IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

The following information was provided to the DIRB by an official at the Embassy of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria in Ottawa during a telephone interview on 28 June 1995.

The National Identity Card is made out of green cardboard and measures approximately 15 cm by 10 cm and it is folded in half to form a booklet. The words "Algerian Republic" and "Identity Card", in Arabic, and the identification number appear on the cover page. Once opened, the surname and the given name appear in French on the left-hand side.

General information, such as the holder's address, date of birth, place of birth and the date of issue of the card, are on the inner right-hand side in Arabic. The holder's picture is located at the bottom centre of the same side. The holder's fingerprint appears in the bottom left corner of the same side. An official signature with the seal from the institution issuing the card is in the same side's bottom right corner. The seal must overlap the picture. A "timbre fiscal" is stamped on the back of the National ID Card. The official also stated that it is generally the "officier d'état civil" from the city town-hall or the prefecture who signs the ID card, which is valid for 10 years. Lamination of the ID Card is optional.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Embassy of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Ottawa. 28 June 1995. Telephone interview with official.