Company Formation & Entity Setup in Tunisia

SARL and SA incorporation via the Registre National des Entreprises (RNE) one-stop platform, including the wholly-exporting status election where applicable.

Tunisia Reviewed September 2026

Currency

TND (Tunisian dinar) — not freely convertible; cross-border transfers subject to exchange controls under the Code des Changes

Legal forms

SARL · SUARL · SA

Minimum share capital

SARL/SUARL: TND 1,000 · SA: TND 5,000 (25% payable on formation, balance within 5 years)

Registration body

Registre National des Entreprises (RNE) one-stop platform; APII (Agence de Promotion de l'Industrie et de l'Innovation) for industrial projects

Formation timeline

1–2 weeks (commonly cited as 5–10 working days after complete document submission)

Corporate tax rate

20% standard · 10% for wholly exporting companies and crafts/farming/fishing/export activities · 35%–40% for specific regulated sectors (banking, finance, insurance, telecom)

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How company formation works in Tunisia

Tunisia taxes resident companies at a standard 20% corporate income tax rate — raised from 15% effective 1 January 2024 — with a reduced 10% rate for wholly exporting companies and for crafts, farming, fishing and certain export activities, and higher rates of 35% or 40% for specific sectors including banking, financial services, insurance and telecommunications (with a further 4% permanent contribution on taxable profit for those regulated sectors from 2026). VAT is levied at a standard 19%, with reduced rates of 13% and 7% on specified goods and services.

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Matched to your business objective

SARL

Liability

Limited to company assets

Min. capital

SARL/SUARL: TND 1,000 · SA: TND 5,000 (25% payable on formation, balance within 5 years)

The standard vehicle for an operating subsidiary of a foreign company — the default choice for most market-entry engagements in Tunisia.

SUARL

Liability

Limited to company assets

Min. capital

SARL/SUARL: TND 1,000 · SA: TND 5,000 (25% payable on formation, balance within 5 years)

Used for larger operations, more formal governance needs, or entities seeking to raise capital publicly.

Liability

Limited to company assets

Min. capital

SARL/SUARL: TND 1,000 · SA: TND 5,000 (25% payable on formation, balance within 5 years)

Used for larger operations, more formal governance needs, or entities seeking to raise capital publicly.

Branch

Liability

None separate — the foreign parent company bears full liability

Min. capital

None — no separate capital requirement

Useful for testing the Tunisia market before committing to a subsidiary, or for keeping a single legal entity across borders. Creates a taxable presence — profits are generally taxed in Tunisia.

Representative office

Liability

N/A — not a registered legal entity in most cases

Min. capital

None

For market research and liaison activity only — cannot sign contracts, invoice, or trade locally in most jurisdictions.

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What it takes to register, and how long

Formation runs through the Registre National des Entreprises (RNE) one-stop platform; APII (Agence de Promotion de l'Industrie et de l'Innovation) for industrial projects, typically taking 1–2 weeks (commonly cited as 5–10 working days after complete document submission).

Central Bank authorization for cross-border transfers — — beyond freely-repatriated profits and equity-sale proceeds, most transfers require Central Bank of Tunisia clearance via an authorized intermediary bank, with eligibility tracing back to the original investment declaration
Dual CIT track by exporting status — — wholly exporting companies (régime totalement exportateur) pay 10% corporate tax against the 20% standard rate, a structural choice made at formation rather than adjustable mid-year
Foreign staff quota — under the Investment Law — capped at 30% of executive positions for the first three years, 10% from year four, with a minimum of four foreign executives always permitted per company subject to Ministry of Employment authorization
CNSS rate differential — — 17.07% standard employer rate versus 16.57% for wholly exporting industrial companies, plus the 0.5% unemployment insurance fund contribution introduced in 2025

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Frequently asked questions

Can profits be freely repatriated from Tunisia?

Foreign investors can freely repatriate profits and proceeds from the sale of equity. Other types of cross-border transfer can require authorization from the Central Bank of Tunisia, granted through an authorized intermediary bank, and eligibility depends on the original investment having been properly declared with the Central Bank when it entered the country.

What is the difference between the 20% and 10% corporate tax rate?

The standard corporate income tax rate is 20% (raised from 15% effective 1 January 2024). Wholly exporting companies — those whose manufactured products or services are entirely destined for use outside Tunisia — qualify for a reduced 10% rate, alongside crafts, farming, fishing and certain other export activities. Specific regulated sectors such as banking, financial services, insurance and telecommunications instead face 35%–40% rates.

How many foreign staff can a company employ in Tunisia?

Under the Investment Law, expatriate staff are capped at 30% of executive positions for the company's first three years and 10% from year four onward, with a minimum of four foreign executives always permitted regardless of headcount, subject to Ministry of Employment authorization for each position.

What is the minimum capital to form a SARL versus an SA?

A SARL or SUARL (limited liability company) requires a minimum share capital of TND 1,000. An SA (joint stock company) requires TND 5,000, of which at least a quarter must be paid on formation, with the balance payable within five years.

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The Central Bank authorization requirement is the single most consequential planning variable for foreign investors in Tunisia, because its cost is deferred: a poorly documented investment declaration at entry becomes a repatriation delay at exit, years after the decision that caused it. Companies should register the investment declaration correctly from day one and route any transfer beyond ordinary profit repatriation through the authorization process well ahead of the intended transfer date.

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