The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advise against all travel to:
- the Chaambi Mountains National Park and the designated military operations zones of Mount Salloum, Mount Sammamma and Mount Mghila
- the militarised zone south of the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba
- within 20km of the rest of the Libya border area north of Dhehiba
- the town of Ben Guerdane and immediate surrounding area
The FCDO advise against all but essential travel to:
- the whole of Tunisia based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks
In addition and for security reasons, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:
- within 75km of the Libyan border, including Remada, El Borma and the town of Zarzis
- the governorate of Kasserine, including the town of Sbeitla
- within 10km of the border with Algeria south of Kasserine governorate
- within 30km of the border in El Kef and Jendouba governorates south of the town of Jendouba, including the archaeological site of Chemtou
- areas north and west of the town of Ghardimaou in Jendouba governorate, including El Feidja National Park
- within 10km of Mount Mghila
- Mount Orbata
Travel to Tunisia is subject to entry restrictions
The Tunisian government has put into place additional health measures and travel restrictions for travellers from the UK and other countries where new strains of COVID-19 have been detected.
On 21 December, the Tunisian government suspended the entry into Tunisia of passengers coming from or transiting through the UK.
On 24 December, the Tunisian government announced that there will be a system of authorisation to permit travel from the UK to Tunisia in exceptional circumstances. Details of how this system will function have not yet been published. In addition, since the 24 December announcement, some airlines have refused boarding to individuals travelling indirectly from UK airports to Tunisia. Given this, our advice remains against travel from the UK to Tunisia at this time.
Following the emergence of the new strains of COVID-19, travel restrictions are evolving rapidly. Please check back regularly or sign up for further updates.
British nationals affected by flight cancellations should contact their airlines for further information and for advice on possible alternative flight options via a third country. Please be aware, however, that several third countries have themselves suspended flights to and from the UK and others may follow suit at very short notice.
British nationals who find themselves now stranded in Tunisia and who require consular assistance should call the British Embassy on +216 71 108 700.
If you are entering Tunisia via a different route and are not coming from or transiting through the UK, or other countries where the new strain of COVID-10 has been detected, please refer to the ‘Entry rules in response to coronavirus (COVID-19)’ section.
See Entry requirements for more information before you plan to travel.
Preparing for your return journey to the UK
If you’re returning to the UK from overseas, you will need to:
Check our advice on foreign travel during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and sign up for email alerts for this travel advice.
The Tunisian authorities have introduced COVID-19 measures due to the detection of infection clusters. These measures include a national curfew and travel restrictions. If you’re planning travel to Tunisia, find out what you need to know about coronavirus in the Coronavirus section.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. See the FCDO’s guidance on foreign travel insurance.
A state of emergency is in effect in Tunisia, imposed after a suicide attack on a police bus on 24 November 2015. It has been extended a number of times, most recently on 30 May 2020.
Since the terrorist attack in Sousse in June 2015, which targeted tourists, the UK government has been working closely with the Tunisian authorities to investigate the attack and the wider threat from terrorist groups. The Tunisian government has improved protective security in major cities and tourist resorts.
Terrorists are still very likely to try to carry out further attacks in Tunisia, including against UK and Western interests. Security forces remain on a high state of alert in Tunis and other places. You should be vigilant at all times, including around religious sites and festivals. Crowded areas, government installations, transportation networks, businesses with Western interests, and areas where foreign nationals and tourists are known to gather may be at higher risk of attack. You should be particularly vigilant in these areas and follow any specific advice of the local security authorities. In more remote areas of the country, including tourist sites in southern Tunisia, security forces’ response times to an incident may vary. Follow the advice of the Tunisian security authorities and your travel company if you have one. See Terrorism
Demonstrations often occur in Tunisia and the majority are peaceful. However, since mid-January 2021 there have been a number of violent riots in cities across the country, including Tunis, Sousse and Bizerte. You should avoid all areas of demonstrations, and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings or protests. Localised disruption, such as road blockages, are likely in the vicinity of protests and may occur with little to no warning. See Political situation
You can contact the emergency services by calling 197 (police – when in cities and towns), 193 (national guard – when in rural areas or small villages), 190 (ambulance) or 198 (civil protection – for assistance at incidents, such as car accidents, to provide medical assistance and response to fire).
If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission. Consular support may be limited in parts of Tunisia.
