Visa to Tunisia for Russians: conditions of stay, documents and deadlines

Tunisia is perfect for all lovers of a lazy beach holiday. There are beautiful beaches, a warm climate, picturesque nature, a wonderful panorama, a warm, azure sea and impeccable service. And the most curious are attracted by ancient artifacts, buildings that bear the imprint of antiquity and history.

One of the sources of replenishment of the budget of this country is tourism. Do you need a visa to Tunisia? This question worries many citizens of the Russian Federation, because the absence of restrictions on entry and stay is one of the factors in choosing a resort. In this article we will answer this question.

Do Russians need a visa to Tunisia?

All travelers are interested in the question of how much it costs to enter this country.

In 2012, the government of the Republic of Tunisia changed migration rules for citizens of the Russian Federation. A visa to Tunisia for Russians is not required for a stay of up to 90 days in the country from the moment the entry stamp is affixed when crossing the border.

Now, when going through customs and passport control at an airport or seaport, they are asked to present a valid foreign passport and documents confirming residence in the country and return back to Russia. It could be:

tourist voucher (ticket) for a package tour;
printed hotel or hotel reservation;
a copy of plane or ferry tickets in the opposite direction.

You will definitely need a passport valid for at least three months after the end of your trip. At airport control, a stamp indicating entry into the country is placed in your passport, which is valid for 3 months.

IMPORTANT. Visa-free entry for Russians is valid upon arrival on a direct flight from the Russian Federation.

A visa is required for Russians to Tunisia if the planned trip exceeds 3 months of stay in the country.

Visa-free entry into the country for a period of more than 90 days is possible for employees of diplomatic missions, holders of official or special passports. For them, the visa is valid for six months, after which it must be extended.

REFERENCE. Previously, when leaving the country, there was a fee for each foreigner in the amount of $17.65. It has been canceled since 2021. According to the new rules, visiting the country now costs nothing.

Documents for entry to Tunisia

To enter Tunisia, you must fill out a migration card at the airport.
To visit Tunisia without obtaining a visa, a tourist must present a tourist voucher to the airport staff, as well as a foreign passport; the validity of the certificate should not expire 3 months after leaving the state.

The tourist must have a return plane ticket and the issued migration form. For minor tourists, a passport is required.

Tunisia migration card

The card consists of 2 parts, one is given to the customs officer, and the second is left to the tourist. The card contains basic personal information; questions are duplicated in French, English and Arabic.

The information received is entered into a database, so when you return to Tunisia, customs will check your previous travel history.

Sample of filling out the Tunisia migration card (148 Downloads)

How to fill out the Tunisia migration card correctly?

Sample of filling out the Tunisia migration card.

Filling out the first part:

Name - surname (as in a foreign passport);
FIrst name - name (as in a foreign passport);
Maiden name - maiden name, filled in only by married women;
Date and place of birth - date and place of birth;
Nationality - citizenship, you can indicate both RUSSIA and RUSSIAN FEDERATION;
Profession - profession;
Passport Nbr or Identity Card Nbr - international passport number;
Date and place of issuing - date and place of issue of the passport;
Coming from/Going to - the city you took off from and the city you are heading to;
Address - your permanent residence address.

Filling out the second part:

Full Name - last name and first name;
Maiden name - maiden name;
Date and place of birth - date and place of birth;
Nationality - citizenship;
Address in Tunisia—address of residence in Tunisia, you can specify the name of the hotel;
Passport Nbr or Identity Card Nbr - international passport number;
Date and place of issuing - date and place of issue of the passport.

How to enter the country without a visa

Russian citizens entering Tunisia to relax on the beach or conduct a cultural program in historical places do not need a visa to Tunisia.

When crossing the border on an airplane, flight attendants hand out migration cards. You can print an electronic migration card from the Embassy website in advance. You need to fill it out by hand in three languages to choose from - Arabic, English or French. Data is entered using a pen with blue or black ink. Corrections are not allowed. The card is filled out for each person, including children of any age. It must be retained for the entire period of stay in the country.

Types of visas

If the purpose of your trip to Tunisia does not fit into the framework of a visa-free visit, then you must apply for a visa at the Embassy of the Republic. They are divided into categories:

educational;
tourist;
working;
guest;
transit;
business

Each of them has its own subtleties and nuances according to which it is designed.

There are also conditions for investors who are ready to invest their own funds in the country’s economy. The most promising areas are tourism and oil production. When investing a minimum amount of 1 million dinars in government bonds for a period of three years, the foreign investor receives a visa valid for 2 years. In addition to him, all members of his family automatically receive the right to reside in the country for the same period. After two years, the visa is either extended or a residence permit is issued.

For study

On the African continent, Tunisia leads in terms of higher education among other countries. Training is conducted in two languages – Arabic and French. Diplomas from some universities are valued internationally.

