Risk level

Safety and security

Political situation

In March 2022, Tunisia's president dissolved the Parliament.

Demonstrations may occur. They could turn violent and lead to clashes between protesters and security forces.

If you are in Tunisia:

• avoid all demonstrations and gatherings
• monitor local media to stay informed about the situation
• follow the advice of local authorities

Mount Chambi National Park

There is a threat of terrorist attacks and kidnapping in the area of Mount Chambi National Park in Kasserine Governorate. Ongoing Tunisian military operations against suspected terrorists occur regularly in the area. The use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) has been reported in the area.

Regularly review your security practices and remain alert to the changing situation.

Border areas with Algeria and Libya

There is an ongoing threat of terrorist attacks and kidnapping along the border with Algeria, especially in the mountainous areas in the northern half of Tunisia. The use of IEDs has been reported in the area.

Due to the flow of suspected terrorist cells and militants, as well as contraband,  between Tunisia and neighbouring countries, the Tunisian government has increased its security presence at borders with Algeria and Libya. However, the threat of cross-border terrorist activity remains and attacks have targeted security forces.

Tunisian security forces regularly conduct counter-terrorism operations in the border areas of the governorates of Jendouba, Kasserine and Kef.

The border between Tunisia and Libya may close with little or no notice and for an unspecified period of time.

Tunisia’s greater south area

The deterioration in the security situation in neighbouring Libya has resulted in greater volatility in southern Tunisia, particularly in remote areas. Remote areas, including the area south of Jebil National Park and desert areas, can have unreliable cellphone reception and few resources for assistance.

Terrorism

Several attacks have occurred throughout Tunisia.

On May 9, 2023, a shooting took place near the Ghriba synagogue on the island of Djerba, resulting in several casualties. This attack took place despite heightened presence of security forces during the annual Lag Ba'omer pilgrimage.

Tourist resorts and attractions, as well as Tunisian military and government institutions have been targeted. A number of suspected terrorists and arms traffickers have been captured in various regions of the country, including in Tunis. Extremist elements are present and the regional instability continues to pose a general threat to the security of foreigners, religious sites, and tourist facilities. Security forces are always on a state of alert and carry out anti-terrorism operations across the country to prevent attacks.

Despite these efforts, terrorist attacks could occur at any time. Targets could include:

• government buildings, including schools
• places of worship
• airports and other transportation hubs and networks
• public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets, hotels and other sites frequented by foreigners

Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places.

Be particularly vigilant during the following:

• sporting events
• religious holidays
• public celebrations
• major political events, such as elections

Terrorists could use such occasions to mount attacks.

State of emergency

The state of emergency has been in effect in Tunisia since 2015 and is regularly extended due to the threat of terrorism.

While a state of emergency is in effect, security forces have increased powers to: 

• perform searches
• conduct seizures
• detain persons of interest

If you’re travelling in an area where a state of emergency is in effect:

• be aware that you may be subject to searches by security forces
• always cooperate with military and police officers
• carry valid ID at all times and be prepared for various checkpoints
• allow extra time to reach your destination
• follow the instructions of local authorities
• monitor local news to stay informed on the current situation

Kidnapping

Kidnappings have occurred, along border areas.  Kidnappings are not numerous and do not usually target foreigners but cannot be ruled out.  

Demonstrations and civil unrest

Political, social and economic tensions have caused civil unrest throughout the country, but mostly occur in central and southern Tunisia and in parts of Tunis. Some demonstrations and labour strikes have led to roadblocks, burning tires and have deteriorated into violent clashes between the police and demonstrators, resulting in considerable property damage, injuries and deaths.

There is an ongoing threat of a general strike in the field of transportation. Rail, maritime, air and public transportation could be affected on short notice. Occasional fuel and food shortages have been reported.

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place or could occur as local conditions may change rapidly
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Sport events

Avoid the crowds that can form at soccer matches, as such events have led to incidents of violence.

Crime

Street crime, including theft, pickpocketing, purse snatching and scams, has been much more frequent in Tunisia since the 2011 revolution.

