Despite Risks, Tunisian Parliament Approves Article on Opening Foreign Currency Accounts for Residents
Despite the risks of rejection by the Tunisian Parliament (ARP) due to its potential impact on the country's strictly regulated foreign exchange reserves, the article on opening foreign currency accounts for Tunisian residents has been approved by the ARP.
According to this new additional provision of the 2026 Finance Law, any physical person of Tunisian nationality will be able to open an account with an approved intermediary, provided the bill is definitively adopted - i.e., once approved in its current version by the Ministry of Finance and after the publication of the implementing texts. This account can be funded either from another foreign currency account, or in convertible dinars, or through the amount of the annual tourist allowance.
However, if this bill were to be promulgated without adjustment, its application could pose problems. According to accountant Sofiene Werimi, the current version contains inconsistencies: it notably refers to the old articles 16 and 18 of the 1976 law, without a direct link to foreign exchange issues. Moreover, its application would require the modification of the current decree implementing the exchange law, which falls under the Ministry of Finance.
Furthermore, this project seems to overlap with existing devices related to foreign currency accounts, which raises the question of its real added value. On a macroeconomic level, the opening of these accounts could increase pressure on foreign exchange reserves, which must be preserved to finance vital imports and support strategic sectors of the economy.
The logical consequence of increased circulation of foreign currencies on official circuits would be a decline in the value of the dinar, leading to an increase in the exchange rate and increasing the cost of exchange operations and commercial transactions in several economic and strategic sectors.
"In the current economic context, the debate and adoption of this bill by the ARP could have been postponed. There are other more important priorities for our country," concludes Sofiene Werimi.