The education received in Tunisia is of interest to those who want to build a career in the Arab world or receive a decent spiritual education in a highly regarded Islamic educational institution. This attracts students from Russia, among others, to the warm country.

There are two ways to enroll in a local university:

remotely;
in person, arriving without a visa to take the exams.

If the results are positive, the university board issues an official invitation to study and draws up a contract. Next, the invitation is visaed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the state and submitted to the Immigration Department.

A study visa to Tunisia is issued upon preparation and submission of a mandatory standard package of documents. In addition, it is provided:

confirmation of admission to an educational institution in Tunisia indicating the conditions, terms of study and faculty;
proof of financial support while studying in the country.

The student visa issued for the first time has a validity period of 1 year. Each student extends their student visa upon transfer to the next course. And when the period of study and the validity of the visa expires, he can request a residence permit.

For tourists

Russian citizens do not need to apply for a tourist visa if their stay is less than 3 months. If the trip is planned not only with a visit to Tunisia, but also to neighboring countries, then the visa-free regime does not allow this, because Only one entry and exit is allowed. You need to get a visa.

Working

A foreign citizen can work in the Tunisian Republic in two cases:

by concluding a contract with a local employer;
carrying out any activity in which the government of the country is interested (banking, geological exploration, medical, economic).

In the first case, with a standard package of documents, documents submitted by the employer and your own confirming the receipt of a specialty, diplomas, and certificates are submitted.

In the second case, the specialist has the right to freely carry out labor activities. The local government offers special conditions for obtaining a work permit for foreigners who have unique or specialized knowledge and skills for which there is a need in the country.

Although the Tunisian Government is interested in attracting specialists from other countries and does not charge additional fees for entry permits and the right to work, obtaining a work visa is not easy.

For the first time, a work visa is issued for a period of no more than 1 year. This period coincides with the standard employment contract. After its expiration, the parties can extend it, and the foreign citizen must extend his visa by applying for a new employment contract to the country’s immigration service.

IMPORTANT. The easiest way to find a job is for those who speak one of the languages - Arabic or French.

Transit

To travel through the country for a short stop, a visa is not required. The only thing you need to do is fill out a migration card indicating:

connection time;
next flight numbers;
next flight dates.

You must have printed boarding passes or air tickets with a specific date on hand.

Visa categories

Visa entry to Tunisia is provided for those Russians who are planning a long stay in the country. Long-term visas are issued for different purposes, such as study or work.

For any type of visa, you must prepare the following documents:

international passport (the requirements for the document are the same as for visa-free entry);
copies of pages with personal data and place of registration of a civil identity card;
a questionnaire filled out in English or French on a special form that can be found on a publicly accessible web resource;
1 photograph measuring 3x4 cm;
copies or reservations of tickets for a flight to Tunisia and back;
receipt of payment of the visa application fee.

Depending on the purpose of the visit to the country, the embassy requires additional official documents from the applicant.

For study

Tunisia is quite attractive for citizens who want to get an education, since diplomas issued by the country's educational institutions are recognized by the world community. In order to undergo training, a Russian citizen must obtain a student visa, which will become the basis for obtaining a residence permit after completing his studies.

In addition to the main package of documents, the future student is required to submit to the embassy a letter sent to him by the educational institution. The university administration must write at which faculty the applicant will study, what the duration of study is and living conditions.

Not always, but quite often, the embassy requests from the applicant documents about the education already received.

For tourists

A Russian planning a long trip must apply for a tourist visa. To receive it, you must present a hotel room reservation or a rental agreement, i.e. you must confirm that a place of residence will be provided during your stay in Tunisia.

For business trips

A business travel visa is issued both for work in the country and for business trips. Any purpose of the visit must be documented.

A work visa can be issued upon arrival. But this procedure applies only to Russians who are qualified specialists in a field that is in demand by the state, or who want to become investors by investing a lot of money in the country’s economy. Citizens who are not among them can obtain a work visa by contacting the embassy. The additional package of official papers includes the following documents:

a copy of the contract concluded with the company where you will work;
copies of registration documents with the relevant authorities of the company that employs a foreigner;
copies of diplomas and other certificates confirming the applicant’s knowledge and skills;
an invitation from the employer sent to the applicant, indicating the position, salary, social package of the hired employee.

Russians planning to work in medicine, geology or banking are not allowed to apply for a work visa.

Transit visa

Citizens of the Russian Federation do not need a transit visa, since they have the right to fly into the country and fly out in any direction without permission to enter and exit.

What documents are needed

To obtain a visa to Tunisia, the country’s legislation provides for a certain package of documents:

a completed application form in the required manner, which can be downloaded on the official website of the consulate;
copies of all pages of the general passport containing information;
original civil passport;
photograph, choice of color or black and white, 30×40 mm;
documentary confirmation of accommodation reservation;
a foreign passport with a validity period of at least 3 months from the end of the trip;
printed return flight tickets.

