Foreign worker employment contract
visa du contrat de travail
Foreigners who want salaried work in Tunisia need an employment contract visaed by the Ministry of Employment and a residence card marked 'authorised to work'. Contracts last no more than one year and can usually be renewed only once. Hiring is not allowed where Tunisian skills exist in the specialty. Some categories, such as staff of companies under the 2016 investment law, can instead get a certificate that their contract is not subject to the visa.
Life in Tunisia
Money
3
Currency
Tunisian Dinar
TND
Tunisian Dinar
Cost of living
33
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
15–40%
Income tax (national)
VAT 19%
40% applies above TND 70,000 a year; a social solidarity contribution adds the equivalent of one extra point on each bracket rate.
Living
1
Happiness
#103 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign employees hired by a Tunisian employer, secondees, spouses of Tunisians who work, and other categories listed by the ministry.
Eligibility
Contract and residence card
Any foreigner doing salaried work must have an employment contract and a residence card marked 'autorisé à exercer un travail salarié en Tunisie' (Code du travail, art. 258-2).
Labour market test
Foreigners cannot be recruited where Tunisian skills exist in the specialty concerned (Code du travail, art. 258-2). The employer must supply a certificate that no Tunisian candidate with the same qualification exists, from the Bureau de l'Emploi et du Travail Indépendant (MEFP form p1e).
Contract length
Your employment contract can run for no more than one year and can be renewed only once.
One year
Contract length · renewable only once
- Foreigners working in their own companies on approved development projects may renew more than once
Official wording
The contract is for no more than one year, renewable only once; it may be renewed more than once for foreigners working in their own companies on approved development projects (Code du travail, art. 258-2).
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementMinistry visa
- Document checklistEmployment contract signed by employer and employee
- FeesFiscal stamps on application
The full requirements are for members
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- 3 more requirements
- 9 documents
- 1 fee
- 5 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Tunisia
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Official sources
- Recueil des textes juridiques tunisiens relatifs à la migration, édition 2017 (Office des Tunisiens à l'Étranger) – contains Loi n° 68-7, Décret n° 68-198, Décret gouvernemental n° 2017-1061, Code du travail arts 258–269, Code de la nationalité
- Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Formation Professionnelle – Emploi des étrangers en Tunisie
- Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Formation Professionnelle – Contrat de travail (étrangers)
- MEFP – Pièces à fournir: étrangers recrutés pour inexistence d'homologue tunisien (p1e)
- MEFP – Pièces à fournir: conjoints des Tunisiens (p2e)
Other routes to Tunisia
- Visit & tourismEntry visa / visa-free short stay
- Permanent residenceOrdinary residence visa and card
- FamilySpouse and family of a Tunisian citizen
- Status in-countryTemporary residence visa and card
- CitizenshipTunisian nationality by naturalisation or marriage declaration
Work permits in other countries
- TongaEmployment visa / employment permit
- TürkiyeTürkiye work permit (çalışma izni) under International Labour Force Law No. 6735, with work visa
- Trinidad & TobagoWork Permit
- TuvaluPermit to Enter and Reside for employment
- TanzaniaWork Permit Class B (Labour Commissioner) with Residence Permit Class B
- UkraineWork permit and temporary residence for employment
