Retiree Residence Card

Tunisia's Retiree Residence Card (Carte de Séjour pour Étrangers — Retraité) allows foreign nationals who are retired and not engaged in any paid professional activity to reside in Tunisia on the basis of their pension or other passive income. The program is governed by Law No. 68-7 of March 8, 1968 and Decree No. 68-198 of June 22, 1968, which establish Tunisia's overall framework for foreign residence. It is administered by the Direction Générale de la Sûreté Nationale (Ministry of Interior). Tunisia has become an increasingly popular retirement destination — particularly for European retirees — due to its low cost of living, warm climate, and a particularly favorable tax benefit: an 80% abatement on foreign-source pensions transferred to a Tunisian bank account, introduced by Finance Law No. 2006-85 (effective from 2007).

• Foreign national of any nationality who is retired
• Not engaged in any paid professional activity (salaried or self-employed) in Tunisia
• Entered Tunisia legally and in compliance with residence regulations
• Regular pension or passive income transferred to a Tunisian bank account (minimum approximately EUR 400/month; some sources cite EUR 1,000/month in practice)
• Proof of accommodation in Tunisia
• No specific educational or professional qualifications required

• Completed residence card application form (formulaire 45)
• Copy of valid passport
• Four passport-sized photographs
• Attestation of periodic and regular transfer of retirement pension to a Tunisian bank account
• Proof of accommodation (rental contract, property ownership deed, or hosting certificate)
• Two fiscal stamps of 10 TND each
• 150 TND travel stamp (timbre de voyage)
• Family booklet (livret de famille) if married

The residence card is initially valid for 1–2 years, renewable annually for up to 5 years per renewal period. After 5 consecutive years of temporary residence, holders may apply for an ordinary residence card (carte de séjour ordinaire), valid for 2 years and renewable. Renewals must be submitted at the police station competent for the holder's place of residence. Processing takes approximately 2–3 months for renewals (compared to about 1 month for initial applications). Tax situation regularization in Tunisia is now mandatory for renewal. Renewal cost is 150 TND.

The spouse can apply for their own separate residence card. Married applicants should include a family booklet (livret de famille) in the application. Retirees from countries with bilateral social security agreements (such as France under the Franco-Tunisian convention of June 26, 2003) can enroll family members in the Tunisian health insurance system (CNAM) using form SE 351-07. Children and other dependants are not specifically addressed in the retiree category and may need to apply under a different residence card category.

Foreign retirees residing in Tunisia for 183 or more days per year (6 months + 1 day) are treated as tax residents and subject to Tunisian income tax (IRPP) on worldwide income. The key tax benefit is a significant 80% abatement on foreign-source pension income that is effectively transferred to a Tunisian bank account — tax is calculated on only the remaining 20% of the transferred amount. Pension income not transferred to Tunisia receives a lower standard 25% abatement. Annual tax declarations must be filed with the Tunisian tax authorities. Tunisia has double taxation avoidance agreements with numerous countries, which may further reduce the tax burden.

Holders of the retiree residence card may not exercise any paid professional activity in Tunisia — whether salaried or self-employed. The card is strictly for retirees living on passive income.

Most European nationals can enter Tunisia visa-free for up to 3 months. During this initial period, applicants should:

1. Open a Tunisian dinar-denominated bank account at a local bank.
2. Arrange for regular pension transfers to that account (provide the bank's RIB details to your pension fund).
3. Secure accommodation and obtain proof (rental contract, deed, or hosting certificate).
4. Complete application form 45 and gather all required documents.
5. Submit the complete file in person at the nearest Poste de la Sûreté Nationale (police station) based on your place of residence in Tunisia.

Pay the 150 TND travel stamp and two 10 TND fiscal stamps upon submission. Processing takes approximately 1 month for a complete file. It is advisable to maintain a bank account in your home country to facilitate pension transfers.