Tunisian Deputy Tarek Mahdi Unveils Major Overhaul of the Nationality Code (March 10 2026)
Source: Radio Nationale – Interview with Deputy Tarek Mahdi
Overview
On Tuesday, March 10 2026, Deputy Tarek Mahdi presented the core elements of a parliamentary initiative aimed at a comprehensive revision of the Tunisian Code of Nationality. Speaking on Radio Nationale, Mahdi emphasized that the proposed amendments offer concrete solutions to the challenges of irregular immigration while tightening the rules for granting citizenship to foreign nationals who entered Tunisia illegally.
Key Reform Targets
| Article | Current Rule | Proposed Change | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Stateless parents must have 5 years of residence for their child to claim Tunisian nationality. | Double the required residence to 10 years. | Ensures stronger ties to Tunisia before extending citizenship to children of stateless parents. |
| 9 | Nationality granted to a child of unknown parents remains valid unless proven otherwise. | Any later‑established proof of filiation, by any means, will retroactively cancel the nationality initially granted. | Prevents misuse of the “unknown parents” clause and safeguards the integrity of the nationality register. |
| 10 | Presumption of birth in Tunisia applies broadly to found children. | Limit the presumption only to newborns aged 1 to 28 days. | Provides a clearer, time‑bound framework for determining the status of found children. |
| Naturalisation (general) | Standard residence requirement is 5 years. | Increase the required residence period to 7 years. | Aligns naturalisation criteria with the broader goal of stricter citizenship controls. |
Universal Application
Deputy Mahdi stressed that all provisions are universal: they apply to every birth on Tunisian soil, without distinction of origin. The reforms are presented as a nation‑wide safeguard against irregular immigration while preserving the rights of legitimate Tunisian citizens.
SEO‑Optimized Summary
- Tunisian nationality law reform announced by Deputy Tarek Mahdi.
- Amendments target birth and residence criteria, tightening naturalisation rules.
- Article 8: Residence for stateless parents raised from 5 to 10 years.
- Article 9: New proof of filiation will retroactively revoke previously granted nationality.
- Article 10: Presumption of Tunisian birth limited to newborns 1‑28 days old.
- General naturalisation period extended from 5 to 7 years.
- Reforms claim universal applicability, affecting all births on Tunisian territory.
These changes signal a significant shift in Tunisia’s approach to citizenship, immigration control, and the legal status of found children, positioning the country for a more regulated and secure nationality framework.