It is prohibited to make changes or corrections to an already completed application form. The accuracy of this information is confirmed by the applicant’s signature at the end of the questionnaire. The application form for entry into Tunisia is printed in advance on the website or taken directly from an Embassy employee.

The usual requirements for photography are:

approximately 80% of the total area should be occupied by the face;
without retouching or additional processing;
without smiling or other displays of emotion;
on a light background;
open face, without glasses, hats, scarves;
The photo is no older than six months.

To obtain a visitor visa to Tunisia, the consulate officer will require an official invitation from a Tunisian citizen, certified by the municipality of the country, to accompany the main package of documents.

To obtain a business visa to Tunisia with a package of documents, the applicant provides a certificate of employment and an invitation from an officially registered Tunisian organization. It should reflect:

travel duration;
purpose of the invitation.

Business visas are issued to entrepreneurs who intend to open their own business to create jobs in Tunisia. Before issuance, a business project is assessed by the Department of Economics and Development of the Republic. If it is approved, an expert decision is made, on the basis of which a business visa will be issued with a validity of 1 year, after which it must be extended.

To obtain a student visa to Tunisia, an official invitation from an educational institution for full-time study is provided.

To obtain a transit visa to Tunisia, it is enough to provide an issued visa to the country of destination or other documents that will serve as proof of the route.

For legal work in Tunisia, a work visa is issued. An applicant for a job with a Tunisian employer must attach to the set of documents:

a copy of the employment contract;
documentary evidence of the legality of the employing organization - a certificate of registration;
original and copies of specialist education documents;
documentary evidence that the applicant’s position complies with the Program of the Ministry of Labor and Professional Employment of Youth;
other documents at the request of the migration authorities.

In addition to the set of documents, a consular fee is paid immediately before submission. Payment is made in cash or using Visa or MasterCard.

Documents are submitted to the Tunisian Embassy in Moscow in person or by express mail at the address: 121248, Moscow, Malaya Nikitskaya st., building 28. Submission of documents by the applicant’s representative is allowed by power of attorney certified by a notary.

Acceptance of documents in order to obtain a visa is carried out on a first-come, first-served basis; there is no pre-registration. Due to the lack of a visa-free regime for stays of up to 90 days, there are no queues at the Embassy itself, so you won’t have to stand for long.

The responsibility of a foreign citizen is to strictly adhere to the established visa-free or visa-free entry rights into the territory. Upon expiration of the required period, you must leave the country. Violation is subject to administrative liability in the form of a fine for each day of delay. Up to ten days – a warning is often issued.

If the period is longer, a fine of 100 Tunisian dinars is imposed. Regular violations of Tunisian migration laws may result in a complete ban on crossing the border for up to five years.

Required documents

Basic package for obtaining a Tunisian visa:

a foreign passport, the validity of which exceeds the period of his stay in Tunisia. The validity of the foreign passport must expire no earlier than three months after the end of the visit;
a photocopy of the first page of the foreign passport, on which the applicant’s personal data is indicated;
one black and white/color passport photograph;
a correctly completed application form for a Tunisian visa. The document is filled out in Latin letters. Filling language - Arabic, English or French;
a copy of significant pages of the civil passport;
confirmation of round-trip ticket reservation;
a certificate from the place of official employment with the amount of salary for the three months preceding the trip;
if the applicant is a private entrepreneur, then he will need a certificate from the tax authorities about registration and a financial report for the last quarter.

Rules for obtaining a photograph for a visa

Other documents depend on the purpose of the trip to Tunisia.

A private visa requires an invitation from a citizen of the Republic of Tunisia permanently and legally living on its territory. The invitation letter must be certified by the municipality of your place of residence. In addition to the original certified invitation, it is necessary to make a photocopy of it and an electronic version of this document, which is sent to the website of the Tunisian Embassy in the country of citizenship of the applicant.

For a business visit, a business invitation is issued. It is carried out by an organization, business partner or associate that conducts permanent activities in the territory of the Republic of Tunisia.

Invitations from both individuals and business partners or organizations must be certified by the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the republic and only after that transferred to the consular departments for issuing a visa to foreigners.

Transit through Tunisia

Passengers will need this type of Tunisian visa when crossing the country. The maximum period for which Tunisia issues a transit visa is seven days. To obtain this visa, you need a foreign passport and tickets with a date to the passenger’s final destination. Citizens of countries where Tunisia does not require a visa to visit the country do not need a transit visa. This also applies to citizens of the Russian Federation.

Studies

The higher education system of the Republic of Tunisia is considered the best among North African countries. Diplomas from any of the country’s twenty-six universities are recognized and valued by all countries of the world.

