Tunisia Visa Requirements – Documentation, Application, and Types
Whether you are planning a leisurely vacation or a business trip to Tunisia, you should get informed about the Tunisia Visa Requirements, the suitable visa for your trip, and how to apply for it.
Traveling to Tunisia is an amazing experience that everyone should have. The country has so much to offer, from its stunning beaches to its rich culture and history.
So, we wrote this article to bring you up to speed on visa Requirements, its policies, and the application process. Meanwhile, you can read through the basic facts about Tunisia before we take you through the nitty-gritty on Tunisia visas.
About Tunisia
Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa, covering 163,610 square kilometers. Its northernmost point, Cape Angela, is also the northernmost point on the African continent. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east.
The economy of Tunisia is based on agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and tourism. Tunisia has a diverse economy with high growth potential. The government is working to diversify the economy and attract foreign investment.
According to the World Tourism Organization, Tunisia is the 35th most popular tourist destination in the world, with 8.5 million visitors in 2019. Tunisia’s tourism industry is an essential part of the country’s economy, accounting for about 15% of GDP and employing more than 400,000 people. The majority of tourists come from Europe, with France, Germany, and Italy being the top three source markets. Other significant markets include Algeria, Libya, and the United Kingdom.
What is a Tunisia visa?
A Tunisia visa is an official document issued by the Tunisia government to permit foreigners to visit the country for an approved duration.
Types of Tunisia visas
You should apply for a Tunisia visa in line with the duration of your stay and the aim of visiting the country. The different types of Tunisia visas are:
Short stay visa
This type of visa is granted to foreign nationals who wish to stay up to ninety days in Tunisia. In addition, visitors visiting the country for tourism, business engagements, and other socio-cultural events can apply for Tunisia Short stay visa.
You can also extend it if you have genuine reasons to stay longer.
Long-stay visa
A long-stay visa is issued to foreign nationals to stay more than six months in Tunisia. This type of visa is suitable for visitors who wish to get employment, study, or reunite with family members in Tunisia. Foreign investors are also eligible to apply for a long-stay visa in Tunisia.
You will be eligible to apply for a residence permit with this visa which could earn you Tunisia citizenship eventually.
Tunisia Transit Visa
If you wish to travel through Tunisia before getting to your final destination, you will be required to apply for this visa.
However, if you are a citizen of a visa-free country, you don’t need to apply for it. The transit visa is valid for up to seven days in Tunisia, provided you have a final destination ticket.
It is also expected that during this time, your movement should be within the transit zone; otherwise, you have to apply for a short-stay visa.
Exit Visa
The exit visa is granted to temporary resident holders in Tunisia who wish to leave the country. You can contact the office of the General Directorate of National Security in Tunisia to obtain this visa.
Return visa
This visa is available for Tunisia permanent resident holders who wish to leave the shores of Tunisia for more than six months. This is necessary to enable you to retain your permanent residency status when you return to the country.
Tunisia Visa Policy
You will find a better approach to fulfilling the Tunisia Visa Requirements if you understand the country’s visa policy.
Like other countries that offer visa-free entry, exemptions, and eVisa application privileges to some countries, Tunisia also does that.
Visa-free countries
If you are a national from any country listed below, you can visit Tunisia without a visa for ninety days.
- Algeria
- Andorra
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Benin
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Burkina Faso
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- China
- Comoros
- Costa Rica
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Equatorial Guinea
- Fiji
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Guinea
- Guinea Bissau
- Hong Kong
- Honduras
- Iceland
- India
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kiribati
- South Korea
- Kuwait
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Namibia
- New Zealand
- Niger
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Oman
- Qatar
- Russia
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- San Mariko
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Switzerland Turkey
- The United Arab Emirates
- The United States of America
- Vatican City
Note citizens of Canada and Germany can stay up to one hundred and twenty days without a visa.
Similarly, Bulgarian can stay for up to sixty days, and citizens of Greece can last for thirty days.
Tunisia Visa exemption
There are circumstances that exempt citizens from some countries from Tunisia visa application for a specific period. Such situations are:
If foreigners from listed countries travel on an organized tour with their hotel tickets in place.
