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Exercise a high degree of caution
Exercise a high degree of caution in Tunisia due to the countrywide risk of terrorism.
Tunisia
Tunisia blends Mediterranean rhythms with centuries of layered history, from coastal cities to the edge of the Sahara.
Overview
Arabic is the main language, with French widely present in daily interactions, especially in urban and professional settings. Life flows between the cosmopolitan streets of Tunis, the historic medinas of Sfax and Sousse, and the island culture of Djerba, all set against a backdrop of Phoenician, Roman, Arab, and Ottoman influences that surface in architecture, cuisine, and local customs.
At a glance
Language
- Arabic(Official)
Population11,565,204
CurrencyTunisian Dinar (TND)
1 TND = 0.3381 USD
1 USD = 2.9581 TND
Cost of living
Numbeo publishes these source indexes relative to New York City.
Cost of LivingPotentially much less expensiveSource category: All | 2026
RentPotentially much less expensiveSource category: Rent | 2026
GroceriesPotentially much less expensiveSource category: Grocery | 2026
RestaurantPotentially much less expensiveSource category: Restaurant | 2026
Local Purchasing PowerMuch weaker local purchasing powerSource category: Purchasing Power | 2026
Sources
- Numbeo Cost of Living Index
Quality of life
Quality of LifeStrongSource category: Quality Of Life | 2026 | Overall quality of life index
SafetyMixedSource category: Safety | 2026 | Safety index (100 = safest)
HealthcareMixedSource category: Healthcare | 2026 | Healthcare quality index (100 = best healthcare)
PollutionElevatedSource category: Pollution | 2026 | Pollution index (100 = most polluted)
TrafficHighSource category: Traffic | 2026 | Overall traffic index (considers time + inefficiency + CO2)
Sources
- Numbeo Cost of Living Index
Entry requirements
Visa and residency reference data is available for Business Residence, Work (Employer-Sponsored), Temporary Residence, and 6 more.
Business Residence
- Business Visa
Tunisia business visa route requiring an official business invitation letter from the host in Tunisia, along with the application, passport, photo, legal-status proof, fee, and return-envelope requirements.
- No work rights
Work (Employer-Sponsored)
- Foreign Worker Contract Visa
Tunisia foreign-worker employment-contract visa route under the ordinary regime, requiring no available Tunisian competence in the specialty, proof of the foreign worker's qualifications, and a contract limited to one year renewable once with the same enterprise or group.
- 1 year, renewable
- Employer-sponsored only
Temporary Residence
- Residence Card - Employment
Tunisia residence-card route for paid employment, requiring an endorsed work contract or exemption certificate plus company, housing, passport, photo, and residence-card form documentation.
- Employer-sponsored only
Investor
- Residence Card - Investor
Tunisia residence-card route for investors, requiring an exemption certificate from the work-contract visa obligation, company statutes and official publication, housing proof, passport, photos, and the residence-card form.
Family Reunification
- Residence Card - Marriage
Tunisia residence-card route for marriage cases, requiring a Tunisian authority marriage act or legalization by foreign affairs services, plus residence-card supporting documents.
Retirement
- Residence Card - Retiree
Tunisia residence-card route for retirees not exercising paid professional activity, backed by periodic pension transfer or other income-resource evidence.
- No work rights
Student
- Residence Card - Student
Tunisia residence-card route for students, requiring current school or university enrollment, income evidence, passport, photos, housing proof, and the visa/residence-card form.
Tourist / Visa Waiver
- Tourist Visa
Tunisia tourist visa route through Tunisian missions abroad, with Minister of Interior approval and hotel reservation or notarized host invitation listed by the embassy source.
- No work rights
Transit Visa
Tunisia transit visa route requiring an application, valid passport, photo, legal-status proof, and cruise confirmation or airline ticket proving transit.
- No work rights
Languages
- Arabic(Official)
Sources
- Country language reference
Safety
3 source-backed travel advisories are available for Tunisia.
United Kingdom
FCDO advises against all travel; FCDO advises against all but essential travel
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Western Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Algeria border.
FCDO advises against all travel to:
- the Chaambi Mountains National Park
- the designated military operations zones: Mount Salloum Mount Sammamma Mount Mghila
This is due to cross-border terrorist activity and operations by the Tunisian security forces.
In addition, FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:
- areas north and west of the town of Ghardimaou in Jendouba Governorate, including El Feidja National Park
- within 20km of the Tunisia-Algeria border in El Kef and Jendouba governorates, south of the town of Jendouba
- Kasserine Governorate, including the town of Sbeitla
- within 10km of the rest of the Tunisia-Algeria border south of Kasserine Governorate
- within 10km of Mount Mghila
- Mount Orbata
- Southern Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Libya border. the militarised zone south of the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba
- within 20km of the rest of the Tunisia-Libya border area north of Dhehiba
- the town of Ben Guerdane and immediate surrounding area
This is due to cross-border terrorist activity and fighting in Libya. In addition, FCDO advises against all but essential travel to within 75km of the Tunisia-Libya border, including Remada and El Borma but excluding Zarzis, the C118 road and all areas in Medenine Governorate north of the road.
United States
Level 2Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise Increased Caution in Tunisia due to terrorism, crime, and unrest. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do Not Travel to:
- Within 16 km of the Algerian border due to terrorism, except for the cities of Tabarka and Ain Draham
- Within 16 km of the border with Libya due to terrorism
- Mount Chaambi National Park, Mount Salloum, Mount Sammamma, and Mount Mghila in Kasserine governorate due to terrorism
- Mount Orbata area in the Gafsa governorate due to terrorism
- The desert south of Remada as it is a military zone
U.S. government employee travel restrictions U.S. government employees working in Tunisia are not allowed to travel to the following locations without prior coordination with the Tunisian government due to safety risks:
- 16 km of both the Algerian and Libyan border
- Mount Chaambi National Park
- Mount Salloum
- Mount Sammamma
- Mount Mghila in Kasserine governorate
- Mount Orbata in Gafsa governorate
- The military zone south of Remada
U.S. citizens in Tunisia are strongly advised to take the same precautions and not travel to these areas for any reason. Terrorism There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Tunisia. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more. Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Tunisia. Terrorist groups and individuals may attack, and may do so without warning or a pre-meditated target. There is a country-wide state of emergency in effect. It gives more authority to security forces to maintain civil order. It allows the government to focus on fighting terrorism. Crime Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations.
- Stay aware of your surroundings
- Most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity, like purse snatching and pickpocketing
- Violent crime can occur and is more common after dark
Do not walk or drive at night. Unrest There is high risk of violence and armed conflict in the Desert South of Remada. It is a military zone and requires special government permission to enter. For more information review the section on risks in specific areas.
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