Country guide — North Africa and the Middle East
Expat insurance and health insurance in Tunisia
In short
No health insurance is legally required on entering Tunisian territory for a tourist stay of under three months, but it is strongly recommended by the French authorities. For a stay of under three months, no visa is required for a valid French passport (minimum three months); beyond that, a residence authorisation must be requested from the Tunisian Ministry of the Interior. No minimum guarantee amount is set by Tunisian regulations. In case of an irregular stay beyond three months without regularisation, a fine proportional to the overstay is applied and leaving the country may be blocked.
Key figures
- 20,060 French nationals registered with the consular register in 2025 (20,469 in 2024, -2.00%); 74% dual nationals, 75% in Greater Tunis or on the east coast.
- Life expectancy at birth: 76.51 years on average (73.92 men, 79.15 women), 2023 data.
- Health spending: ≈7% of GDP (2021); public spending up from ≈$573M (2016) to ≈$1.2Bn (2023).
Local healthcare system
The public sector is organised around teaching and regional hospitals (including La Rabta hospital in Tunis), access in principle open to any person insured under the Tunisian scheme. The private sector is particularly developed, notably around medical tourism, concentrated in Tunis (Berges du Lac) and major cities. Health cover is managed by the CNAM (health-maternity, workplace accidents/occupational diseases), with the CNSS managing old age, disability, survivors, family allowances and unemployment. A foreign employee affiliated in Tunisia benefits from the same rights as a Tunisian employee; a resident with no professional affiliation has no automatic access to the CNAM.
Legal and visa obligations
- Since 1 January 2025: a passport valid for at least 3 months is required (an ID card alone is not sufficient).
- No visa needed for a tourist stay not exceeding 3 months.
- Beyond 3 months: a residence authorisation from the Tunisian Ministry of the Interior, under the France-Tunisia agreement of 17 March 1988 as amended on stay and work (amended by the riders of 19 December 1991 and 8 September 2000).
- Irregular stay: a fine proportional to the overstay, with exit from the country possibly blocked until regularised.
- Paid employment: the employer registers with the CNSS within the month following hiring, opening CNAM rights.
- No Tunisian legal requirement for private insurance on entry has been identified, but France Diplomatie describes an assistance contract covering medical costs and repatriation as "essential".
Cost of some medical procedures
Orders of magnitude from specialised sources, not official fee schedules.
| Procedure | Public sector | Private sector |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultation (practice) | — | 35 to 45 TND |
| Specialist consultation (practice) | — | 50 to 70 TND |
| GP home visit (daytime) | — | 52 to 67.50 TND |
| Emergency care (private clinic) | — | rate varies by facility and severity, not publicly disclosed |
| MRI | — | rate varies by facility, not publicly disclosed |
| CT scan | — | rate varies by facility, not publicly disclosed |
| Blood tests | — | from ≈9.6 TND (e.g. complete blood count), rate varies by test |
| Night of hospitalisation (private clinic) | — | room 70 to 90 TND, bed 180 to 250 TND |
Social security agreements with France
General agreement signed in Tunis on 26 June 2003 (rider no. 1 of 4/12/2003), published by decree no. 2007-626 of 26 April 2007, in force since 1 April 2007 — repeals the 1965 agreement.
- Coordinated branches: health-maternity, disability, old age-survivors, workplace accidents/occupational diseases, family allowances, death. Unemployment is excluded.
- Totalisation of insurance periods; removal of residency clauses for certain pensions.
- Employee in Tunisia: subject to the Tunisian scheme (CNSS/CNAM) from the start of any activity; form SE 351-02 recommended before departure.
- Retiree: form SE 351-07 to activate CNAM cover under the French pension, if no Tunisian rights of their own apply. A 3.2% contribution on the basic pension for a non-French tax resident. A non-insured spouse is not automatically covered.
Which insurance for my profile
General matrix — does not recommend any specific product or insurer.
| Profile | Regulatory constraint | Points of attention |
|---|---|---|
| Working holiday visa | No working holiday agreement between France and Tunisia (Tunisia is not among the 15 partner countries of the French working holiday programme) | Not applicable as things stand |
| Student | Mandatory CNAM affiliation for any foreign student enrolled at a Tunisian institution, via the CNSS (annual care card); for reference, registration fees of around 5 TND recorded at one university | Contact Campus France Tunisia and the host institution; cover limited to public/contracted facilities, medicines outside hospital not covered |
| Seconded employee / expat | Mandatory CNSS/CNAM registration from the start of any professional activity | Check secondment terms with CLEISS |
| Retiree | Cover via form SE 351-07 if no local rights apply | A non-insured spouse is not automatically covered |
| Family | No automatic cover outside dependant status | Situation to be examined individually |
Hospitals and care network
- Clinique Hannibal (Tunis, Berges du Lac) — private, 180 beds, Taoufik Hospitals group, international patient base.
- Clinique El Amen (several sites, including Mutuelleville) — private Tunisian group.
- La Rabta Hospital (Tunis) and the Pasteur Institute of Tunis — public, reference for infectious diseases and vaccination.
Practical steps
- Before departure: passport valid for at least 3 months, vaccination schedule updated.
- Under 3 months: no visa required.
- Beyond 3 months: residence authorisation before the deadline expires.
- Paid employment: CNSS registration by the employer within the month following hiring.
- Registration recommended with the roll of French nationals living abroad (Tunis consulate).
- Retiree: form SE 351-07 before departure, then presentation to the CNAM.
Frequently asked questions
Does the EHIC work in Tunisia?
No. Tunisia is neither an EU nor an EEA member: cover falls under the Tunisian scheme, the bilateral agreement for certain retirees, or private insurance.
Do I need to take out health insurance for a tourist stay in Tunisia?
No legal requirement identified, but strongly recommended by France Diplomatie (medical costs and repatriation not covered by the embassy).
Can I remain affiliated to French social security when settling in Tunisia?
In principle not for an employee: registration with the Tunisian scheme is mandatory from the start of any professional activity.
What happens in case of an irregular stay of more than three months?
A fine proportional to the overstay, with exit from the country possibly blocked until regularised.
Is my non-working spouse covered if I retire in Tunisia?
Not automatically: they must take out private insurance to be covered.
Moving to Tunisia? Get a quote
Written by Expavy
Sources
- France Diplomatie — Tunisia, Entry/stay
- France Diplomatie — Global register of French nationals abroad (carte-registre, 2025 data)
- CLEISS — France-Tunisia social security agreement
- CLEISS — Retirement in Tunisia
- Légifrance — Decree no. 2007-626 of 26 April 2007
- La Presse de Tunisie — 25,054 French nationals reside in Tunisia
- GISTI — Amended France-Tunisia agreement of 17 March 1988
- France Diplomatie — Working Holiday Programme, partner countries
- Mahmoud el Materi University (Tunisia) — Student health, CNAM affiliation for students
- Clinique Tunisie — Private clinic hospitalisation rates
- La Presse de Tunisie — Cnom: immediate suspension of new doctors' fee schedule (January 2025)
- Pasteur Institute of Tunis — List of lab tests and prices (blood count/CBC)