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Tourist airport meeting and transfer
Before booking a tour, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with visa regulations and check the validity period of passports to ensure compliance with the immigration laws of the country chosen for travel.
According to the Tunisian authorities’ decree, starting from December 31, 2024, travelers must present a passport to cross the state border. This has canceled the exception for citizens of some European Union countries that was in effect until December 31, 2024, and allowed entry into Tunisia based on a national ID card.
For entry into Tunisia, a foreign citizen’s passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the end of the tour. If the passport’s validity period does not meet this requirement, entry into Tunisia may be denied. Since Tunisia is largely dependent on the tourism industry, in practice, passport control officers at the arrival airport may follow a shorter validity period rule for a foreign citizen’s passport – at least 3 months from the end of the tour. However, this established practice may change at any time, so it is recommended to adhere to the officially announced norm of 6 months and also to check the passenger document requirements published on the airline’s website in advance. If the airline staff detects a mismatch in the passport’s validity period with the destination country’s requirements, the passenger may be denied boarding, with the ticket cost withheld.
As of the date this Guide was compiled (01.11.2025), the following rules for crossing Tunisia’s state border apply:
Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Serbia, Bulgaria and Turkey are eligible for visa-free entry for up to 90 days.
Citizens of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan do not require a visa for short-term entry as part of an organized tourist trip lasting no more than 30 days and including a direct round-trip flight («Round trip»). Entry is one-time. If tourists plan to leave Tunisia for other countries during their vacation, a visa must be obtained. For entry into Tunisia outside an organized tourist trip or for a longer stay, other visa rules apply.
Entry into Tunisia for citizens of countries not mentioned in the lists above is carried out with a visa obtained at the consular or embassy offices of the Republic of Tunisia.
Entry rules may change without prior notice. The current visa rules applicable for the planned travel period must be additionally clarified at the tour purchase location, on the official information resources of the destination country, or at the embassy or consulate of the destination country.
It is recommended to additionally check the passenger document requirements published on the carrier airline’s website, as it is the airline that conducts the initial document check and decides on passenger boarding. Some airlines require additional documents not stipulated by the destination country’s visa rules. In case of doubts about the completeness of the document package, it is advisable to make an additional inquiry to the airline in advance.
Since 2022, the need to fill out a migration card upon arrival in Tunisia has been abolished.
Upon entering Tunisia, amounts equivalent to 20,000 Tunisian dinars or more must be declared (check the currency exchange rate on a specific date on the Central Bank of Tunisia website at: https://www.bct.gov.tn/bct/siteprod/index.jsp). Currency declaration is subject to an excise stamp of 10 dinars, regardless of the declared amount. The currency import declaration is valid for three months from the date of entry of the non-resident traveler into Tunisia and can be used for only one trip. The currency import declaration is personal and cannot be transferred to other persons.
Currency declaration upon entry into Tunisia will help tourists avoid problems at customs control during departure. If foreigners have a large amount of cash, customs officers require proof that this amount was imported earlier and not obtained in Tunisia illegally. If during the cash recount it is established that the amount exceeds 5,000 Tunisian dinars, which is about 1,500 euros, and the tourist does not have a personal declaration for the required amount issued upon entry into Tunisia, then the cash exceeding the allowed amount is confiscated. More details in the «Currency exchange and reverse currency exchange» section.
Tourist airport meeting and transfer
Tunisian legislation prohibits the import of quadcopters, binoculars and walkie-talkie radios into the country. Please note that the import ban applies to both assembled devices and devices in disassembled form.
If prohibited equipment is detected during customs control, it will be confiscated. When equipment is seized, customs officers draw up a corresponding act and hand a copy to the tourist. The tourist should keep a copy of the act throughout the trip. Based on this act, the tourist can receive the equipment when passing through customs control before departure from Tunisia.
The return of confiscated equipment is carried out only at the airport where the seizure was made, and only personally to the tourist for whom the act was drawn up. Return of confiscated equipment to third parties, as well as return of equipment for departure from another airport in the country is prohibited.
