Accessed 23 July 2013]

Magharebia. 13 January 2012. Lyes Aflou. "Algeria Launches Biometric Passports." [Accessed 3 July 2013]

_____. N.d. "Disclaimer." [Accessed 24 July 2013]

Tout sur l'Algérie. 4 January 2012. Hamid Guemache. "Le premier passeport biométrique algérien est arrivé." [Accessed 24 July 2013]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Attempts to contact representatives of the following organizations were unsuccessful: Consulate General of Algeria in New York, Embassy of Algeria in Ottawa, Ministry of the Interior and Local Governments.

Internet sites, including: Algeria – Embassy of Algeria to the United States of America in Washington D.C., Journal officiel de la république algérienne démocratique et populaire, Ministry of Communication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Portail du Premier Ministre; AllAfrica; Amnesty International; British Broadcasting Corporation; ecoi.net; Factiva; Freedom House; Homeland Security News Wire; Human Rights Watch; Jeune Afrique; La Nouvelle République; United Nations – Integrated Regional Information Networks, Refworld; United States – Department of State.