Registering as a sole trader (natural person) in Algeria's trade register
A trader working in their own name registers in the trade register as a natural person, at the CNRC (National Trade Register Centre) office of the wilaya where the premises are. The file contains the CNRC form, an ID document, proof of premises, the stamp duty receipt and the registration fee receipt. The fee depends on the type of activity: about 3,000 DA for retail under the CNRC schedule.
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In short
- Authority
- CNRC, office of the premises' wilaya
- Registration fee
- By activity, about 2,300 to 4,500 DA (CNRC fee schedule)
- Extra activity code
- 240 DA per additional code
- Key document
- Proof of premises: title deed, lease or concession
- No articles
- No notary for articles, no company name to reserve
- Reference text
- Executive Decree No. 15-111 of 3 May 2015
Contents
What this form is for
This form registers a person, not a company, in the trade register. The trader works under their own name: no share capital, no articles of association, no partners. Personal assets and business assets are not separated.
Once the file is accepted, the CNRC issues the trade register extract. It lets you legally carry out the registered activity, obtain your NIF (tax identification number), join CASNOS (social security fund for the self-employed) and open a business account.
| Status | Trade register | Start-up formalities |
|---|---|---|
| Sole trader (natural person) | Yes, in their name | CNRC form, proof of premises, fees |
| Company (EURL, SARL, SPA) | Yes, in the company's name | Name, notarised articles, BOAL, then CNRC |
| Self-employed (auto-entrepreneur) | No | Card issued by ANAE |
Who must file it
Anyone who regularly carries out a commercial activity in their own name must register: retail, wholesale, import-export, services listed in the register, mobile (itinerant) trading.
- The trader files the application and signs it.
- An agent can file on their behalf with a power of attorney.
- The trader must be of age and allowed to trade. Check that your current job allows it.
Documents to attach
Filled-in example
Example of a form filled in for a fictitious retail business. Name, address and numbers are invented.
Fictitious data, for illustration
Trade register, natural person
- Last name and first name
- Last name First name (example)
- Date and place of birth
- 01/01/1990 in Algiers (fictitious)
- Nationality
- Algerian
- ID document
- ID card No. 000000000 (fictitious)
- Home address
- Cité Exemple, building 1, Algiers (fictitious)
- Business premises address
- 10 Rue Exemple, unit 2, municipality, wilaya (fictitious)
- As shown on the lease or title deed.
- Proof of premises
- Notarised lease dated 01/10/2026 (example)
- Type of activity
- Retail
- Main activity
- Retail sale of office supplies, code from the official list to be entered
- The wording must match a code in the official list.
- Secondary activity
- None (example)
- Each extra code costs 240 DA.
- Planned start date
- After the extract is issued (example: 01/12/2026)
- Date and signature
- Trader's signature
Write the premises address exactly as on the lease: the slightest difference (number, municipality) sends the file back.
Filling it in, step by step
- 1
Check your status
Make sure a natural person registration is the right choice rather than an EURL or the self-employed status.
- 2
Check the activity
Find the code in the official list that matches your activity and check whether it needs a licence.
- 3
Get proof of premises
Title deed or lease, with the full and exact address.
- 4
Pay the stamp duty and fees
Pay the stamp duty and the registration fee for your type of activity. Keep the receipts.
- 5
Fill in the form
Identity, premises address, type of activity and codes. Proofread before signing.
- 6
File the application
At the CNRC office of the premises' wilaya, or start with the online process shown on the CNRC portal.
- 7
Collect the extract and carry on
Check the extract, then move on: tax existence return (G No. 8), NIF, NIS and CASNOS.
Where to file it
The file goes to the local CNRC office of the wilaya where the business premises are. The CNRC portal also presents an online registration process for natural persons: read the information sheet before you travel.
| Type of activity | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mobile (itinerant) trading | about 2,272 DA |
| Retail | about 3,072 DA |
| Wholesale, import-export | about 4,512 DA |
| Each additional activity code | 240 DA |
| Later amendment | about 2,592 DA |
| Removal from the register | about 1,440 DA |
What if you have no premises?
