Algerian Radio
New measures regarding the declaration of currency at borders by travelers have been published in Official Gazette No. 51.
These measures are set out in a decree signed by the Minister of Finance on May 12, amending and completing the previous decree dated July 20, 2026, which established the terms and template for currency declarations.
According to the new text, the currency declaration must be made "in writing" by travelers upon entering or leaving the national territory, at the customs office of entry or exit.
The currency declaration is submitted using a form template made available to travelers by customs services, which must be duly filled out and signed by the traveler. The decree specifies that these declarations are also registered and tracked by customs services.
"Travelers shall submit the currency declaration primarily electronically before arriving at the customs office," the same source specified.
In addition to banknotes, coins, bearer payment instruments, commercial bills, and other bearer or negotiable debt instruments, the declaration also covers precious metals and precious items held by travelers.
Regarding non-resident travelers exporting imported and unused amounts from Algeria, they must present to the customs office the currency declaration submitted upon entry, endorsed by a counter of the Bank of Algeria, an authorized intermediary bank counter, and/or an exchange bureau, certifying the exchange transactions carried out during their stay in Algeria, according to the same text.
Customs officers may request from travelers any information or documents deemed useful, particularly regarding the origin and destination of the transported funds and valuables.
Regarding the currency declaration databases, they must include all information appearing in the declarations submitted by travelers, notably the identity and address of the traveler in Algeria or abroad, the travel documents in the traveler's possession, and the declared amounts of currency and valuables.
This database also registers the place where the declaration was submitted, the traveler's destination and point of origin, the source and destination of the declared amounts and valuables, as well as the ultimate beneficiary and recipient of the declared amounts and valuables.
Litigation data concerning false declarations, undeclared amounts and valuables, and cases of non-compliance with disclosure obligations committed by travelers are also entered into these databases.
The decree also emphasizes that these databases are shared and leveraged within the framework of national and international cooperation.
Thus, "all data relating to submitted currency declarations, as well as those relating to false declarations and cases of non-compliance with disclosure obligations committed by travelers, are shared with the body specialized in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing," the document states.
