Living as an expat in Tunisia – the basics
Location: Africa
Capital City: Tunis
Currency: Tunisian Dinar
Language: Arabic
Calling Code: +216
Internet TLD: .tn
Electricity: 230V 50Hz
Residents Visa and Work Permit information
Expats looking to move to Tunisa should obtain Carte de Sejour or Residence Permit. Your Tunisian Carte de Sejour is an important document that you need to obtain if you are in Tunisia for an uninterrupted stay of more than four months. The Carte de Sejour is your basic identification card, like a driving license in the US. It takes the place of your passport. While in Tunisia, you should leave your passport in a safe place to avoid losing it. In its place, carry your Carte de Sejour and a photocopy of the first page of your passport.
Apply for the Carte de Sejour within three months after your arrival. If you are a US citizen, you can legally come to Tunisia without a visa and stay for up to four months. However, if you stay in Tunisia for longer than four months without a Carte de Sejour you become an illegal alien. If you go to the airport to take a flight out of Tunisia, they will stop you at the passport control and deny you permission to leave until you have paid a fine for overstaying. This can be expensive and unpleasant.
Required documents:
Copies of pages from your passport
Rental contract
Attestation of employment from CEMAT
Copy of the CEMAT/Ministry of Education Cooperation Agreement
Passport
3 photos
Ten Dinar fiscal stamp
Accommodation
Tunisa is divided into neighbourhoods with its own benefits and downsides. We list some of the popular areas for expats below.
Carthage
Carthage is made up of huge villas and a number of apartments. There are plenty of trees and most expats who live here are working for embassies. Public transport is available and taxis cost around 8 Dinar going to the city centre.
Le Berges du Lac
Le Berges du Lac is the latest development in Tunis and is divided into two sections, Lac 1 and Lac 2. There are many restaurants, cafes and stores in the area and most buildings are less than a decade old. Public transport is limited so your alternative is taxis and private transport.
Lafayette and Downtown
Lafayette is located in the heart of the city and is made up mainly of colonial-era apartment buildings. The area offers a great experience for those looking to live in the urban lifestyle. There are many students and young professional in the area where cafes and bars are available. Public transport is available anywhere.
International Schools
British International School of Tunis
The British International School of Tunis (sometimes shortened to BIST) is a primary school providing an engaging, inspirational and rounded education for children aged 3 to 10, following the National Curriculum for England and Wales. Our pupils are encouraged to develop the academic skills and personal resources that will enable them to live fulfilling lives wherever they may find themselves, while engaging with the cultural diversity of our unique location for a truly international perspective. We welcome pupils from the entire region, including local families and those from further afield. Our learning environment is supportive and challenging, meeting the highest standards as recognised by the Council of British International Schools and the British Government’s inspection of overseas schools.
Curriculum: British
Address: 49 rue du Parc, 2036 La Soukra
Tel: (216) 71 865 682
Fax: (216) 71 865 694
Email: info@bistunis.com
Website: www.bistunis.com
American Cooperative School of Tunis
ACST follows the American educational system PreK to 10 and the IB Diploma Program in grades 11 and 12. Many teachers are recruited from the United States. The curriculum is based on the AERO (American Education Reaching Out) standards in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences, World Languages, Visual Arts, and Technology. ESL, Library, Academic Support, and Physical Education use national or state standards.
Curriculum: US
Address: BP 150 Cite Taeib M’hiri, Laouina 2045
Tel: (216) 71 760 905
Fax: (216) 71 761 412
Website: www.acst.net
