Tunisia: Over 33,500 Foreigners Reside Legally in the Country
As of April 9, 2026, approximately 33,524 foreigners are residing legally in Tunisia, according to a recent response from the Ministry of the Interior to a written question from Assembly of the People's Representatives (ARP) deputy Ghassan Yamoun.
Nationality Breakdown
The ministry revealed that the top nationalities among foreign residents in Tunisia are:
- Algerian: 7,626 residents (23% of the total)
- French: 5,792 residents (18% of the total)
- Italian: 14% (4,732 residents)
- Moroccan: 10% (3,329 residents)
Reasons for Residency
The ministry highlighted that the main reasons for legal residency in Tunisia are:
- Marriage: 4,029 Algerian residents and 1,185 Moroccan residents have been granted residency permits due to marriage.
- Investment: Many European residents, particularly Italians and French, have been granted residency permits due to investment.
- Work: 646 residency permits have been granted to Italian workers, while 1,017 permits have been granted to French workers.
- Retirement: 2,962 Italian retirees and 1,861 French retirees have been granted residency permits.
Regional Breakdown
The ministry noted that residents from Arab countries account for 43% of the total foreign residents in Tunisia, while European residents account for 40%. The majority of European residents are investors or retirees.
Source
The information was published on the official website of the Parliament on May 2, 2026.