Proof of premises is the document that most often holds files up. If your activity does not receive the public, ask the office whether a notarised domiciliation contract is accepted for a natural person in your case. For a company, it serves as proof of head office: at Neuron Cowork in Dely Brahim, it costs 6,000 DA per month and is ready within 3 days at most.
Registered address in Dely Brahim
Your head office in Algiers. Notarised contract ready within 3 days at most.
- 1-year or 2-year contract
- ID document and birth certificate
- Your mail received for you
6,000 DA/ month
Three ways to get it done
Do it yourself with this guide, have your setup forms filled in, or hand us the whole file.
1I do it myself
The free guide
Everything you need is on this page: documents, deadlines, a filled-in example.
Free
Follow the guide2We fill them in for you
Setup form filling
We fill in your business setup forms, for one price. You submit them yourself.
- Trade register, natural person
- G n°8
2,000 DAthe 2 setup forms of a sole trader
Get it filled in3We handle everything
Full support
We follow every setup step: 50,000 DA for a sole trader, 60,000 DA for a company, 10,000 DA less if your address is with Neuron.
From 40,000 DA
Start my setup
Deadlines
Registration must come before you start trading: trading without a register is an offence under Law 04-08. Do not sign commercial contracts or open to the public before you have your extract.
How long it takes depends on the office and on whether the file is complete. It is usually shorter than for a company, since there is no name to reserve, no articles and no prior BOAL publication.
| Step | Where |
|---|---|
| Tax existence return (G No. 8) and NIF | Tax office covering the premises |
| NIS (statistical identification number) | ONS |
| CASNOS affiliation | CASNOS office of the wilaya |
| Choice of tax regime (IFU flat tax or real regime) | When filing the existence return |
Common mistakes
- Starting to trade before receiving the trade register extract.
- Providing a lease whose address does not match the form.
- Choosing 'retail' when you actually sell wholesale: fees and obligations differ.
- Registering a regulated activity without its licence.
- Confusing the trade register with the self-employed card: they are different procedures.
- Forgetting the CASNOS affiliation, which follows registration.
Frequently asked questions
How much does sole trader registration cost?
The registration fee depends on the type of activity. Under the CNRC's published schedule, it is about 2,272 DA for a mobile trader, 3,072 DA for retail and 4,512 DA for wholesale or import-export, plus 240 DA per additional code. Stamp duty comes on top.
Do I need a notary as a sole trader?
Not for articles of association, since there are none. A notary is only involved if you have a notarised lease drawn up for your premises.
Do I need to declare beneficial owners?
No. That declaration concerns legal persons (companies, associations and so on). A sole trader works in their own name and is the register holder.
Can I register without premises?
The file requires proof of premises. Mobile traders follow adapted rules. For an activity that does not receive the public, ask the office whether a notarised domiciliation contract is accepted for a natural person.
Sole trader or self-employed: what is the difference?
A sole trader is listed in the trade register. A self-employed person (auto-entrepreneur) is not: they get a card from ANAE and fall under a simplified regime limited to certain activities.
What do I do after receiving the extract?
File the tax existence return (G No. 8) to obtain the NIF, request the NIS from the ONS and join CASNOS. Your tax regime (IFU flat tax or real regime) is set at that point.
Can I later switch to a company?
Yes, but it is a new set-up: the company has its own trade register. The natural-person register is removed separately.
Can you fill in the form for me?
Yes. Neuron Cowork fills in the registration form and form G no. 8 (tax registration): 2,000 DA for both; you file your own application at the office.
Legal basis (3 texts)
Requires any natural or legal person carrying out a commercial activity to register in the trade register before starting.
Official sourcesSets the rules for registration, amendment and removal in the trade register, including the natural-person file: application on the CNRC form, proof of premises and fee receipts.
Official sourcesSets the natural-person registration fee by type of activity, plus 240 DA per additional activity code.
Official sourcesOfficial sources (6)
Written and checked by the Neuron Cowork team, Dely Brahim. Checked on . Our editorial policy
This is general information, checked on the date shown. Rules change: if in doubt, the official text cited prevails.
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