If you’re thinking of moving to the largest African nation, Algeria, you’ll need to plan well but you’ll love life there. There’s a lot to see and do, and the cities give opportunities in work and education. Whether you’re moving for work or to experience a new pace of life, a rising number of foreign nationals are considering Algeria for their new home.

The Land and Its People

If you’re looking for a relaxed and easy-going way of life, the suburbs or rural towns are a great choice. If you prefer the busy city life, Algiers, Oran and Constantine are growing hubs of culture. Algeria has lots of great places to visit, from national heritage sites and nature reserves to city museums, concert halls and cinemas.

As a predominantly Muslim country, alcohol is not common, although many restaurants do serve it with meals, so if bars and clubs are your thing you might be disappointed. However, dancing and music features heavily at many venues, so you can still enjoy a night out.

You won’t be short of things to buy if you love to shop — local markets stock fresh produce and traditional crafts, while city supermarkets provide most essentials and luxury brands can be sourced from city centers.

The Climate in Algeria

You can expect the weather to be hot most of the year in Algeria, with desert regions making up a big part of southern Algeria. North Algeria is closer to the coast and sees cooler temperatures with more rainfall: wherever you’re moving to in Algeria, you’ll want to prepare for the heat. You might find it harder to find items like high factor sun lotion and after sun, so do bring these items with you if possible. Pack for sunny weather and have raincoats in reserve for the occasional heavy shower. If you’re bringing young children, make sure that they’re aware of how to stay safe in the sun, and take extra care to protect them with hats and long sleeves.

Visas for Algeria

Visas for Algeria are not necessary for nationals of the countries that belong to this list. Other countries’ nationals need to apply for a visa in their country of origin.

For the most common types or visa (tourist, business, work, family), you must provide some documents to justify your visit or your stay: you may be required to attach to the application your return ticket and accommodation booking confirmation or your work contract. In any case, a letter of sponsorship is required and it can be, depending on the circumstances, from a company or from the person that invites you. Another important document is the accommodation certificate duly certified by the local authorities. For more detailed information, please consult your nearest embassy.