Articles of Incorporation for Algeria

A U.S. Corporation’s Charter in Algeria

A U.S. corporation entering Algeria, whether to set up a branch, invest in an Algerian SPA or SARL, or sign with public buyers, is asked for its charter. For most states that is the articles of incorporation. In Delaware and some other states it is called the certificate of incorporation. To an Algerian notary or the commercial registry (CNRC), this document shows that the corporation was lawfully created and on what terms.

Corporate terms Algerian officials recognize

A U.S. corporation is closest to an Algerian société par actions (SPA). Its shareholders correspond to actionnaires, its board of directors to the conseil d’administration, and its officers (such as the president, CEO and secretary) to the company’s executive management. Using these equivalents in your cover letter and translation helps the Algerian reader map your structure onto familiar categories.

Articles plus bylaws make the “statuts”

When an Algerian notary asks for a foreign company’s statuts, a U.S. corporation usually sends two documents. The articles of incorporation are filed with the state, so you send a certified copy from the Secretary of State. The bylaws are internal and never filed with the state, so the corporate secretary certifies them as true and current before a notary. Both are then apostilled for Algeria. Our page on company bylaws explains the secretary’s certificate.

Certified copy and apostille

Order a certified copy of the articles from the Secretary of State of the incorporation state. If the corporation has amended its charter, ask for restated articles, or include every amendment, so the Algerian side sees the current name, capital and purpose. Since Algeria joined the Hague Apostille Convention, effective July 9, 2026, that same state adds an apostille, and the document is ready for Algeria. No U.S. Department of State or Algerian Embassy step is needed.

Authorized shares and capital

Algerian readers sometimes take the “authorized shares” in U.S. articles for paid-up capital. They are different: authorized shares are the maximum a corporation may issue, not what shareholders actually paid in. If the Algerian side needs the actual ownership or capital, provide it separately, for example in a secretary’s certificate, a shareholder register extract or audited financial statements.

The full Algerian file for a corporation

A typical file includes the certified articles (or restated articles), the certified bylaws, a recent certificate of good standing, a board resolution approving the Algerian project and naming the signer, and a power of attorney for Algeria. We can apostille the entire file in one order. Your Algerian notary then arranges the official translation.