Tunisia (TN)

North Africa's most Mediterranean country, Tunisia blends Carthaginian ruins, Saharan Desert, and French-influenced cafés with a warm, hospitable culture.

Capital: Tunis

Region: Africa

Language: Arabic

Currency: TND (DT)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 28)

Emergency: 197

Social Security in Tunisia

Benefits, contributions, and how the system works for expats.

Tunisia operates a contributory social security system split between private-sector workers (CNSS — Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale) and public sector/civil servants (CNRPS — Caisse Nationale de Retraite et de Prévoyance Sociale). Healthcare within CNSS is managed by CNAM (Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie). The system provides basic pension, healthcare, maternity, sickness, and work accident coverage for contributors. Benefits are modest compared to EU standards, and the system faces financial pressure from an ageing population. Expats working legally in Tunisia are enrolled in CNSS via their employer and are entitled to the same contributory benefits as Tunisian workers.

CNSS Number (Numéro d'Affiliation CNSS)

Numéro CNSS / Immatriculation CNSS

Your employer registers you with CNSS (Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale) within 30 days of your start date. You receive a CNSS affiliation number (numéro d'immatriculation) which appears on your payslip (bulletin de paie). If your employer has not registered you after one month, contact the CNSS regional office (Caisse Régionale de Sécurité Sociale) directly. Self-employed workers register voluntarily at their local CNSS office with their Identifiant Fiscal and proof of activity.

Used for

Payslip and CNSS contribution verification
CNAM health insurance card (Carte CNAM) and healthcare access
Maternity benefit claims
Sickness allowance claims
Work accident claims
Pension accumulation and retirement claims
CNSS online portal access (cnss.nat.tn)

Benefits & Support Payments

Pension (Retraite CNSS)

Pension de Retraite CNSS

Minimum guaranteed pension (pensión minimale): approximately DT 280–320/month (2026) for workers meeting minimum contribution requirements. Average pension varies — consult CNSS for your specific projected amount.

Monthly pension payment from CNSS at retirement age for workers who have accumulated sufficient contribution history. Defined-benefit formula based on contribution years and average salary.

Eligibility

Retirement age: 60 years. Minimum 60 months (5 years) of CNSS contributions to access any pension. Full pension requires longer contribution history (typically 30+ years). Early retirement at 55 in certain arduous occupations. Expats who accumulated CNSS contributions may access their pension at age 60 or may request a lump-sum refund on permanent emigration (see retirementAndPension).

How to Apply

Apply at the CNSS regional office 3–6 months before your retirement date. Bring: CNSS number, complete employment history documentation, payslips, and passport/CIN. Online applications partially available at cnss.nat.tn.

CNSS pension is modest — most expats who worked briefly in Tunisia will accumulate insufficient contributions for meaningful pension income. Planning for retirement income from home-country pensions and personal savings is essential.

Health Insurance (CNAM — AMO)

Assurance Maladie Obligatoire (AMO) — CNAM

CNAM reimburses 70–80% of the approved tariff for medical consultations, hospitalisation, and medications at CNAM-networked providers. Patient pays the remaining "ticket modérateur."

Compulsory health insurance for all CNSS contributors providing partial reimbursement of medical costs at approved CNAM providers. Managed by CNAM (Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie).

Eligibility

All CNSS-registered employees and their dependants (spouse and children under 21 or under 25 if studying). Self-employed CNSS contributors can enrol voluntarily.

How to Apply

Automatic for CNSS employees — request your Carte CNAM from the CNSS regional office after your employer's CNSS registration. Required: CNSS number, passport, and photos.

CNAM coverage is partial and insufficient for serious illness. International health insurance is strongly recommended as a supplement. See healthcareInfo for full details.

Maternity Allowance

Indemnité de Maternité CNSS

2/3 of average daily salary (based on last 3 months of contributions) for 30 days (vaginal birth) or 60 days (C-section, multiple birth, premature birth).

Income replacement during statutory maternity leave. Paid by CNSS at 2/3 of the average daily salary for 30–60 days.

Eligibility

CNSS-registered employed women. Minimum 80 days of CNSS contributions in the 12 months before birth.

