Tunisia
Last update 28 May 2024Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 3: Increased level of risk (recommendation not to travel in certain areas of the country unless necessary)
3
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Republic of Tunisia
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Republic of Tunisia
Address: 5 Rue Ryhane, Cité Mahrajène, 1082 Tunis
Telephone: +216 71 800 980; +216 71 798 962
Out-of-hours hotline: +216 22 835 427
Office hours: 8.00 - 16.30h
Е mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.mfa.bg/embassies/tunisia
The Embassy of Tunisia in Belgrade is accredited to Bulgaria.
Embassy of Tunisia in Belgrade
Telephone: +381 11 3690 194; +381 11 3691 961
Fax: +381 11 2651848
General information
Crime and security:
The situation in some areas of the Tunisian Republic remains tense. There is a risk of terrorist attacks from dormant terrorist cells. Special vigilance is required in areas along the borders with Algeria and Libya, as well as in some central parts of the country. The Republic of Tunisia has been under a state of emergency since November 24, 2015, when a terrorist attack took place against a National Guard bus. On May 9, 2023, an attack was carried out against the El Griba Synagogue on the Tunisian island of Djerba.
Anti-terrorist operations are regularly conducted in areas along the border with Libya and Algeria, as well as in mountainous areas in the provinces of Kasrin, Kef, Jenduba and Sidi Bouzid. Buffer zones have been created in which travel is prohibited, except with the express permission of the regional governor. The buffer zones cover the desert part south of the line Bir Rjim Maatug - Burj Bourguiba - Ben Garden, the areas in close proximity to the borders with Libya and Algeria. Entering buffer zones without permission is a violation of the law. A particularly dangerous area are the mountainous areas in the northwest of Tunisia, near the border with Algeria, and travel there should be avoided.
Bulgarian citizens are advised to refrain from traveling to the specified parts of the country, and to inform themselves as much as possible about the current situation before traveling. It is also recommended to avoid the non-urban areas in the triangle between Siliana, Keirawan and Kasrin.
The activity of terrorist groups is mainly aimed at military and police targets throughout the country, but there is also a threat to civilian targets, including foreign diplomatic missions, tourist sites and foreign citizens.
Under the state of emergency, the authorities have the power to restrict the holding of protests, unregulated assemblies and other mass events. It is possible to close places for social events and take extraordinary measures, including detention.
There is an increase in the level of criminal acts, hooliganism, petty theft and especially pickpocketing. Bulgarian citizens in the country should make efforts to protect their personal belongings and documents. It is recommended that citizens travel with a copy of their foreign passport and a copy of the page with the border stamp for entering the country.
Criminal activity reports a rise since the events of January 14, 2011, and in particular there has been an increase in the incidents of mugging, pick-pocketing and petty theft.
Healthcare:
When traveling to Tunisia, it is recommended to take out health/travel insurance in advance. The general level of healthcare in the country is good, but if medical assistance is needed, it should be borne in mind that it is paid for. No mandatory immunization or immunization record is required.
A yellow fever certificate is only required for travelers arriving from infected areas. It is not recommended to consume food products (meat, fish, eggs) purchased outside the store network. The consumption of bottled water is recommended.
Practical advice:
On January 14, 2011 a state of emergency was declared in Tunisia and since then there has been an increased presence of police and military forces in public places. Security measures are adequate in tourist and seaside areas. For trips to the interior of the country travellers are advised to carry their identity documents if stopped for inspection.
With a view to the complicated criminal situation, travellers should carefully plan any travel in the desert areas of southern and central Tunisia, especially along the Libyan and Algerian borders, and avoid self-guided tours in the interior of the country.
Travellers are advised to avoid non-urgent travel to all areas inside the country with the exception of the northern coast - Cap Bon, Hammamet, Sousse, Monastir.
While traveling and visiting public places in Tunisia, photographing of strategic and military sites, government departments and administrative buildings, mass protest demonstrations and public events should be avoided, as this may lead to detention by security authorities.
Travelling with children:
When travelling with children under age not accompanied by their father, Tunisian authorities may require written evidence of his consent. Written consent of the mother is not required.
Local currency:
Tunisian dinar (TND).
The Tunisian dinar can be purchased at any local bank and at currency exchange offices. Travellers wishing to reconvert their original exchange into a different currency have to bear in mind that receipts of all financial transactions on arrival to the Republic of Tunisia must be kept, as authorities will want to examine them.
Travel papers and visas
To enter Tunisia, Bulgarian nationals require a passport valid for at least six months after the date of arrival. Other special documents are not needed.
Bulgarian nationals holding a valid passport for at least six months after the date of arrival do not need visas to visit the Republic of Tunisia for a period up to 90 days or if transit passengers. People who wish to stay for more than 90 days must apply for a residence permit, called a Carte de Sejour at the police station of the sector in which they will reside. For that purpose they have to submit the documentation required under Tunisian legislation, including documentary evidence of accommodation and papers supporting the purpose and intention of an extended period stay in Tunisia.
Competitive service
Certification and Legalisation:
Any documents issued by Tunisian authorities to Bulgarian nationals that need to be used in Bulgaria, and vice versa, must be translated and legalised. The translation must be done by a licensed translator who has signed a contract with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for providing official translations.
In Bulgaria the legalisation of documents is done by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice legalise the Bulgarian public acts (documents) by a special certificate called Apostille. In Tunisia documents to be used in the Republic of Bulgaria are legalised by the Bulgarian embassy in the country after they have been authenticated by the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Civil Status:
- The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Tunisia supports the following civic status services: registration of births and deaths of Bulgarian nationals occurring in the Republic of Tunisia in the Bulgarian civil registry.
- Local civil registries have to provide a birth certificate for the child or a death certificate, respectively.
- The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Tunisia does not perform marriages as local legislation does not recognise marriages performed on the territory of diplomatic missions.
- Bulgarian nationals residing abroad are under the obligation to bring or send to the Bulgarian diplomatic or consular mission in the relevant country, within six months after a local civil registry authority draws up a civil marriage certificate, a certified copy or excerpt of the document, together with an application indicating their permanent address in Bulgaria.
- Alternatively, citizens may bring the legalised civil marriage certificate directly to the relevant Bulgarian municipality accompanied by a certified translation into Bulgarian made by a translation agency wherewith the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria has concluded a contract.