If a tourist manages to illegally transport prohibited equipment or acquire it in Tunisia, upon detection of the fact of its use, it will be irrevocably confiscated with the initiation of an administrative or criminal case against the tourist. The use of prohibited equipment may be regarded by the authorities as an attempt to violate the public and national security of the Republic of Tunisia. Neither the tour operator nor the DMC can influence the operational and successful resolution of such situations, as this is a matter of the tourist’s personal responsibility for complying with Tunisian legislation. Law enforcement agencies do not negotiate with third parties unless it is a Tunisian lawyer hired by the travelers to represent their interests or an official representative of the embassy/consulate of the tourist’s country of citizenship.
Tourist airport meeting and transfer
Upon exiting the arrival zone, tourists are met by representatives of the Destination Management Company (DMC) at a stand with the DMC and the tour operator logos.
Tourists must present accommodation vouchers to the representatives of the DMC. After checking the tour operator’s voucher and confirming the tourist’s presence on the group transfer passenger list, the tourist is informed of the bus number and an accommodation voucher and informational leaflet are issued.
Tourists who have booked an individual transfer without accompaniment are met upon exiting the arrival zone by the driver. When booking the «individual transfer with accompaniment» service, tourists first approach the company’s counter, where a representative checks their reservation and then escorts them to the driver.
All tourists departing on a group transfer are recommended to stay near the bus and wait until the other passengers of that bus have passed passport and customs control and collected baggage.
When carrying out a group transfer, transportation is provided along the «airport – hotel» route with stops at hotels, the number of which is determined by the hotels of the transfer participants. The route of the transfer bus is determined by the DMC and depends on the location of the hotels relative to the airport. The duration of the group transfer depends on many factors, starting from the efficiency of tourists exiting the airport building and ending with road conditions.
Representatives of the DMC wait for all participants of the transfer group. In cases where the tourists’ exit is significantly delayed due to problems with passport control, transportation of prohibited goods, or baggage loss, it is recommended to notify the DMC via the hotline number +216 25 99 44 77 (Mobile, Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram). A fully assembled transfer group waits for delayed tourists for no more than 30 minutes. If tourists do not appear within this time, the bus leaves the airport. Compensation for the transfer cost or taxi to the hotel is not provided in such cases, and the cost of the unused transfer service is not refunded.
We draw tourists’ attention to the need for respectful attitude towards other participants of the transportation and adherence to generally accepted rules of conduct during the group transfer. In the event of a tourist appearing for group transfer in a state of significant alcohol intoxication, as well as in case of violation by the tourist of public order norms, the DMC has the right to refuse transportation without compensation for the transfer cost and/or taxi cost along the corresponding route.
Upon meeting arriving tourists at the airport, they are given an informational leaflet, which indicates the name and phone number of the hotel guide, as well as the date and time of the informational meeting with the guide. The meeting with the guide is held at the tourists’ accommodation hotel on the day of arrival or the next day. In exceptional cases, for guests of hotels located far from the main resort area (for example, Mahdia on the mainland or Zarzis on the island of Djerba), basic information about the country and available excursions may be provided at the airport upon arrival with remote accompaniment by the hotel guide via phone and messengers (Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram). Hotel guides promptly respond to all tourists’ questions and assist in resolving arising problems.
We strongly recommend that tourists attend the informational meeting with the guide at their hotel, the date and time of which are contained in the informational leaflet. During the informational meeting, tourists get acquainted with the hotel guide and exchange contact details with our representative. This way, the hotel guide has the opportunity to quickly contact tourists to communicate important information (transfer time to the airport or on an excursion, as well as any changes related to tourists’ vacation).
The phone numbers of hotel guides and the hotline number of the DMC are presented in the informational leaflets given to tourists. However, these communication lines are intended exclusively for communication with tourists. Hotel guides do not have the authority to conduct any negotiations with third parties, which include representatives of travel agencies, tour operators, tourists’ relatives etc. The hotline is intended for direct contact with tourists and prompt resolution of arising issues. Calls to this number by third parties who are not tourists are not desirable. Any inquiries from travel agencies and tour operators must come exclusively through official communication channels – via email.
The arrival time of the transfer at the hotel for transportation along the «hotel – airport» route should be clarified in the folder or on the stand located in the hotel lobby in the evening of the day before departure. Information is published between 18:00 and 20:00. If tourists have problems finding the information or have any remaining questions, they should contact the hotel guide.