How to Apply

Apply at the CNSS regional office after birth. Documents: birth certificate, medical certificate, CNSS card, payslips.

Many employers with sectoral collective agreements top up CNSS maternity pay to 100% of salary. Confirm your employer's maternity supplement policy.

Sickness Allowance

Indemnité de Maladie CNSS

2/3 of average daily salary from Day 4 of illness. Employer typically pays Days 1–3. Benefit payable for up to 180 days per illness episode.

Daily income replacement when a CNSS contributor is unable to work due to illness or injury for more than 3 days.

Eligibility

CNSS-registered employees with minimum 50 days of contributions in the 12 months before illness onset.

How to Apply

Submit medical certificate (certificat médical) to employer and to CNSS within 3 days. CNSS reviews and pays the daily allowance directly to the employee.

Extended illness beyond 180 days: CNSS invalidity pension may apply if the worker is assessed as having a permanent reduction in work capacity.

Work Accident / Occupational Disease Insurance

Assurance Accidents du Travail et Maladies Professionnelles (AT/MP)

Medical costs fully covered during treatment. Temporary incapacity: 2/3 of daily wage from Day 1. Permanent disability pension: percentage of salary based on assessed disability degree.

Coverage for injuries or illnesses arising from work. Provides medical care coverage, temporary incapacity allowance (full salary during medical treatment), and permanent disability pension if needed.

Eligibility

All CNSS-registered employees. No minimum contribution period — coverage begins from first day of work.

How to Apply

Employer must notify CNSS of the accident within 48 hours. Employee submits medical certificates. CNSS conducts medical assessment.

Employer is legally responsible for CNSS work accident notifications. If your employer fails to notify, you can notify CNSS directly.

Family Allowances (Allocations Familiales)

Allocations Familiales CNSS

DT 8–15 per child per month (2026). Maximum 3 children covered.

Small monthly payments per dependent child for CNSS-registered employees.

Eligibility

CNSS-registered employees with children under 15 (or under 21 if studying).

How to Apply

Declare dependent children at CNSS office with birth certificates. Allowances are factored into monthly CNSS calculations.

Family allowances are very modest in Tunisia and have not kept pace with inflation. They are largely symbolic in value.

Death Grant (Capital Décès)

Capital Décès CNSS

6 months of the deceased's last average salary

Lump-sum payment to dependants upon the death of a CNSS contributor.

Eligibility

Dependants of CNSS contributors who die while contributing (employed) or after retirement.

How to Apply

Claim at the CNSS regional office. Bring: death certificate, marriage/birth certificates proving dependency, CNSS number.

The death grant is in addition to any private life insurance. Ensure dependants know your CNSS number.

Contribution Overview

CNSS (private sector) contribution rates 2026: Employee 9.18% of gross salary. Employer 16.57% of gross salary. Total: 25.75%. Breakdown: pension (retraite) component: employee 4.74% + employer 8.00%; health insurance (AMO/CNAM): employee 2.75% + employer 4.00%; family allowances: employer 2.00%; work accidents: employer 1.00%; other (death, solidarity): employee 1.69% + employer 1.57%. No contribution ceiling as of 2026 — contributions apply to the full gross salary amount.

International Social Security Agreements

Tunisia has bilateral social security agreements (conventions de sécurité sociale) with: France (the most significant, with full totalization of contribution years and coordinated pension rights), Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Egypt, and a small number of other Arab countries. Tunisia does NOT have totalization agreements with the USA, Canada, Australia, UK, or most EU countries other than France. Consequence: US, Canadian, British, and most European expats working in Tunisia accumulate CNSS contributions that cannot be combined with their home-country pension systems. Plan accordingly — do not rely on CNSS accumulation as a meaningful component of retirement income unless you plan to retire in Tunisia.

All CNSS contributions are deducted from your payslip automatically by your employer and remitted to CNSS monthly. You never handle the payments directly. Self-employed workers are responsible for calculating and paying their own CNSS contributions. Check your CNSS contribution history online at cnss.nat.tn using your CNSS number — verify your employer is paying correctly. Underpayment by an employer is an offence you can report to CNSS. Keep all payslips (bulletins de paie) as proof of contribution history for pension and benefit claims.

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