In Algeria, Arabic is the national and official language, as is Tamazight (2020 Constitution, art. 3 and 4). The administration works in Arabic, much of the private sector works in French, and English is growing fast in oil and gas, telecoms, pharmaceuticals and digital. As a result, most candidates are at least bilingual, but very few can state their level precisely or prove it. This guide, up to date as of 1 November 2026, helps you choose which language to work on for the job you want, write it correctly on your CV and take the right certificate.
Recruiters’ common language: the CEFR scale
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), published by the Council of Europe, divides language proficiency into six levels. Large employers, schools and certificates use it, including in Algeria. Using it on your CV avoids misunderstandings: “good English” means nothing, “English B2” can be checked in five minutes of interview.
| Level | What you can do | At work, in practice |
|---|---|---|
| A1 – A2 (basic) | Understand and use simple, everyday phrases | Greet a customer, understand a short instruction; not enough for a job where the language is used daily |
| B1 (threshold) | Get by in most familiar situations | Read procedures, write a short e-mail, follow a simple meeting |
| B2 (upper intermediate) | Discuss with ease, argue a point of view, understand a technical text | The level most often required for managerial and senior technician positions |
| C1 (advanced) | Express yourself precisely, write structured documents | Negotiate, write a report, chair a meeting, present to a client |
| C2 (proficient) | Understand and express yourself effortlessly, with nuance | Translation, writing, teaching, institutional communication |
Which level for which job in Algeria
There is no legal rule for the private sector: each employer sets its own requirements. The table below sums up what job ads and interviews most often expect. It is a benchmark, not a rule: always read the ad, and ask if it says nothing.
| Type of job | French | Arabic | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration, local authorities, public bodies | Useful (B1) | Essential (C1 in writing) | Rarely required |
| Accounting, HR, legal in a private company | B2 to C1 | B2 (dealings with CNAS, tax office, courts) | A plus (B1) |
| Sales, retail, customer relations | B2 | C1 spoken (local customers) | A plus, except for export |
| Call centre serving French-speaking customers | C1 to C2, neutral accent | Depending on the clients | Rarely |
| Oil and gas, southern bases, service companies | B2 | B1 | B2 often required (procedures, HSE, meetings) |
| IT, software development, data | B2 | B1 | At least B2 in reading (documentation) |
| Pharmaceuticals, industry, quality | B2 to C1 | B1 | B1 to B2 (standards, audits, suppliers) |
| Hotels, tourism | B2 | C1 | B2 (foreign guests) |
| Import-export, international purchasing | B2 | B2 | B2 to C1; Turkish, Chinese or Spanish valued |
For the civil service, the written tests of competitive exams are in principle in Arabic, since law no. 91-05 of 16 January 1991 requires the use of Arabic in public administrations and institutions; some technical or medical specialities accept French. Check the decision opening the exam (see our guide to civil service exams). In the South and the oil sector, English appears as early as the safety procedures: our guide to working in southern Algeria details the jobs concerned.
Listing languages on a CV: the right method
- 1
One line per language, with a CEFR level
“Arabic: native — French: C1 — English: B2 (IELTS 6.5, 2026)”. Tamazight belongs there too: it is a real asset in several wilayas and for jobs dealing with the public.
- 2
Separate spoken and written if the gap is large
“English: B2 written, B1 spoken” is more credible than an overall B2 the interview will contradict.
- 3
Add the proof
A certificate with its score and year, a degree taught in the language (bachelor’s in English, master’s in French), or experience: “weekly meetings in English with headquarters”.
- 4
Write the CV in the language of the ad
An ad written in English calls for a CV in English; an administration ad, a file in Arabic. Our guide how to write a CV in Algeria gives the full structure.
- 5
Never overstate
A recruiter who reads “fluent English” will ask the next question in English. An honest level, with a plan to improve, is worth more than an inflated one.
Certificates you can take in Algeria
| Language | Certificate | Validity | Where to ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| French | DELF (A1 to B2) and DALF (C1, C2) | For life (diplomas) | Institut français d’Algérie: Algiers, Oran, Constantine, Annaba, Tlemcen |
| French | TCF (test, result A1 to C2) | Usually 2 years | Institut français d’Algérie |
| English | IELTS (band score 0 to 9) | Usually 2 years for employers and schools | British Council and approved centres |
| English | TOEIC (score out of 990, workplace English) | 2 years for score reporting | ETS-approved centres |
| English | Cambridge English (B2 First, C1 Advanced) and Linguaskill | No expiry for Cambridge qualifications | British Council and Cambridge-approved centres |
| Spanish, German, Italian | DELE, Goethe-Zertifikat, CILS/CELI | For life for most | Instituto Cervantes (Algiers, Oran), Goethe-Institut Algier, Istituto Italiano di Cultura |
Do you need to pay for a certificate to find a job in Algeria? Not always. It is useful if you are aiming for an international group, a job in oil and gas or export, a school or a move abroad, or if your background does not show the language (studies in Arabic, for example, for a job in French). For a first local job, an honest level and a good interview are often enough. University intensive language teaching centres (CEIL) offer courses with a level certificate, usually cheaper than foreign institutes.
Improve quickly on a limited budget
- Set a target and a date: “English B2 in six months to apply in telecoms” motivates more than “improve my English”.
- Learn the vocabulary of your trade before general grammar: an accountant learns the terms of closing and payroll, a technician those of maintenance and safety.
- Practise speaking every week: conversation clubs at CEIL centres and institutes, online exchanges, presentations recorded on your phone.
- Read in the target language what you already read: business news, technical documentation, job ads.
- Prepare three interview answers in each language on your CV: your introduction, your last job, your motivation (see our job interview questions).
- Write your LinkedIn profile in the language of the recruiters you target; LinkedIn lets you add a secondary profile in another language (see our guide to LinkedIn in Algeria).
Frequently asked questions
What level of English do companies in Algeria require?
B2 is the level most often required when English is a must: oil and gas, telecoms, IT, pharmaceuticals, international groups. For most other jobs, English remains a plus and an honest B1 is enough.
Is French compulsory to work in the private sector?
No text requires it, but it is the working language of most private companies: on Chghol on 01/11/2026, 1,249 of 1,250 offers were written in French. A B2 level opens the vast majority of office jobs.
Are civil service exams held in Arabic?
In principle yes, as the administration uses Arabic (law 91-05). Some specialities accept French: the decision opening the exam states the language of the tests.
How long is an IELTS or TCF result valid?
Usually two years for IELTS and TCF, which are tests. Diplomas such as DELF, DALF or Cambridge certificates do not expire, but an employer may ask for a recent result.
Should I list Tamazight on my CV?
Yes. It is a national and official language (Constitution, art. 4) and a real asset for jobs dealing with the public in several wilayas: health, banking, retail, local administration.
How can I prove a level without a certificate?
Through your studies (a degree taught in the language), your experience (“monthly reports written in English”) and the interview itself. A level certificate from a university CEIL is low-cost proof.
- Constitution of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria (2020) — Official Journal, joradp.dz
- Law no. 91-05 of 16 January 1991 on the generalisation of the use of the Arabic language — Official Journal
- Council of Europe — Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
- France Éducation international — DELF, DALF and TCF
- Institut français d’Algérie — exams and certificates
- British Council Algeria — IELTS and Cambridge exams
Texts consulted at the update date of the article.