To obtain a student visa, you will need to provide the Embassy with a letter of guarantee from the administration of the Tunisian university about the student’s enrollment as a student. The letter of guarantee must be certified by the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and contain detailed information about the faculty, the student's specialty and the duration of his studies. Some documents may be required regarding education completed prior to coming to Tunisia.

The validity of a student visa is limited to six months. Next, the student should begin the process of obtaining a residence permit in Tunisia in advance.

Work in Tunisia

To open a work visa, additional documents are required:

official employment contract and its copy;
a copy of the registration certificate of the employing company;
a copy of a diploma of higher (or other professional) education;
an official letter from the employer, in which he argues for the need to hire a citizen of another state for this position.

Tunisian immigration officials may ask for additional documents to obtain a work visa to this country, which may include a certificate from the last place of work confirming qualifications, a description of work experience in this specialty outside of Tunisia.

For representatives of certain specialties in Tunisia, there are relaxations. Since the country has an acute shortage of medical workers, geologists, engineers and economists, such specialists will not need an invitation from an employer to obtain a work visa.

Employees of foreign companies, banking institutions with foreign capital, employees of foreign oil and mining companies that work in Tunisia do not require a work visa. Doctors working within the framework of international humanitarian aid programs and charitable missions are also exempt from receiving it.

Having a work visa is the basis for applying for a residence permit. The main condition is that the duration of the employment contract with the employer is at least 6 months. If this requirement is met, the foreigner can contact the police station at his place of residence with a statement and the necessary documentation.

Tunisia warmly welcomes guests

Traveling to Tunisia with children

The rules for the entry of minors into the country are fair. The child will need a birth certificate translated into Arabic, English or French and sealed by a notary. He must be included in the foreign passport of the parent with whom he is traveling, or have a personal passport. In the absence of the second parent, he will need a power of attorney for the right to take the child outside the homeland, translated into one of the above languages and notarized. If a minor is traveling with a third party, for example, with a grandmother, then you will need to present to the border guards a power of attorney from the father and mother, also translated and certified by a notary.

If it is not possible to obtain a power of attorney from an absent parent (death, deprivation of parental rights, imprisonment), then you will have to document the impossibility of obtaining it.

The presence of an Israeli visa in the international passport will in no way change the warm welcome of the traveler on the soil of Tunisia. Moreover, many Israelis regularly visit this country. Despite the fact that the official religion of Tunisia is Islam, the attitude towards representatives of other faiths is very tolerant.

Cost and processing time

How much does it cost to obtain and issue a visa to Tunisia? This is one of the most common questions asked by applicants. It is paid in the form of a consular fee and in 2021 is:

for adults and children over 12 years old – 2700 rubles;
for a child from 6 to 12 years old – 1350 rubles;
for children under 6 years old – free.

How long you need to wait for your visa to be ready is also a popular question. The duration of verification of submitted documents usually does not exceed seven days. The period is delayed if Embassy employees have additional questions regarding entry into the country and stay in it. These conditions must be taken into account when planning your trip and allow additional time for obtaining a visa - up to several weeks.

If there is a need to extend your stay in the country, it is possible to do this while in Tunisia. Extension issues are dealt with by the Department in the Tunisian Republic. The cost of renewal is 120 Tunisian dinars. The duration of consideration of application documents is at least 14 days, so they must be submitted in advance:

statement;
a copy of a foreign passport;
official confirmation of transfer to the next course (for students);
extended contract with the employer (for a work visa).

The peculiarity of the Tunisian visa is that no more than 1 month must pass from the moment of its issuance to entry into the country. If entry is not followed, it will be automatically cancelled. If you have no intention of entering the country in the near future, then it makes no sense to submit the document much in advance.

How to get a visa for a child

How to apply for a Tunisian visa for a child - this question concerns the legal representatives of the child who are going on a trip with the whole family. The set of documents for obtaining a visa for minors has its own subtleties that must be taken into account. Provide:

a completed application form in the required manner, which can be downloaded on the official website of the consulate;
photograph 30×40 mm;

a valid international passport or a minor must be included in the passport of one of the parents;
a child’s birth certificate or a copy of a passport for those over 14 years of age;
documentary confirmation of accommodation reservation;
printed airline tickets or return ferry ticket;
power of attorney for an accompanying person from the parents, certified by a notary, in the case when the child is traveling without them;
If the surname of the child and the parent do not match, additional documents may be required to confirm the relationship.

The form, completed in English, French or Arabic, is signed by one of the parents (other legal representative).

Medical insurance is not on the list of required documents for a visa, but it is recommended.

Tunisia is the pearl of the African continent, home to the legendary Carthage and many artifacts, world-famous thalassotherapy, clear sea, magnificent seascapes and high-quality service.

Obtaining a visa is not difficult, because the government of this country is also interested in the influx of foreign citizens to study, work, invest in the country’s economy, build business processes, and tourism.