Guidance

Tunisia: Knowledge Base profile

Published 15 May 2024

About: Tunisia

This document contains useful information about Tunisia which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

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Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

• version 2.0
• published for Home Office staff on 10 May 2024

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with minor formatting changes.

Tunisia: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Tunisia.

Names in Tunisia consist of:

• personal forename
• father’s forename preceded by the word:
  • ‘ben’ meaning ‘son of’; or
  • ‘bint’ meaning daughter of
• family name

Non-Arabic names cannot be used in Tunisia.

Change of name

Name changes are allowed in Tunisia. The change of name must be authorised by the courts.

Married women can choose to add their husband’s family name to their own maiden name using the word ‘EP’ (meaning ‘spouse of’). This can be recorded on her passport and birth certificate.

Name alignment

HM Passport Office will not ask a married woman to align her Tunisia passport if it shows her husband’s family name alongside her maiden name (with EP (meaning ‘spouse of’)).

Tunisia: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Tunisia.

Dual nationality is recognised in Tunisia.

Tunisia: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Tunisia.

Adoption is legal in Tunisia.

Tunisia: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Tunisia.

Surrogacy is not legal in Tunisia.

Tunisia: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Tunisia.

Transgender citizens are not recognised in Tunisia.

Tunisia: civil partnerships and marriage

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships and marriage in Tunisia.

Civil partnerships and same sex marriages are not recognised in Tunisia.

Marriages in Tunisia are civil marriages.

Tunisia: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents in Tunisia.

The “Centre National de Recherche en Informatique” (the National Centre for Computer Science), manages, maintains and edits all documents regarding civil status (for example births, deaths, marriages, divorces, regulations).

Birth certificates

All births must be registered at the local Town Hall within 10 days. The Town Hall will issue a birth certificate. Late birth registrations are allowed.

There are two birth registers in use, these are held:

• on the premises, at the local town hall
• in the Tribunal of First Instance

There is 1 type of birth certificate in circulation. Citizens may have 2 birth certificates one from each birth register.

If a mistake is identified on a birth certificate, it can be amended after obtaining a decision from the court. Marginal notes will be added to the certificate to show the changes.

Replacement birth certificates can be obtained.

Hospital notification records exist and are given to the parents to register the birth.

Marriage certificates

Marriages must be registered at the local Town Hall within 1 month to be valid. Late registration is allowed. Civil marriages conducted by the local Mayor will be registered during the ceremony.

Marriage records are held in the Town Hall, the Court and Central Registry.

The Town Hall can issue 2 types of marriage document confirming the marriage has been registered. Both certificates are acceptable for HM Passport Office purpose and contain the same information, these are:

• Contract de Marriage
• Copie Integrale de l’acte de marriage

An extract marriage certificate is issued if the marriage takes place in front of a notary. An extract marriage certificate is not acceptable for HM Passport Office purposes.

Tunisia also issues ‘family books’. A family book is not acceptable for HM Passport Office purposes.

Death certificates

Deaths should be declared within 24 hours. Late registration is allowed. Death certificates are issued by the courts to relatives of the deceased.

There is one type of death certificate in circulation.

Identity documents

A mandatory Residency Permit is issued to all residents over 18 years, known as a Carte de Séjour.

Identity cards for children can be issued with the approval of a parent. Identity cards are issued at a national level and are not usually laminated. Tunisia identity cards are issued in Arabic.

A Tunisia identity card will always be in the same name as the Tunisia passport.