Expat insurance and health insurance in Algeria

The Algerian healthcare system relies on a dominant public sector, organised around two funds: the CNAS (Caisse nationale des assurances sociales) for employees, funded by an employer-employee contribution of around 34.5% of gross salary, and the CASNOS (Caisse nationale de sécurité sociale des non-salariés) for shopkeepers, tradespeople and self-employed professionals. Basic reimbursement is 80% of agreed rates, raised to 100% for long-term conditions and certain low-income retirees. The Algiers CHUs (Mustapha Pacha, Lamine Debaghine, Nafissa Hamoud) handle complex cases but suffer from heavy patient volumes and waiting times; the private sector, concentrated in Algiers, Oran and Constantine, offers faster access and more comfort, at rates that remain lower than those charged in France but represent a significant burden without insurance. A foreign resident affiliated through local employment (CNAS) or self-employed activity (CASNOS) has the same rights as an Algerian insured person; outside these statuses, access to the public sector remains possible but chargeable since 2023, at official rates well below those of the private sector.

• Short tourist stay (up to 90 days): visa mandatory for every French national, with no exemption — except for the exceptional measure for Franco-Algerian dual nationals (entry on presentation of the French passport and an Algerian document even if expired, renewed until 31 December 2026). Requirements: passport valid for at least 6 months, mandatory travel-assistance-repatriation insurance certificate (no minimum amount specified by official sources), and proof of accommodation or booking.
• Work / long-stay visa: Algerian work authorisation, employment contract and a certificate by which the employer undertakes to cover repatriation in the event of contract termination — an employer commitment, distinct from ordinary private health insurance.
• Seconded employee : staying on the French scheme is possible for up to 3 years (form SE 352-01, issued by Urssaf — international mobility department), with a possible extension of a further 2 years subject to Algerian CNAS approval (5 years in total).
• Employee hired locally: mandatory affiliation to the CNAS by the employer. Self-employed / freelance professional: mandatory affiliation to the CASNOS as soon as the activity begins.
• Foreign resident card: applied for with the competent security services, 15 days before the visa expires; a CNAS or CASNOS affiliation certificate less than 3 months old is required for certain administrative procedures.

No fixed penalty was identified for lack of cover, but private clinics frequently require immediate payment or a financial guarantee before a scheduled hospitalisation.

The France-Algeria general social security agreement was signed on 1 October 1980, supplemented by a general administrative arrangement of 28 October 1981, and came into force on 1 February 1982. It coordinates every branch — health-maternity, invalidity, old age, workplace accidents and occupational diseases, family benefits — except unemployment insurance.

Key point of caution: the agreement's "holiday" exception (form SE 352-05, covered by the CNAS locally, limited to 3 months with a possible extension of up to 3 more months) benefits only people who are both Algerian nationals with no French dual nationality and insured under the French scheme (employee or benefit-receiving jobseeker). A French national without Algerian nationality does not have access to it and must take out ordinary travel insurance.

• Seconded employee: staying on the French scheme for up to 3 years (form SE 352-01), possible 2-year extension.
• Retiree with no own Algerian rights: CNAS cover possible via form SE 352-08, a process initiated locally with the CNAS office in the place of residence (not before departure) — contribution of 3.2% on the base pension and 4.2% on the supplementary pension.
• The agreement covers neither unemployment nor automatic access to the CASNOS/CNAS for a resident with no activity or recognised French pension.

1. Before departure, for any stay: passport valid for at least 6 months, take out travel-assistance-repatriation insurance (required in the visa application).
2. Submit the visa application to the relevant Algerian consulate (18 offices in France), with proof of accommodation or booking.
3. Seconded employee: request form SE 352-01 from Urssaf (international mobility department) before departure.
4. Employee hired locally or self-employed: CNAS affiliation (by the employer) or CASNOS affiliation (own activity) as soon as the activity begins.
5. Retiree: once settled, go to the CNAS office in the place of residence to start the cover application (form SE 352-08).
6. Stay of more than 90 days: apply for a foreign resident card with the competent security services, 15 days before the visa expires.
7. Within 6 months of settling: register with the roll of French nationals living abroad (consulate general of France in Algiers, Annaba or Oran).