Freelancing from Algeria: which status, and how to get paid by clients abroad

Three possible statuses

Without a status, you can neither invoice properly nor open the business foreign currency account the Bank of Algeria provides for. Three forms suit a developer, designer or translator working alone.

Auto-entrepreneur: codes for freelance trades

The ANAE list groups activities into fields. Field 02, 'Digital services and related activities', covers most freelance trades; translation sits in field 07. Here are codes taken from the ANAE platform on 29 October 2026 (English names are our translation):

The status requires you to live in Algeria: Law No. 22-23 opens it to Algerians living in Algeria and to resident foreigners (art. 3). An Algerian living abroad cannot take it. The law also excludes liberal professions and regulated activities (art. 2).

Getting paid in foreign currency

1. 1

   Open a business foreign currency account

   The regulation refers to a 'trader' or 'non-trading professional' foreign currency account. Ask your bank which one it opens for your status, and which documents it needs.

2. 2

   Declare the project before the first payment

   File the project declaration with your bank: what you sell, the unit price, the date it went online. Without it, the proceeds are paid in dinars.

3. 3

   Have the client pay into that account

   Give your client the details of the foreign currency account in Algeria. The regulation requires every payment for exported services to be repatriated there.

4. 4

   Use the currency for the business

   The foreign currency account serves first and only the needs of your activity: software subscriptions, equipment, hosting.

120 days to bring the money back

Regulation No. 26-02 of 23 July 2026 sets the deadline: proceeds from a service export must be repatriated within 120 days of the date the service was carried out. A longer payment term, up to 180 days at most, requires export credit insurance taken out in advance. The term granted to the client must be written in the contract, and the money must be repatriated on the day the client pays.

Your services are not digital services sold online? Article 57 then applies the domiciliation rules for goods exports to service export contracts: your bank will tell you the procedure.

VAT and tax on this income

Under the IFU, VAT is not an issue: the IFU covers income tax and VAT (article 282 bis of the CIDTA, the direct tax code). An auto-entrepreneur or a sole trader under the IFU therefore invoices clients abroad without VAT. None of the texts we read excludes income from abroad from turnover: count it for the IFU and for the ceiling.

An EURL falls under the real regime: the IFU only covers individuals and a few bodies listed in article 282 ter of the CIDTA. Under the real regime, VAT applies as a rule, and the turnover taxes code provides export-related exemptions under conditions. Have your accountant or tax inspection confirm how to treat your invoices abroad before the first one.

The invoice to a client abroad

• Your details: name or company name, business address, auto-entrepreneur card or trade register number, NIF (tax number).
• The client's details: name or company name, address, country.
• A sequential number and the date.
• A description of the service, the price and the currency.
• The payment term, 120 days at most without credit insurance.
• The words 'no VAT' if you are under the IFU.
• The details of your foreign currency account in Algeria.

Keep with each invoice the contract or purchase order signed by the client, with the price and payment term: your bank may ask for them, and Regulation No. 26-02 requires the term to be in the contract.

Your address and your desk

An auto-entrepreneur can base the activity at home or in a shared workspace (Law No. 22-23, art. 7). Neuron Cowork in Dely Brahim offers domiciliation at 6,000 DA a month (notarised contract of 1 or 2 years, ready within 3 days at most), private offices at 15,000 DA a month unfurnished or 20,000 DA furnished, with internet, electricity, cleaning and printer included, and a meeting room at 5,000 DA a day.

Where to start

1. 1

   Check your activity

   Look it up on the ANAE list. If it is not there, compare the sole trader and the EURL.

2. 2

   Register

   Auto-entrepreneur card from the ANAE, or the trade register for a sole trader or an EURL.

3. 3

   Complete the tax and social steps

   Declaration of existence and NIF (within 30 days of the card for an auto-entrepreneur), then CASNOS.

4. 4

   Open your accounts

   A dinar account for the business and a business foreign currency account.

5. 5

   Declare the project to the bank

   Before the first payment, or the proceeds arrive in dinars.

6. 6

   Invoice with a written payment term

   120 days at most, or up to 180 days with export credit insurance.

7. 7

   Declare your turnover

   Including income from abroad, and pay the IFU or the real-regime taxes.