“Drive-by” thefts by individuals on scooters and motorcycles have occurred in tourist areas.

Women’s safety

Women travelling alone may be subject to certain forms of harassment and verbal abuse. Be aware that Tunisian men have targeted Canadian women for fraudulent marriages (see Fraud).

Advice for women travellers

Fraud

Young Tunisian men have pursued marriage with older Canadian women in coastal resorts, for financial gain or in order to gain entry to Canada.

Overseas fraud

Road safety

Driving can be dangerous, particularly after dark.

Traffic signs and signals are routinely ignored.

Many roads in urban and rural areas don’t have adequate road lighting.

When walking, be especially cautious as cars don’t routinely stop at pedestrian crosswalks or stoplights.

Motorists sometimes drive on the wrong side of the road and ignore lane markings.

Bicycles, mopeds and motorcycles often operate without sufficient lights and reflectors, and regularly dart in and out of traffic.

Sidewalks are not consistently present and pedestrians are sometimes forced to walk on the street.

Pedestrians often cross the road while dodging traffic and ignore vehicles.

Police officers frequently stop cars for inspection, especially rental cars.

Public transportation

Taxis

Taxis are available but may be scarce in major cities at peak hours. Most taxis are equipped with fare meters, which should be activated for all trips. Few taxis have functioning seatbelts.  

Buses

Buses are crowded. Petty crime occurs in buses.

Trains

Rail service is generally safe. Petty crime occurs on city and inter-city trains. Be extremely vigilant with your belongings at all times.

Air travel

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Entry and exit requirements

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the Tunisian authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the Foreign Representatives in Canada.

Passport

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you expect to leave Tunisia.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Visas

Tourist visa: not required for stays up to 90 days
Business visa: not required
Student visa: not required

If you intend to stay in Tunisia longer than 90 days, contact the Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia in Ottawa for information about visa, work permit or temporary resident status regulations prior to your departure.

In Tunisia, you must report to a police station or the Ministry of the Interior.

Dual citizenship

Tunisian authorities may ask Canadians with Tunisian citizenship to enter Tunisia on their Tunisian passports.

If Canadians with Tunisian citizenship are permitted to enter on a Canadian passport, it is likely that they will be required to obtain a Tunisian passport before exiting the country.

Dual citizens have been questioned at length and, as a result, have missed their flight.

If your Tunisian passport is no longer valid, contact the Tunisian embassy in Ottawa prior to travel.

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children.

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Health

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your routine vaccinations, as per your province or territory, are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette, which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•  washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV, and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Medical services and facilities

Medical facilities are generally good in major centres, but are usually very limited or unavailable in rural areas.

Physicians and hospitals often require a deposit or upfront cash payment for medical care. Some clinics may accept private insurance coverage if they have a guarantee of payment from the insurance provider.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a travel health kit, especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

Laws and culture

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad.

Drugs

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Those convicted of these offences are subject to heavy fines and prison sentences of up to life.

Cannabis-derived products, including those containing CBD, are illegal. Detection of illicit drugs, including cannabis, in blood or urine tests can also lead to a conviction.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Religious proselytism

Religious proselytizing is not permitted.

2SLGBTQI+ travellers

Tunisian law prohibits sexual acts between individuals of the same sex.

2SLGBTQI+ travellers should carefully consider the risks of travelling to Tunisia.

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

Driving

Both valid Canadian driver’s licences and international driving permits are accepted in Tunisia.

International Driving Permit

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is not legally recognized in Tunisia.

If local authorities consider you a citizen of Tunisia, they may refuse to grant you access to Canadian consular services. This will prevent us from providing you with those services.

Travellers with dual citizenship

Child custody

A child born to a Tunisian mother or father can be considered by the Tunisian authorities as a Tunisian citizen, no matter where he or she was born and what other citizenship he or she has acquired.

In cases where one or more family members hold Tunisian citizenship, parents should consider the risks before their children travel to Tunisia, including that:

• at the request of family members, Tunisian authorities can prevent children from leaving Tunisia (a procedure known as a “stop order”)
• Canadian children who are identified as Tunisian citizens will be treated as Tunisian nationals

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. It does not apply between Canada and Tunisia.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Tunisia by an abducting parent:

• act as quickly as you can
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Tunisia to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children’s Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre.

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country’s judicial affairs.

Useful links

• International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Left-Behind Parents
• Travelling with children
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Emergency Watch and Response Centre

Imports and exports

Strict regulations may be enforced on the temporary import and export of firearms, religious material, antiquities, medications and business equipment. Contact the Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia for specific information regarding customs requirements.

Dress and behaviour

The majority of the population is Muslim. Dress conservatively and respect religious and social traditions to avoid offending local sensitivities.

In 2025, the lunar month of Ramadan is expected to begin on or around February 28.

In public, between sunrise and sunset, be discreet when:

• drinking
• eating
• smoking

Taking photographs of military installations, government buildings and embassies is strongly discouraged. Ask permission before photographing individuals.

Money

The currency is the Tunisian dinar (TND).

It’s prohibited to import and export Tunisian dinars (TND).

ATMs are widely available in tourist areas and can be found in all major centres. Credit cards are accepted at many establishments in urban and tourist areas.

Foreign currency declaration

Tunisian foreign exchange regulations are strict and complex.

There are restrictions on the import and export of foreign currency. You must declare all foreign currency in your possession equal to or superior to the equivalent of 20,000 TND:

• upon arrival
• upon departure
• in transit

However, if you entered the country with foreign currency equivalent to 20,000 TND or less without declaring it, customs authorities may still confiscate any sums exceeding the equivalent of 5000 TND when you leave the country.

In addition, you will not be able to leave Tunisia with the equivalent of 30,000 TND or more, even if you declared it upon entry.

These rules apply to non-residents.

Residents of Tunisia may obtain a conversion allowance of up to 6000 TND in foreign currency per calendar year under certain conditions.

However, in order to leave the country as a resident with foreign currency in your possession, you must:

• declare all foreign currency you are carrying
• provide official proof to the customs authorities of the allowance obtained

If you’re travelling to Tunisia, you should:

• familiarize yourself with the regulations before you travel
• declare any foreign currency in your possession upon entry
• keep your declaration until you leave
• exchange foreign currency at recognized banks or exchange offices only
• plan accordingly

Foreign currency declarations apply to:

• bank notes
• cheques
• traveller's cheques

Currency and exchange - Tunisian Customs (in French and Arabic only)

Natural disasters and climate

Tunisia is exposed to various natural disasters, such as:

• droughts
• bad weather
• sand and dust storms
• earthquakes

Temperatures vary geographically and according to the seasons. In the north, summers are hot and dry and winters are rainy.  In the south, the climate is semi-arid and it can be very hot in the Sahara, especially in the summer. Between June and September, temperatures can exceed 40°C and dust storms and sand storms frequently occur.

Drought

Severe droughts can last for several years reducing water supply.

In the event of a drought:

• plan accordingly
• always keep water supplies on hand
• follow the instructions of local authorities

Rainy season

In the north of Tunisia, the rainy season generally extends from October to May. In the south, rainfall is much less important and frequent because of the arid climate. In the winter, roads can be blocked by downpours.

Seasonal flooding can affect overland travel and the provision of essential services. Roads may become impassable and bridges damaged.

• Monitor local media for updates, including road conditions
• Stay away from flooded areas
• Monitor weather reports
• Follow the instructions of local authorities, including evacuation orders

Dust Storms

Sand and dust storms are common.

During a dust storm:

• stay indoors
• keep windows closed
• be prepared to change, interrupt or cancel your trip at any time
• monitor local media for up-to-date information on the situation

Earthquakes

Although Tunisia is not in a high-risk earthquake zone, low seismic activity can occasionally occur.

Earthquakes - What to Do?