Moving to Tunisia? What the UK government and the port authority say, what could not be read, and every city named with its census figure.
International Movers to Tunisia
A shipment to Tunisia usually passes through Radès, the container and trailer port in the Greater Tunis area. The household rules of Tunisian customs could not be read, so this page marks what is confirmed and what is not. Partner firms quote for packing, the sea leg and the papers needed.
What do official sources say a move to Tunisia involves?
The UK government publishes the entry and travel rules for a British passport holder, a US government guide gives import duty and car rules, and the port authority publishes traffic figures. Tunisian Customs did not load, so the relief for a household move is not yet confirmed.
Entry and staying: sourced for visitors only
The UK government’s Tunisia page was “Still current at: 5 November 2026 Updated: 24 July 2026” It says: “You can visit Tunisia without a visa for up to 90 days”. It adds: “To enter Tunisia, your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay.” On overstaying: “If you overstay the 90-day period without a valid reason, you will have to pay a fine.” A move is not a visit. If you are not sure how the rules apply, it says to “contact the Tunisian Embassy in the UK”. What the embassy requires for settling there, as opposed to visiting, we have not confirmed.
Parts of the country are closed to travel
The same page opens with “FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Tunisia.” The first area it names is “Western Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Algeria border”. For that area it says: “FCDO advises against all travel to: the Chaambi Mountains National Park” It also has a separate list for southern Tunisia. Check the map before you agree a delivery address or an overland route, because a driver may not be allowed to go there.
What you can carry in: currency, drones and devices
The UK government says: “There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Tunisia”. It adds: “You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.” On money: “Tunisia has strict currency controls.” Also: “You are not allowed to take Tunisian dinars out of Tunisia.” Two items catch movers out. “It is illegal to bring drones into Tunisia without authorisation.” And: “Certain electronic devices with recording, transmission or smart-function capabilities may be subject to restrictions, or be confiscated on arrival” Keep these out of the shipment and out of your hand luggage until the rule is confirmed.
Import duty and VAT: a trade guide, not a household rule
The US International Trade Administration published a Tunisia guide for exporters on 26 February 2026 (“Last published date: 2026-02-26”). It says: “Imports of goods outside of those tariff lines can be subject to import duties as high as 200%” The simple average is given as “with a simple average MFN tariff for all products of 19.4 % in 2024”. It records that “In 2022, the government instituted 20-50% tax increases on consumer products that have locally manufactured equivalents.” Among the rises: “tariffs were increased from 30% to 50% on imported apparel, bedding, shoes, bags, and carpets” Those are the goods in many homes, and the guide does not say whether a household move gets relief. It adds that “Goods are also subject to an additional customs formality fee, currently amounting to 3% of the total duties paid on the import.” On VAT: “basic VAT rates are 19%, 13%, and 7%, with most goods falling into the 19% rate”. It says Tunisia “calculates VAT on the base price of the good plus any import duties, surcharges, and consumption taxes”. Consumption tax: “Rates on most products vary from 10% to as high as 150%.”
Customs relief for a household move: not yet confirmed
The Tunisian Customs website (douane.gov.tn) did not answer our script on 5 November 2026 at any address we tried, so no duty-free conditions, deadline or inventory rule is stated here. The US guide warns: “Inconsistent customs procedures can be a major obstacle for importers.” Ask your partner company which papers Tunisian Customs wants, and how long clearance is taking, before you book.
Cars: rules that point to high cost, not yet confirmed for residents
The US guide says: “Tunisian consumers also cannot freely import foreign vehicles privately due to strict foreign-exchange controls” It adds: “Two noteworthy categories affected by import quotas are agricultural products and passenger vehicles.” On tax: “Automobiles with large engine capacity are also subjected to a high consumption tax, with rates up to 277% for gasoline-fueled engines and 360% for diesel-fueled engines.” It is a guide for exporters, so it does not say what a returning resident or newcomer pays on one personal car. Tunisian Customs would, and we could not read it. Our car shipping guide covers the general steps for sending a car abroad.
Looking beyond Tunisia? The Africa page names every other African country with its entry rule and links the countries that have their own guide.
Ports and sailings
Which port does a shipment to Tunisia use?
For containers and loaded trailers the answer on the port authority’s own figures is Radès, in the Greater Tunis area. The other commercial ports have different jobs. Your partner company decides the actual port when it books the shipment.
Radès, in the Greater Tunis area
The national port authority says Radès holds an important place in the national transport chain because it specialises in containers and rolling units, mainly trailers. It gives these shares of all Tunisian commercial ports: 76% of container traffic in twenty-foot units and 80% of rolling units. It calls Radès the geographic extension of the port of La Goulette. Across all the commercial ports, it reports 538,692 twenty-foot containers in 2025 against 491,973 in 2024. Wikipedia places Radès in Ben Arous Governorate, one of the governorates its Tunis entry says the built-up area now reaches.