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Georgia
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Macao
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
When you hold a diplomatic passport or are on an official assignment from the countries below.
- China
- Cuba
- The Czech Republic
- Egypt
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Syria
- Ukraine
- Vietnam
eVisa Countries
To make visa application easier for the applicants, the Government of Tunisia will soon permit the under-listed countries to apply for its eVisa.
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- China
- The Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Italy
- Japan
- Mauritania
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Saudi Arabia
- Slovakia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- The United Kingdom
- The United States of America
Note the Tunisia eVisa requirements are not different from applying offline, but all the supporting documents must be in PDF format.
Tunisia visa requirements
You should provide these documents to support the information you filled in the visa application form. Some requirements are general to all Tunisia visa applicants, and others are due to the type of visa you wish to apply for.
General visa requirement
- A duly completed Tunisia Visa Application Form
- An original traveling passport with your details which is valid for six months or more and has been issued in the past ten years
- A photocopy of your passport data page
- Two copies of your recent Passport photograph. Here are the specifications the photographs should meet:
- 35mm x 45mm dimension
- Light gray-colored background
- Your face should occupy 65% to 75% of the passport.
- The photographs should be visible with a neutral facial expression.
- You are advised not to wear glasses, but if you must wear them, they must not obstruct your eyes and face. However, you cannot wear Tinted glasses.
- You can wear headgear for religious purposes, but your face must be visible.
- For babies and infants who are unable to support themselves, use the above image of them lying down.
- Proof of accommodation in Tunisia, such as a hotel voucher or a detailed address of your sponsor in Tunisia.
- A cover letter which should state your travel itinerary, like dates of travel/departure, your purpose of visit, etc
- Proof of payment for Tunisia visa fee
- Evidence of financial ability to cater for your expenses throughout your stay in Tunisia
Specific Tunisia visa requirements
You should provide the additional documents relevant to the type of visa you wish to apply for.
- A Vaccination certificate if you are from an infectious disease country.
- A letter of invitation from your host company in Tunisia if your application is for business engagement
- A letter of confirmation and readiness from a tour company in Tunisia if you are applying for a tourist visa.
- An employment letter if your application is for a work/long-stay visa.
- An Offer of admission letter by any recognized academic institution in Tunisia if you are a student visa applicant.
- A copy of your Permanent resident card if you are a return visa applicant.
- Evidence of your final destination ticket if you wish to apply for a transit visa
Meanwhile, you may be asked to provide additional documents by the Embassy of Tunisia in your country.
Application steps for a Tunisia visa
These are the step you should follow to apply for a Tunisia visa.
Locate the Tunisia embassy or consulate in your country to pick up the application and should an appointment for submission. You can also down the application form online.
Secondly, you should pay the Tunisia visa application fee. And get a receipt.
Thirdly, you complete the application form and attach the Tunisia visa requirements in an envelope.
Then, visit the embassy to submit the credentials as scheduled by the consular officer.
Lastly, wait for the embassy to process your application and notify you of the final decision.
Note if you do not have any Tunisia embassy or consulate in your country, you contact any AU member country for a guide. You can also contact the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Nationale in Tunis.
See Also:What to Consider when Planning to Visit Tunisia
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How soon can I get a Tunisia visa?
The time to process a Tunisia visa depends on the embassy and workload. Also, the ease of verifying the Tunisia visa requirements was provided during the application. Nevertheless, you should wait between five to twenty working days after submitting your application.
How much does it cost to get a Tunisia visa?
There is no specific amount because it varies from one Tunisia Embassy to another. So the best is to contact the Tunisia mission office in your country for inquiry.
Can I move to Canada from Tunisia for work?
Yes, you can move to Canada from Tunisia for work; you will need to obtain a work visa from the Canadian government.
Can I apply for a Visa on arrival in Tunisia?
You can apply for a Tunisia visa on arrival if you are from any Tunisia visa-free country. In addition, if you are a citizen or resident permit holder from any country listed below:
- Saudi Arabia
- Kuwait
- The United Arab Emirates
- Qatar
- Bahrain
- Oman
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Tunisian visa requirements are not overly complicated. If you have the proper documentation, the application process is straightforward. There are a few different types of visas available, so be sure to choose the one that best suits your needs.
