Returning to Tunisia: Customs Relief for Furniture and Personal Belongings

Information checked on 8 October 2026 against the official Tunisian Customs legislation and publications cited in this guide.

Introduction: planning the return of your belongings to Tunisia

Are you living abroad and preparing to bring your furniture, appliances and personal belongings back to Tunisia? Check the customs treatment of your move before booking a truck or container. Transport costs and eligibility for customs relief need to be considered together.

Decree No. 2024-370 of 19 June 2024 provides specific relief for the personal and household effects of Tunisians residing abroad. The limit is TND 50,000 per family, subject to conditions. This is a ceiling on the value of eligible goods, not a payment to the applicant. The rule appears in Article 2 of the official decree.

This guide from STÉ EL JAZIRA TRANSIT explains how to prepare your documents, organise an inventory and budget for your shipment.

1. Who qualifies for household-goods relief?

The main conditions under this scheme for Tunisians residing abroad include:

• Being at least 18 on the application date.
• Having lived abroad for at least one year immediately before the relevant last entry into Tunisia.
• Spending no more than 183 days in Tunisia during the relevant 365-day period.
• Personally owning the goods submitted for relief.
• Not having already used this one-time benefit; any use of the household-goods benefit by a spouse after marriage must also be checked.
• Importing or making an eligible local purchase within the applicable deadline.

These requirements are set out in Articles 2 and 6 of the 2024 decree. Do not copy the requirements from a vehicle-import file: the overseas residence period for furniture differs from the vehicle requirement.

Preparation tip: compile your entry and departure dates before confirming transport. If you renewed your passport or hold more than one passport, gather the evidence needed to reconstruct that period.

2. Which belongings fall within the TND 50,000 limit?

The relief covers personal effects and household furnishings. Prepare an inventory separating, for example, furniture, household linen, crockery, books, appliances and personal equipment. These categories help describe the shipment; they do not replace Customs' assessment of individual goods.

The decree excludes goods of a commercial nature, raw materials and semi-finished products, aircraft and sports or pleasure boats, and state-monopoly products such as tobacco and alcoholic drinks. Any product-specific restrictions must also be checked. Source: Article 2 of Decree No. 2024-370.

A shipment described as a household move may therefore require different customs treatments if it also contains resale stock or equipment for a business. Flag these items when requesting your quotation.

How should you prepare the declared values?

Keep available purchase invoices. For older items, record their description, condition and the information supporting the value you declare. Avoid describing the entire shipment as “miscellaneous items”. Be ready to explain your figures; a value supplied by the owner is not automatically accepted by Customs.

3. What is the deadline, and when does it start?

Importation or eligible local acquisition must take place within two years of the last entry recognised under the scheme. This date has an administrative definition and is not necessarily the day you left your overseas home. Articles 5 and 6 of the decree govern this point.

If your travel plans complicate the timeline, discuss obtaining a decision establishing your return date with the regional customs office. The official permanent-return guidance describes that procedure.

Build a schedule showing your reference entry date, the date your documents will be ready and the expected arrival of your belongings. If you intend to send more than one shipment, confirm their treatment before the first dispatch and keep an overall inventory. A second shipment should not be assumed to create another allowance.

4. Which customs documents should you prepare?

Customs implementation note No. 041/2024 of 21 June 2024, Part 2, provides for documents including:

• An application for tax relief using form 6.3.41.
• A detailed inventory on the prescribed form.
• Copies of the applicant's and spouse's national identity cards.
• A copy of the applicant's passport and a birth certificate.
• Purchase invoices, where available, to support valuation.
• The tax-office evidence specified in the note confirming that equivalent goods have not already benefited from relief through local acquisition.

A customs declaration completes the procedure. Imported goods are processed by the competent entry customs office. Confirm the current document requirements before dispatch, including those relating to old passports, dual nationality and residence evidence. Source: Tunisian Customs' permanent-return file requirements.

For transport planning, also prepare the booking reference, applicable transport document, package count and delivery details. This practical information helps ensure that the paperwork matches the actual shipment.

5. How do you create a useful inventory?

We recommend columns for the carton or furniture reference, precise description, quantity, condition, brand or serial number where relevant, stated value and available supporting document. Mark each carton with the corresponding reference.

For example, use “box 12: used kitchen crockery, item list attached” instead of “various effects”. Identify appliances by model and condition. Photograph fragile items before packing and keep an inventory copy with you.

This working document helps prepare the official form. It also lets you compare transport quotations on the same basis and identify items that need a separate check.

6. Does customs relief remove every moving cost?

No. Relief from duties and taxes on eligible goods does not pay for your move. Request a quotation that separates:

• Packing, collection and international transport.
• Optional insurance and the scope of cover.
• Handling, terminal and documentation charges where applicable.
• Customs broker services.
• Final delivery and access to the property.
• Possible storage or waiting charges and when they begin.

Ask which services are included, which are excluded and what circumstances generate extra charges. This guide does not promise a universal price per cubic metre or a guaranteed clearance time: a quotation depends on your shipment and documentation.

7. Can you sell, give away or lend the goods afterwards?

The decree provides a three-year restriction on transferring or lending exempted goods, whether for payment or free of charge. The period runs from registration of the import declaration, or from the invoice date for local purchases. A transfer during this period requires regularisation and may trigger duties and taxes. Source: Articles 2 and 10.

Keep your customs file after delivery. Before selling an appliance or transferring a piece of furniture during the restricted period, contact the competent office about the applicable procedure.

8. Frequently asked questions

Must I import a car to obtain relief for my furniture?

The decree provides a distinct benefit for household effects. Assess that application against its own requirements, even if you are also importing a vehicle.

Can I buy some of my furniture in Tunisia?

The scheme includes local purchases through specified procedures and with supporting evidence. Check the supplier, foreign-currency funding and approval process before ordering. It is not an automatic refund on any retail purchase. Source: implementation note 041/2024, Part 2.

What if my belongings exceed the value limit?

Request an itemised assessment before dispatch. The competent office must determine the treatment of the goods and any excess value; do not apply an assumed flat rate to the balance yourself.

9. Prepare your move with STÉ EL JAZIRA TRANSIT

Our team assists with reviewing the applicable scheme, preparing the file and coordinating transport and customs clearance. For an initial assessment, provide your departure country, destination city, intended date and a description of the shipment's volume and contents.

Contact STÉ EL JAZIRA TRANSIT on +216 56 387 837 to prepare your file before shipping. The competent authorities decide whether to grant relief after reviewing the supporting evidence.

Official sources and verification date

• