An Official document extracted from prison records, containing basic information about persons convicted during the war of national liberation (1954-1962), proving their presence in the prisons of occupation during this period.

This certificate can be obtained from the Ministry of Justice or from any court throughout the national territory.

Conditions of award:

Any citizen, who was incarcerated in colonial prisons during the war of national liberation (1954-1962), or his beneficiaries, may request a certificate of presence in detention during the war of national liberation by proceeding in one of the following ways:

1. Go to the Ministry of Justice, located in El Biar (8, Place Bir Hakem, El Biar 16003 Algiers),

2. Send the request by post to the Central Administration of the Ministry of Justice (Department of Legal Studies and Documentation - Sub-Department of Documentation and Archives) at the address mentioned above,

3. Submit the request via the internet, accessing the official website of the Ministry of Justice and filling out the form dedicated to this purpose with the required information, as well as indicating the entity (the Ministry of Justice or the court) from which he wishes to collect the copy of the requested certificate.

Note: in cases 1 and 2 above, the application is accompanied by proof of identity and any document justifying the relationship for the beneficiaries as well as any document (if any) containing data relating to the convicted person and the place of his imprisonment (prison).

Institution or department concerned:

Ministry of Justice (Department of Legal Studies and Documentation - Sub-Department of Documentation and Archives). Courses.

Documents requested:

Copy of the national identity document and any document justifying the family relationship for the beneficiaries.

Processing times:

A maximum period of forty-eight (48) hours from the date of receipt of the request addressed to the Ministry of Justice (filed at the headquarters of the Ministry of Justice, or sent by post or via the internet) or to the court (via the internet).

When and how is delivered: 

The certificate of presence in detention during the war of national liberation is issued by the entity chosen by the person concerned (the Ministry of Justice or the court) within the above-mentioned time limits, without any cost.

• Concerning applications filed with the Ministry of Justice: the person concerned presents himself before the competent services of the Ministry of Justice in order to withdraw the certificate, which is the subject of his request, and this against delivery of a copy of his national identity document and signature on the remittance register opened for this purpose.
• Concerning requests sent by post to the central administration of the Ministry of Justice: The competent services of the Ministry of Justice ensure that the certificate is sent to the sender (the applicant) by ordinary mail to his postal address.
• As for requests sent via the internet:

The interested party must go to the entity he has chosen when filling in the electronic form (the Ministry of Justice or the court) in order to collect the certificate, which is the subject of his request, and this against delivery of a copy of his national identity document and signature on the remittance register opened for this purpose.

Period of validity of the document issued:

The period of validity is not limited.

Legal anchoring:

Executive DecreeNo. 04-333 of 24 October 2004 on the organization of the central administration of the Ministry of Justice.