Bank of Algeria Sets Rules for Foreign Travel Allowance via International Bank Cards
New central bank instruction implements the government’s shift from cash to card-based travel allowances, setting eligibility criteria, payment limits, card issuance rules and banks’ operational obligations.
By Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS — The Bank of Algeria on Monday issued new regulations governing the allocation of foreign exchange allowances for Algerian residents travelling abroad through international payment cards, implementing a government decision aimed at modernizing the distribution system and strengthening oversight of foreign currency allocations.
The new Instruction No. 07-2026 follows directives issued by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune during Sunday’s Council of Ministers meeting, which ordered that travel allowances be provided temporarily through international bank cards rather than cash. The measure was introduced following what authorities described as serious abuses that resulted in foreign currency outflows without the intended beneficiaries receiving the allowance.
Under the new framework, eligible Algerian residents will receive their annual travel allowance through an international payment card or a dedicated international payment card issued by authorized intermediary banks in accordance with existing banking regulations.
The annual foreign exchange allowance has been set at €750, or its equivalent in another freely convertible currency, for travellers aged 19 years and above. Beneficiaries aged between 12 and 19 years will be entitled to €300, or its equivalent, for up to two children per family. The allocation may be granted once per calendar year, according to the instruction.
Operational Framework
The Bank of Algeria stipulated that payment cards issued under the scheme must be strictly personal and non-transferable, and may only be used by their registered holder. The cards cannot be assigned, shared or used by third parties.
Applicants are required to submit their request for an international payment card sufficiently in advance of their planned travel through an authorized intermediary bank. The cards must remain valid for at least three years, allowing future travel allowance requests without requiring a new card for each trip.
The instruction further states that funds loaded onto the cards may only be used for transactions carried out abroad that correspond to the purpose for which the foreign exchange allocation was granted.
To qualify for the scheme, beneficiaries must hold both a foreign currency account, to which the payment card will be linked, and a domestic currency bank account with an authorized intermediary bank.
Banks have also been instructed to issue and deliver international payment cards to eligible customers independently of the travel allowance application itself, allowing clients to obtain the card before requesting future allocations.
The central bank additionally requires intermediary banks to record the amount of foreign currency granted, the corresponding currency and the transaction date in the traveller’s passport, while simultaneously registering the allocation through the Bank of Algeria’s dedicated digital platform.
To support cardholders abroad, banks must establish permanent customer assistance services, including 24-hour call centres and digital support channels operating seven days a week, capable of handling incidents, technical issues and customer requests in near real time during international use.
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