The route of the transfer bus during the return transfer is also determined by the DMC and depends on the location of the hotels relative to the airport. We ask tourists to show respect to other participants of the transfer and to arrive on time.
In cases of tourists’ absence at the hotel reception, employees of the DMC take measures to search for them. However, the transfer cannot wait for transportation participants for more than 15 minutes, as this may lead to the bus arriving late at subsequent hotels and being late for check-in at the airport. If tourists fail to appear, the representative of the DMC who conducts the transfer fills out a special form signed by the hotel representative as a person confirming the fact of the vehicle’s arrival and waiting for the guests.
We strongly recommend that tourists inform representatives of the DMC if they do not intend to use the booked group transfer along the airport-hotel and/or hotel-airport routes. Advance notification allows preventing delays in the transfer for searching tourists in the hotel and the associated inconveniences for other transportation participants.
If tourists arrive at the meeting point on time but do not find the transfer, they should immediately contact the hotel guide. Minor delays in transportation are possible and may be related to searching for tourists in previous hotels or road conditions. In such cases, it is recommended to contact the hotel guide immediately to clarify information.
Upon disembarking from the bus at the end of the transfer, tourists must ensure that their personal belongings have not been left in the vehicle. Upon receiving tourists’ requests with information about personal items forgotten or lost during transportation, the DMC assists in their search but bears no responsibility if they are not found.
Tourist airport meeting and transfer
Upon discovering that their suitcase is missing from the baggage claim conveyor, tourists must contact the staff at the «Lost & Found» counter, where they will be asked to fill out a baggage loss report – Property Irregularity Report (PIR). The report is completed by passengers or airport staff in printed letters in English. Tourists should take a copy of the report and keep it until the baggage is received or a claim is filed with the airline if the baggage is not found.
In Tunisia, regardless of the arrival city or airline, there is no practice of delivering found baggage to the passenger’s place of accommodation. When the baggage is found, airport or airline staff will contact the tourists and inform them of the need to come to the airport to pick it up. Third parties, including but not limited to representatives of the DMC, are not authorized to collect baggage on behalf of tourists. The passenger in whose name the baggage is registered must appear in person at the airport. Tourists can travel to the airport on their own or ask the hotel guide to help organize transportation to or from the airport. The costs associated with such transportation are paid by the tourist.
If the baggage is found after the trip ends or is declared lost, tourists are recommended to maintain contact with airline representatives regarding baggage delivery or compensation for lost baggage.
Tourist airport meeting and transfer
Upon discovering baggage damage at the airport, tourists must contact airport staff and draw up a Property Irregularity Report (PIR), as well as take photos and videos of the damaged elements. We recommend keeping all documents (boarding passes, baggage tags and receipts, reports). To claim compensation, tourists must contact the tour operator or the airline directly, as the carrier is responsible for the baggage from the moment it is checked in until it is received.
If baggage damage is discovered during group or individual transfer, it is necessary to report it to the guide and photograph the damage. Our representatives will conduct an inspection and take all necessary measures to establish responsibility for the damage and determine the grounds for compensation.
We strongly recommend that tourists check their baggage at each stage (upon receipt from the baggage conveyor at the airport, upon receipt from the bus luggage compartment) and immediately report any discovered damage. Delayed notification of discovered damage (that is, not at the moment of detection, but after some time) significantly reduces, and in most cases completely eliminates, the possibility of establishing responsibility and, accordingly, claiming compensation, since in such a case it becomes impossible to establish responsibility.
Tourist airport meeting and transfer
Upon discovering that a tourist has mistakenly taken someone else’s luggage from the baggage conveyor, it is necessary to photograph the baggage tag and the overall view and report this to the guide. Our representatives will conduct an inspection and take all necessary measures to locate the tourist’s baggage.
Upon receiving a tourist’s report about lost baggage, the DMC provides assistance in its search but does not bear responsibility if the baggage is not found.
The tourist can travel to pick up the found baggage on their own or ask the hotel guide to help organize transportation to receive the found baggage.
We strongly recommend that tourists check their baggage upon receipt at each stage (upon receipt from the baggage conveyor at the airport, upon receipt from the bus luggage compartment) and immediately notify the DMC of any discrepancies to quickly and correctly resolve the situation.
