What does the new regulation establish?

The immediately applicable rule requires the Algerian importer to formalize the direct debit of the transaction prior to any shipment of goods by the foreign supplier. In practice, this means that:

• The date of the transport documents (Bill of Lading, CMR, Airway Bill, etc.) must be after the direct debit date.
• No direct debit will be accepted if the goods have already left before they have been registered, except for duly justified and expressly authorized exceptions.
• Algerian banks are required to systematically verify the dates of commercial invoices, transport documents and shipping certificates.

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What does this mean for the foreign exporter?

Prior to this rule, it was common for some transactions to be domiciled after issuance. As of May 14, 2026, this practice is prohibited. The exporter must ensure that his Algerian customer has completed the direct debit before proceeding with any shipment. If the goods are shipped without a direct debit, the Algerian bank will refuse the transaction, with the consequences this may have for collection.

According to the Spanish Economic and Commercial Office in Algiers, this measure reinforces the 𝘀𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗱 𝗷𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀 in its exports to Algeria.

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Transitional regime

The note clarifies that the provisions do not apply to import operations whose actual dispatch to Algerian customs territory has already taken place before May 14, 2026, the date of the transport document serving as a reference.