Reality Brief: Tunis
What to know about Tunis, gathered from AfriPilot's sourced information: alerts, rules, addresses and useful places. Nothing is added without a source.
Region: Tunis GovernorateGathered from 7 sources checked on October 2, 2026.
Current alerts
No official alerts recorded for this region.
Alerts checked on October 2, 2026 against the sources cited.
Essentials before you arrive
- Passport: France, United Kingdom
No visa is needed for stays of up to 3 months (90 days) for French and British nationals. Beyond that, a visa and residence card are obtained from the Ministry of the Interior; if you overstay, a proportional fine is required to leave.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Tunisia travel advice: entry requirementsGuide: Entry and residence
Since 1 January 2025, your passport must be valid for at least 3 months on the date of entry. Prefer a valid passport to an ID card past its printed date, even if France considers it valid: travellers have been refused boarding on the way back.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, entry and residenceGuide: Entry and residence
Declare foreign cash on entry: without a declaration, a non-resident cannot take out more than the equivalent of 5,000 dinars (about 1,500 euros).
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, safetyGuide: Entry and residence
Ambulance 190, police 197, civil protection 198, National Guard 193 in rural areas. SOS Médecins: +216 71 744 215.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, useful contactsGOV.UK (FCDO), Tunisia travel advice: getting helpGuide: Health
A state of emergency has been in force nationwide since 24 November 2015 and is regularly extended.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies
The currency is the Tunisian dinar (TND). ATMs in most towns; cards accepted in most hotels and tourist sites, rarely in small shops.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, useful informationFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, safetyGuide: Money and banking
Respect Islamic customs and dress correctly, especially during Ramadan; no topless bathing. Respect photography bans near military and public sites.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, useful informationGuide: Daily life and local laws
Living in Tunis
Demonstrations, often spontaneous, can lead to curfews and traffic bans (especially in central Tunis and around the presidential palace): stay away.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies
Attacks have taken place (Bardo and Sousse in 2015, Tunis in 2019 and 2020, Sousse in 2020, Djerba in May 2023); security forces are the main targets. Keep away from places where they are stationed and prefer venues with security measures.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies
Street crime is relatively under control; watch your bags in tourist areas. Always carry your papers.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies
Shared taxis ("louages") leave when full: blue stripes for short trips, red for long distances. Trains link most major northern and east-coast cities, slowly but punctually.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, useful informationGuide: Getting around
Field experience
- Tip
Pharmacies, clinics and hospitals
Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): pharmacies (103), clinics (53), hospitals (47). Locate those near your home in the first days and check opening hours and on-call services locally.
- Tip
Where to shop for food
Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): markets (44), supermarkets (121). Compare a few basic prices between market and supermarket before settling into habits.
- Tip
Banks, cash machines and exchange
Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): banks (345), cash machines (4), currency exchange (8). Withdraw and change money at these official places, preferably during the day, never in the street.
- Tip
A shop for your SIM card
Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): phone and internet (42). Go with your passport: SIM registration is often mandatory.
- Tip
A furnished flat for the first weeks
Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): furnished apartments (22). A furnished flat gives you time to visit several neighbourhoods before signing a lease.
- Tip
A coworking space as a fallback
Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): coworking (7). Useful for remote work when the connection or power fails at home.
- Tip
Consulates in the city
Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): consulates (5). Note the address of your country's consulate or the nearest embassy.
Useful contacts
Contact details taken from the official sources cited. Check them before going.
Emergency numbers
Ambulance 190, police 197, civil protection 198, National Guard 193.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, useful contactsGOV.UK (FCDO), Tunisia travel advice: getting help· Oct 2, 2026
SOS Médecins
Health, Tunis.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026
SOS Ambulances
Health, Tunis.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026
Clinique El Manar
Health, Tunis.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026
Polyclinique La Marsa
Health, Tunis.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026
Clinique Saint Augustin
Health, Tunis.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026
Embassy and Consulate General of France in Tunisia
Passport: FranceFrench embassy and consulate in Tunis.
2, place de l'Indépendance, BP 493, 1000 Tunis+216 31 315 000France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Tunisia, entry and residence· Oct 2, 2026