Express passports, lighter customs, dedicated counters and reinforced security: the Tunisian Ministry of the Interior deploys a complete device to facilitate the return of Tunisians resident abroad during the summer of 2025.
The Ministry of the Interior has unveiled a set of measures to facilitate the return of Tunisians residing abroad, in response to a written question by deputy Halim Boussema. These measures, in force since June 1, 2025, mainly concern the improvement of services at border crossing points, the rapid passport establishment, the simplification of customs procedures (FCR), and travelers safety.
The passport in 30 minutes
The “space dedicated to Tunisians from abroad”, reactivated at the General Directorate of the border police in Tunis, operates every day (weekends and holidays included) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It allows you to deposit and obtain your passport in half an hour. New this year: border police officers are present on board Carthage and Tanit ferries to deliver passports directly during the crossing.
The border posts of the Tunis-Carthage airport and the port of La Goulette continue to offer the possibility of renewing passports on site, including those who discover their outdated document at the last minute.
Another improvement: the generalization of a mobile passport production center in areas with high crowds, to strengthen local units during the high summer season.
Reduction of processing deadlines
Regarding the diet of customs exemptions (FCR), the ministry announces a significant reduction in processing deadlines, thanks to the dematerialization of procedures and the implementation of an electronic exchange between the directions concerned. The time for issuing the border movements card is now 24 hours.
Specific counters have been set up for the elderly, large families, pregnant women and people with disabilities, in all airports. In addition, the border police numbers have been strengthened to guarantee the fluidity of the passage.
Installed cure
Each summer, Tunisia welcomes several hundred thousand of its nationals residing abroad. These massive returns, concentrated over a few weeks, lead to engorgements and tensions at the borders, hence the importance of the exceptional devices put in place. In 2024, these measures had already shown a certain efficiency, hence their renewal and strengthening this year.
The authorities have also provided security measures around border posts to avoid public order disorders and streamline road and sea access, especially with Algeria. Heaks have been installed to separate pedestrian and motorized flows.
