Guide 29 · valid as of 22 October 2026 · getsahla.com
Plenty of foreign clients hesitate because they don’t know how to pay someone in Algeria. Send them this kit: your full bank details, a clear invoice and a short message in English explaining the transfer. Most European and US banks can send a SWIFT transfer to an Algerian bank.
What you send the client
| Item | What it contains |
|---|---|
| Bank details | Exact account holder name, bank and branch name and address, Algerian IBAN (DZ…, 26 characters), SWIFT/BIC code, account currency |
| Invoice | Your name and address, auto-entrepreneur number and NIF, the client’s name and address, description of the service, delivery date, amount and currency, payment terms, bank details |
| Cover message | The English text below, adapted to you |
| Contract | The payment clause from guide 2 |
The message to copy
How to pay me
I’m a registered self-employed professional (auto-entrepreneur) in Algeria. Please pay by international bank transfer (SWIFT) in [EUR/USD] to my business foreign currency account:
Account holder: [your full name] · Bank: [bank name and branch address] · IBAN: [DZ…] · SWIFT/BIC: [code]
Please choose “shared charges” (SHA) and include the invoice number in the payment reference.
If your bank can’t send a SWIFT transfer, I can also receive payment through Payoneer at [your Payoneer email].
Payment terms: [30] days from delivery. Thank you!
Questions clients ask
- “Do we need to withhold tax?” In the US, a company paying a foreign contractor asks for a W-8BEN form, not a W-9 (guide 3 for Upwork). In the EU, for a business client, VAT on a service bought from outside the EU is generally declared by the client itself (reverse charge): their accountant will confirm.
- “Is it legal to pay someone in Algeria?” Yes. You’re registered, you invoice in your own name, and your bank receives the payment into an account designed for service export earnings (Regulation 07-01, art. 57Règlement 21-01 du 28 mars 2021 modifiant le règlement 07-01 (articles 57 et 67), p. 2; Instruction 06-2021Instruction 06-2021 du 29 juin 2021 relative au compte devise commerçant et au compte devise professionnel non commerçant).
- “How long does the transfer take?” Usually a few working days; your bank may ask for the invoice when it arrives.
- “Can you take Wise, Revolut or crypto?” No: Wise and Revolut aren’t open to Algerian residents (guide 15), and crypto is banned in Algeria (guide 16).
The methods
SWIFT transfer to your foreign currency account, backed by an invoice
- Ask your branch for your full details for an international transfer, on bank letterhead if possible: it reassures the client.
- Declare the project to the bank before you invoice (guide 7).
- Send the client the kit: bank details, invoice, message.
- When the money arrives, check it’s in foreign currency and file the invoice with the statement.
Payoneer if the client can’t send SWIFT
Some clients have to use a set payment platform. Payoneer can then send them a payment request on your behalf; withdraw to your foreign currency account the same day (guide 11).
Key points
- DZ… IBAN, SWIFT code, exact name: without them, the transfer bounces.
- A complete invoice and a message in English clear up most clients’ doubts.
- Payment reference: the invoice number.
Sources
- Bank of Algeria Regulation 21-01 of 28 March 2021: art. 2, new article 57 of Regulation 07-01, p. 2, original text read on 18 October 2026.
- Bank of Algeria Instruction 06-2021 of 29 June 2021: art. 2 and 4, p. 1, original text read on 18 October 2026.
- Upwork, Tax information for non-U.S. freelancers (W-8BEN), read on 22 October 2026.
- Wise, countries where you can hold a balance, read on 22 October 2026.
- Revolut, countries where individuals can open an account (Algeria not listed), read on 22 October 2026.