Information on military card, documents regarding deferral and exemption; description of those documents; procedure and conditions for obtaining deferral and exemption documents (2007-September 2010) [DZA103533.FE]

Military card

During a 2 September 2010 telephone interview with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Embassy of Algeria in Ottawa stated that the new military card (carte militaire) in use since 2007 and issued by the Ministry of National Defence (ministère de la Défense nationale) is light green. It has a passport-size photograph and indicates the bearer’s name, date of birth and address (Algeria 2 Sept. 2010). It is written in Arabic and is not laminated (ibid.).

Deferral documents

The representative of the Embassy of Algeria in Ottawa stated that since 2007, the deferral card (carte de sursis) has been on plain white paper and features a passport-size photograph and indicates the bearer’s last name, first name, address, and date and place of birth (2 Sept. 2010). The representative added that the deferral card is not laminated and that the information is written in Arabic (Algeria 2 Sept. 2010). The card is issued by the Ministry of National Defence to allow a person to attend school on presentation of proof of attendance or where the brother of the bearer is performing his national military service on presentation of a statement of enlistment (ibid.; Algeria, n.d.). No information indicating the existence of other deferral documents could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. According to the Web site of the Embassy of Algeria in Ottawa, a written application must be sent to the Ministry of National Defence [translation] “under the authority of the Ambassador of Algeria to Canada or the Consul General of Algeria in Montreal” (ibid.).

Exemption card

According to the representative of the Embassy of Algeria in Ottawa, since 2007, the exemption card (carte de dispense) has been yellow (2 Sept. 2010). It has a passport-size photograph and indicates the bearer’s last name, first name, address, and date and place of birth (2 Sept. 2010). The representative added that the exemption card is not laminated and that the information is written in Arabic (Algeria 2 Sept. 2010). The card is issued by the Ministry of National Defence and is valid for life (ibid.).

The section of the Web site of the Embassy of Algeria in Ottawa relating to military service states that Algerian citizens can apply for exemption from military service for the following reasons:

[Translation]

medical reasons: the applicant must submit a complete medical file and undergo tests administered by a medical board for fitness for military service.

social reasons: duly registered Algerian nationals can apply for exemption from their obligation to perform military service if they are

- the sole provider for immediate or extended family members who are disabled or underage, or

- over 27 years of age and gainfully employed.

In order to obtain an exemption from military service, the applicant must submit a file containing the following documents, which will be sent to the appropriate branches of the Algerian Ministry of National Defence for assessment:

- a handwritten application addressed to the Ministry of National Defence under the authority of the Ambassador of Algeria in Canada or the Consul General of Algeria in Montreal,

- a record of civil status (individual),

- two recent identical photographs,

- a family record of civil status (for married people),

- a record of divorce or separation where applicable, i.e. an extract of judgement (extrait de jugement),

- proof of end of studies,

- copies of any diplomas earned,

- the last three pay slips and/or a work contract or any other document proving that the applicant has a professional occupation,

- an attestation of non-paid activity or any other proof of the applicant’s disability or inability to work,

- the family civil status record of the parents,

- the father’s death certificate, if applicable,

- a family civil status record for all married brothers,

- written proof of the applicant’s brothers’ situation in connection with military service.

[…] If the applicant is the only son of a chahid [a man killed during the war of independence (Jeune Afrique 10 March 2009)],

- a handwritten application,

- a certified copy of the statement indicating that the applicant is the only son of a chahid,

- a true copy of an authenticated extract from the register of former members of the ALN [Armée de libération nationale (France24 8 Nov. 2008)] or of the OCFLN [Organisation civile du Front de libération nationale (La Tribune 24 May 2010)],

- a family record of the applicant’s civil status,

- a family record of the parents’ civil status (Algeria n.d.).

No information on the procedure for obtaining a deferral card or exemption card for citizens living in Algeria could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

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. 2 September 2010. Embassy of Algeria in Ottawa. Telephone interview with a representative.

_____. N.d. Embassy of Algeria in Ottawa. “Service national”. [Accessed 20 July 2010]

AllAfrica.com. 24 May 2010. Wafia Sifouane. “Algérie : il fut co-compositeur de l'hymne national Qassaman - le musicologue Haroun Rachid est décédé à 78 ans”. [Accessed 15 Sept. 2010]

France24. 8 November 2008. “Le scandale des faux anciens combattants”. [Accessed 15 Sept. 2010]

La Tribune [Alger]. 10 March 2009. Cherif Ouazani. “Cing challengeurs dans l'arène”. (Jeune Afrique) [Accessed 15 Sept. 2010]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral source: Attempts to reach a representative of the Algerian consulate in Montreal were unsuccessful.

Internet sites, including: African Press Organization (APO), Afrol News, Algeria-Embassy of Algeria in Portugal, Algeria-Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Algeria-Ministère de la Jeunesse et des Sports, El Watan [Algiers], L'Expression [Algiers], Le Figaro [Paris], Grioo.com, InfoSud Belgique (InfoSud), Institut tunisien des relations internationales (ITRI), Internationale de l'éducation (IE), Le Jeune Indépendant [Algiers], Keesing Reference Systems, La Nouvelle République [Algiers], Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Organisation internationale de la francophonie (OIF), Réseau des médias francophones (MEDIAF), United Nations- Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN).