Tunisia (TN)
North Africa's most Mediterranean country, Tunisia blends Carthaginian ruins, Saharan Desert, and French-influenced cafés with a warm, hospitable culture.
Insurance Guide
Which insurances you actually need in Tunisia, prioritised.
Insurance culture in Tunisia is less developed than in Europe, but several products are essential or strongly recommended for expats. Car insurance (RC Auto) is legally mandatory. International health insurance is considered essential by the expat community. Most insurance products are available through local Tunisian insurers (STAR, Gat Assurances, CARTE, BH Assurance) and international providers. Comparison and purchase is often done through insurance brokers (courtiers en assurances) rather than directly.
Legally Mandatory
- - RC Automobile (car third-party liability — Responsabilité Civile Auto): legally required to operate any vehicle on Tunisian roads. Without it, fines and vehicle impoundment apply.
- - Assurance RC Propriétaire Non-Occupant (for landlords): legally required for property owners renting their property.
International Health Insurance
Comprehensive medical coverage including specialist consultations, hospitalisation, emergency evacuation, and repatriation to your home country. Essential for expats as CNAM/AMO coverage is insufficient for serious illness.
Who needs it: All expats living in Tunisia, especially those without long-term CNSS/CNAM coverage.
Annual cost: USD 960–3,000 (approximately DT 3,000–9,700) per year for a healthy adult
Purchase before arriving in Tunisia — once you arrive, pre-existing conditions will be excluded from the start date. Ensure the policy includes: Tunisia hospital networks, medical evacuation to Europe, maternity (if planned, with 12-month prior purchase), and mental health. Confirm direct billing arrangements with your preferred Tunis private clinic.
Car Insurance (RC Auto + Comprehensive)
RC Auto (third-party liability) is legally mandatory — covers damage to other people and their property. Tous Risques (comprehensive) adds own-vehicle damage, theft, and natural catastrophes.
Who needs it: Anyone driving a vehicle in Tunisia.
Annual cost: RC Auto only: DT 200–500/year. Comprehensive (Tous Risques): DT 600–1,500/year (depends on vehicle value and driver age).
RC Auto is compulsory — insure your vehicle before driving. Comprehensive (Tous Risques) highly recommended for vehicles worth more than DT 15,000. Carry your insurance certificate (attestation d'assurance) in the vehicle at all times — police check routinely. Note: accident procedures in Tunisia require a police report (PV) — call Garde Nationale 193 or Police 197 after any accident before vehicles are moved.
Home/Rental Insurance (Assurance Habitation)
Fire, theft, water damage, and personal liability to third parties arising from your home. Covers your possessions and provides civil liability coverage.
Who needs it: All renters and property owners. Some landlords require proof of tenant insurance in the rental contract.
Annual cost: DT 80–250/year for a furnished apartment
Strongly recommended for expats with valuable electronics, jewellery, or imported household goods. Verify your policy covers theft — burglary rates are not negligible in some areas. Check whether your landlord's building insurance covers the contents of your apartment (usually it does not).
Life Insurance (Assurance Vie / Prévoyance)
Lump-sum or annuity payment to beneficiaries on death or critical illness. Can also function as a savings vehicle (épargne). Particularly important for breadwinners with dependants.
Who needs it: Expats with dependants in Tunisia or abroad, and those seeking a TND-denominated savings vehicle.
Annual cost: Varies significantly by age, sum insured, and type of policy. Basic term cover: DT 300–800/year.
TND-denominated life insurance products exist but are exposed to TND depreciation risk. For expats saving for dependants in hard currency, a home-country or offshore life insurance policy may be preferable. Consult an independent financial advisor before committing.
Travel Insurance
Medical emergency, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and repatriation coverage for trips outside Tunisia.
Who needs it: All expats travelling outside Tunisia. Your international health insurance may cover this — check your policy terms.
Annual cost: DT 50–200/year (annual multi-trip policy)
If your international health insurance includes worldwide emergency cover and medical evacuation, a separate travel insurance for health emergencies may be redundant. However, travel insurance for trip cancellation and luggage loss fills gaps most health policies do not cover.
Professional Liability (Responsabilité Civile Professionnelle)
Covers claims arising from professional errors, omissions, or negligence in your work. Mandatory for regulated professions (lawyers, accountants, doctors, engineers).
Who needs it: Self-employed professionals, business owners, anyone offering professional services in Tunisia.
Annual cost: DT 300–1,200/year depending on profession and coverage limit
If your Ordre professionnel (e.g. OECT for accountants, ONAT for lawyers) mandates RC professionnelle, ensure your coverage meets the minimum required by the Ordre's regulations.
Comparison sites
Do not drive without RC Auto insurance — fines, vehicle impoundment, and serious civil liability exposure are all risks.
International health insurance is non-negotiable for expats: CNAM coverage alone is insufficient for serious illness or emergency evacuation.
Obtain insurance through a licensed courtier en assurances (insurance broker) for the first time — they handle the paperwork, Arabic-French translation, and can compare local products.
After any road accident: call police immediately (197), do not move vehicles, obtain a PV (police report) before filing insurance claims.
Keep copies of all insurance certificates (assurance voiture, habitation, santé) digitally — Tunisian officials sometimes request proof at checkpoints or administrative offices.
Insurance
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