Can you take Tunisian dinars in or out of Tunisia?
No. Tunisia's foreign-exchange law is compiled by the Banque Centrale de Tunisie (updated April 2022). It states that importing and exporting Tunisian dinar notes and coins is prohibited in all forms. The legal bases are Law 76-18 of 1976 and Decree 77-608 of 1977. The customs traveller guide lists the dinar among items that are entirely prohibited. The UK government and Canada say the same.
In practice, you cannot buy dinars at home before you fly, and any dinars left over at the end count as a problem. Arrive with a card, foreign cash, or both. Get dinars once you have passed customs.
When must you declare foreign currency?
The official sources give different thresholds, which reflect different years and wording. What stays the same is this: declare any foreign cash worth 5,000 TND or more if you might take part of it home.
| Source | What it says | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Tunisian customs guide | Declare on entry at 25,000 TND or more. Non-residents re-exporting 5,000 TND or more must declare it | 2010 edition |
| Government of Canada | Declare 20,000 TND or more on arrival, departure and in transit. Declare over 5,000 TND so the excess isn't confiscated on exit. You cannot leave with 30,000 TND or more, even if declared | Current advice |
| US State Department | Declare amounts above 5,000 TND on arrival if you want to export them | Current advice |
| Smartraveller | Declare all foreign currency on arrival and keep the receipt | Current advice |
The customs guide names the form, "Déclaration d'importation de devises". You fill it in before you leave the customs area. The UK government warns that undeclared foreign currency may be confiscated. It advises keeping both the declaration and your official exchange receipts. We could not open the customs service's current currency page, so check at the customs desk if your amount is close to a threshold.
How do you change dinars back when you leave?
You need proof of where the dinars came from. The US State Department says you must show the receipt from the bank where you withdrew or bought the dinars, and that ATM receipts are not accepted. Smartraveller adds that you can convert dinars back if you declared the amount on arrival.
The central bank's rules for travellers who import, exchange, change back or re-export currency are in circular 94-13 of 1994. It is listed in the BCT's compilation, but the full text is not reproduced there. We could not confirm any percentage or ceiling on how much you can change back. Keep every receipt and change back only what you must.
Worked example: a week in Tunis
Say you want about 1,000 TND of spending cash. You can get it two ways: exchange foreign cash at a bank, or withdraw from an ATM. The rules above decide which dinars you can change back.
| Source of dinars | Can you change them back? | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign cash exchanged at a bank or licensed office, receipt kept | Yes, with the receipt (and your arrival declaration if you made one) | Keep these for the end of the trip |
| ATM withdrawal | Not with an ATM slip, per US advice | Spend these first |
| Card payment | No dinars left over | Use for hotels, restaurants and shops that take cards |
If you exchange 600 TND worth of euros at a bank and withdraw 400 TND from an ATM, spend the ATM dinars first. If 150 TND are left on your last day, they come from the bank exchange, and your receipt covers them. If you had spent the other way round, the 150 TND would be ATM money and could not be changed back.
Cards, ATMs and cash in Tunis
Canada says ATMs are widely available in tourist areas and all major centres. It says many businesses in cities and tourist areas take credit cards. The US State Department says most establishments take cards. It also notes that ATMs taking US-issued cards may give no more than about US$100 per withdrawal. Check your bank's per-withdrawal fee before relying on many small ATM withdrawals.
Keep cash for taxis. Canada says taxis generally accept only cash. The US notes that Bolt, Uber and Lyft do not operate in Tunisia. InDrive is available, but only for cash payments. If you are driving instead, see renting a car and police checks in Tunisia for tolls and roadside payments.
Exchange money only at banks or licensed exchange offices. Smartraveller says to use authorised banks or dealers. Under a 2019 central bank circular, licensed exchange bureaus must identify their clients and report to the central bank. So expect to show your passport, and check that you get a proper receipt. That receipt is what lets you change the money back. Morocco's dirham is also a closed currency. For how it works there, see paying in Morocco.