Travel Allowance Cards in Algeria: A Step-by-Step Guide to Processing Times, Fees and Bank Charges
As Algeria begins issuing overseas travel allowances exclusively through international payment cards, travellers face differing application procedures, delivery times, deposit requirements and transaction fees depending on their bank. Here is what applicants need to know.
BY Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS — Algerian banks are experiencing a sharp increase in demand for international payment cards after new regulations made them the mandatory channel for accessing the country’s foreign currency travel allowance, prompting financial institutions to adjust processing times and issuance conditions.
From Sunday, travellers are no longer able to receive Algeria’s tourist foreign exchange allocation—€750 for adults and €300 for minors aged 12 to 19—in cash. Instead, the allowance is credited to an international payment card, in line with the government’s new foreign exchange mechanism.
While most commercial banks now offer Visa or Mastercard payment cards, customers face varying subscription fees, annual charges, commission structures and eligibility requirements depending on the institution.
The anticipated surge in applications is expected to lengthen delivery times. Whereas international payment cards were previously issued within approximately two weeks, banks are now preparing for longer processing periods amid increased demand.
Financial institutions have also been instructed to extend the validity of newly issued cards from one year to three years, following directives issued during the Council of Ministers meeting on July 12, aimed at facilitating access to international payment services.
Wide disparities in pricing and conditions
Although banks face similar operational constraints in issuing international payment cards, competition has increasingly centred on subscription costs, annual maintenance fees and transaction commissions.
A comparison of standard card offers reveals significant differences across the banking sector.
Among public banks, annual fees begin at approximately 1,000 Algerian dinars at the Bank of External Algeria (BEA), rise to around 2,000 dinars at the Local Development Bank (BDL) and approach 4,000 dinars at the National Bank of Algeria (BNA).
Fees exceed 4,500 dinars at several institutions, including Société Générale Algeria, BNP Paribas El Djazaïr, Bank ABC Algeria, and the Popular Credit Bank of Algeria (CPA).
Banks also differ significantly in their initial funding requirements. Some require customers to deposit €1,000 before issuing a Visa card, while others accept initial deposits ranging between €50 and €100, making access considerably more affordable.
Cash withdrawal charges remain high
International cash withdrawals remain one of the most expensive services associated with the cards, with most banks applying a combination of a fixed fee and a percentage-based commission on each transaction.
According to published pricing schedules:
- Société Générale Algeria charges €2 plus 2% of the withdrawn amount.
- BNA applies €1.80 plus 2%.
- BEA, Al Salam Bank Algeria and Bank ABC Algérie offer relatively lower charges for withdrawals within the euro area.
- CPA levies a flat fee of 1,000 dinars per withdrawal through its own ATM network.
- BDL applies one of the highest tariffs, charging €3 plus 3.11% of the converted amount.
- BNP Paribas El Djazaïr charges 1.5% for withdrawals from BNP Group ATMs abroad and an additional €2 when using other banks’ machines.
- Bank ABC Algérie charges €2 within the eurozone and €2 plus 2% outside it.
Online payments follow similar pricing model
Banks have largely adopted comparable pricing structures for international online purchases, although premium cards offer substantially higher spending and withdrawal limits.
Standard international payment cards generally allow weekly withdrawals ranging between €500 and €1,000, while Gold cards raise the ceiling to between €3,000 and €5,000, albeit at significantly higher subscription and maintenance costs.
Until recently, international payment cards remained a niche banking product in Algeria, largely due to their relatively high costs and limited practical use.
The introduction of the new foreign exchange allocation system is expected to transform that landscape by making international payment cards an essential financial tool for outbound travellers.
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