La Goulette
The port authority describes La Goulette as the outlet of the most populated region, including the city of Tunis and its suburbs. Its 2025 review says passenger cars on the ferries rose from 321,194 in 2024 to 337,569 in 2025. That is a count of cars travelling with passengers, not of shipped vehicles.
Sailings the national line publishes
The national shipping company CTN lists these freight sailings from Radès on the day we read its page: Marseille 3 a week; Genoa 3 a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; Livorno 3 a week, on Monday, Thursday and Friday; Barcelona 1 a week, on Monday. Its page also lists Salerno and Sagunto. No UK port is on that list, so how a shipment from Britain is routed is not stated by any source we read. Schedules change, so treat this as an example of what the line offers, and ask for dates in the quote.
The other ports
The port authority describes Sfax by its main traffic, solid bulk such as phosphate, sea salt and cereals, so it is not the usual household route. Sousse has a wide hinterland. Bizerte-Menzel Bourguiba sits on the Gibraltar-Suez shipping axis. Gabès has an industrial vocation. Its list of commercial ports also names Skhira and Zarzis.
Cars and trailers at the ports in 2025
The port authority reports new cars through the ports rising from 44,702 in 2024 to 48,694 in 2025, and rolling units up 4% by number and 7% by tonnage. These are trade volumes and say nothing about the cost or paperwork for one family car.
What is not yet confirmed
No port tariff, container terminal charges, storage time or customs hold time could be read. The Radès page gives the traffic and the harbour layout but no household shipping rule. Ask for those in writing. For a West African destination instead, see the shipping to Nigeria guide.
All the places named
Where is my city or town named?
The ten places that had pages on the earlier version of this site are all named below, each with a 2024 census figure. Our sources give none of them a moving rule of its own, so there is no separate page for any of them.
The figures are the census of 6 November 2024, as reprinted by City Population (opens in a new window). They are governorate totals except where a delegation is named, so they describe a wide area and not a city centre.
Tunis and Greater Tunis
The capital’s governorate has Tunis governorate (1,075,306). Wikipedia says the built-up area now extends beyond the Tunis Governorate into parts of the governorates of Ben Arous, Ariana and Manouba, which is why Radès and the other port towns count as part of the same move. The port authority’s own description of La Goulette says it serves the most populated region. Give the exact suburb in an enquiry.
Ariana, El Mourouj and Ettadhamen
Wikipedia lists Ettadhamen-Mnihla, Ariana, La Soukra and El Mourouj among the suburbs of Tunis. The 2024 census gives Ariana governorate (668,552), El Mourouj delegation (121,712) and Ettadhamen delegation (79,133). None has a port or a customs office of its own in our sources.
Sfax
The Sfax governorate has Sfax governorate (1,047,468), the second largest of the places here. Its port is used mainly for solid bulk, so a household shipment normally means Radès with a road leg unless your partner company says otherwise.
Sousse
The Sousse governorate has Sousse governorate (762,281). The port authority says the port has a wide hinterland, which is a fact about its cargo catchment, not a household service.
Bizerte
The Bizerte governorate has Bizerte governorate (607,388). Its port sits on the Gibraltar-Suez shipping axis, close to southern Europe according to the port authority.
Kairouan, Gabès and Gafsa
The census gives Kairouan governorate (600,803), Gabès governorate (410,847) and Gafsa governorate (388,776). Kairouan and Gafsa are not on the port authority’s list of commercial ports. Gabès is, with an industrial vocation, and Wikipedia says the Compagnie des Phosphates de Gafsa is headquartered in Gafsa. For each, the road leg from Radès is the question to put to your partner company.
Somewhere else in Tunisia? Write the town in the enquiry form. For West Africa there is also a Ghana guide.
Related guides
Guides that apply to every Tunisia move
Tunisia has this page only. The guides below cover steps that are the same whatever the destination.
The US trade guide lists high duty on bedding, carpets and clothing, but it is written for exporters. Ask your removal company to confirm the household rule with Tunisian customs before you book.
Which port will my container use?
Most likely Radès, but your partner company confirms it.
The port authority says Radès carries 76% of container traffic and 80% of rolling units. No schedule from a UK port could be read.
Can I ship a car to Tunisia?
Not confirmed. The sources point to strict controls and heavy tax.
The US guide says private import of foreign vehicles is restricted and that large engines carry consumption tax up to 277% for petrol. The rule for a resident could not be read.
Can I take Tunisian dinars out of the country?
No. The UK government says it is not allowed.
Keep official exchange receipts, and declare foreign currency if the rules require it.
Is my town named on this page?
Yes, all ten places from the earlier site appear, each with a census figure.
Anywhere smaller goes into the enquiry as plain text.
Start your Tunisia move enquiry
Tell us the Tunisian town, where in the UK the load starts, the month you want to move and what is going. Mention a car if one is coming. A partner company reads it and comes back with its own questions before any price.
International Removals Companies is an enquiry and introduction service run by DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, in partnership with AGM Group. We don't move goods ourselves: the removal company quotes for your move and carries it out, so check its credentials and terms before you book. Our service is free. Discuss the quotation and booking terms directly with the removal company.