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Passport validity requirements

To enter Tunisia, your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Damaged or torn passports

If you enter Tunisia with a damaged or torn passport, you may encounter difficulties when attempting to leave the country. Ensure your passport is in good condition before travelling.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

British-Tunisian dual nationals

Dual British-Tunisian nationals should enter and leave Tunisia on the same passport.

Visa requirements

You can visit Tunisia without a visa for up to 90 days, except for holders of Crown Dependency passports, who may need to buy a visa on arrival. Contact the Tunisian Embassy in the UK for information on how to apply.

Make sure you get your passport stamped.

Border officials will stamp your passport on arrival and check the length of your stay on departure. If you overstay the 90-day period without a valid reason, you will have to pay a fine. You can pay on departure at the airport, or in advance at some police stations.

Checks at border control

On arrival in Tunisia, border officials have the right to ask for:

• your contact details
• your onward or return travel tickets
• proof of a hotel booking or other accommodation details

A small number of visitors have been denied entry to Tunisia, or been delayed, for not being able to provide sufficient evidence of accommodation.

Additional processing at airports

Border officials check passenger names against an immigration database. A small number of passengers with the same or similar names to those on the database have been delayed and questioned on arrival and departure to confirm their identity. Occasionally border officials carry out searches on these passengers. Statistically, this has disproportionately affected British nationals of South Asian descent.

This can cause distress and inconvenience. The British Embassy in Tunis cannot override decisions made by the Tunisian authorities but if you are affected, contact the British Embassy on +216 71 108 700 or contact the Tunisian Embassy in London.

Hotel tax

You will need to pay a hotel tax upon arrival. This tax amounts to 8 Tunisian Dinars per person per night for 3-star hotels and 12 Tunisian Dinars per person per night for 4- and 5-star hotels. The tax is charged for a maximum of ten nights, so guests staying longer will only pay for the first ten nights of their stay. The tax cannot be reclaimed if you leave early.

Vaccine requirements

For details about health entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Tunisia guide.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Tunisia. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking money into and out of Tunisia

Tunisia has strict currency controls. If you are bringing foreign currency into Tunisia, including pound sterling, check the applicable rules and whether you need to make a declaration on arrival. Failure to declare foreign currency may result in confiscation. Keep declaration documents. You are not allowed to take Tunisian dinars out of Tunisia.

Keep official exchange receipts.

Drones

It is illegal to bring drones into Tunisia without authorisation. Any drones detected will be confiscated and stored until your departure.

Electronic devices

Certain electronic devices with recording, transmission or smart-function capabilities may be subject to restrictions, or be confiscated on arrival for the duration of your visit. If you intend to travel with devices such as Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses or walkie-talkies, including toy ones, check the latest requirements with the Tunisian authorities before travelling.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Tunisia. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking money into and out of Tunisia

Tunisia has strict currency controls. If you are bringing foreign currency into Tunisia, including pound sterling, check the applicable rules and whether you need to make a declaration on arrival. Failure to declare foreign currency may result in confiscation. Keep declaration documents. You are not allowed to take Tunisian dinars out of Tunisia.

Keep official exchange receipts.

Drones

It is illegal to bring drones into Tunisia without authorisation. Any drones detected will be confiscated and stored until your departure.

Electronic devices

Certain electronic devices with recording, transmission or smart-function capabilities may be subject to restrictions, or be confiscated on arrival for the duration of your visit. If you intend to travel with devices such as Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses or walkie-talkies, including toy ones, check the latest requirements with the Tunisian authorities before travelling.

Emergency services in Tunisia

Ambulance: 190

Fire and car accidents: 198

Police (when in towns and cities): 197

National Guard (when in rural areas and small villages): 193

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking lawyers and funeral directors in Tunisia
• dealing with a death in Tunisia
• being arrested or imprisoned in Tunisia
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime
• what to do if you’re in hospital
• if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack

Contacting FCDO 

Help abroad  

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency. 

Help in the UK  

You can call  FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.  

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)  

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates  

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  

Follow FCDO: 

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

Risk information for British companies

The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating in Tunisia on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

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

FCDO advises against all travel to:

• 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.

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide and any specific travel advice that applies to you: 

• women travellers
• disabled travellers
• LGBT+ travellers
• solo and independent travel
• volunteering and adventure travel

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. 

Follow FCDO:   

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences

Personal ID

As a foreign national, you must carry ID, such as a copy of the photo page of your passport. Security officials may ask you for ID at any time. Dual British-Tunisian nationals should carry a copy of the photo page of their passport or their national ID card.

Dress code

Beach-appropriate clothing in holiday resorts is acceptable, however when visiting religious sites or remote areas of the country, local custom is to dress modestly.

Ramadan

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country, next starting in February 2027. During this time, eating or drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public in the daytime may cause offence.

Get more advice when you arrive from your tour guide, hotel or business contacts. You should also: 

• check opening hours of shops and restaurants
• be aware that hotels and restaurants serving food or drink in fasting hours may separate you from Muslim guests, for example with screens
• follow local dress codes – clothing that does not meet local dress codes may cause more offence at this time
• be aware that fasting can cause tiredness, particularly during the later afternoon and early evening
• be patient and show tolerance

Alcohol laws

The sale of alcohol is permitted in Tunisia but is banned from sale in supermarkets on Fridays. You can still order and drink alcohol in hotels and bars. During Ramadan, sale of alcohol is banned and the consumption of alcohol is restricted to fewer restaurants and bars. These rules do not apply at holiday resorts.

Drugs and illegal substances

It is illegal to bring any controlled or prohibited substances into Tunisia. Travellers found in possession of illegal drugs can face severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and heavy fines. Tunisian legislation relating to illegal drugs applies regardless of the traveller’s country of residence, country of departure, whether the substance is legal elsewhere or the quantity being carried. Do not carry any such substances into the country.

Using cameras in secure areas

Do not take photographs of or near government buildings or military sites.

Buying antiquities

You must get permission from the Tunisian authorities before removing antiquities from Tunisia. Not getting permission in advance can result in lengthy delays on departure. If you do not declare the item, you could get a fine and a prison sentence.

Buying property

It is illegal for foreign nationals to buy property outright in Tunisia. British nationals often do this through a Tunisian third party. If you are considering buying property, consult a local lawyer. Do not make private arrangements, which may be illegal and could result in a large financial loss.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Tunisia. Members of the LGBT+ community have been targeted by criminals.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.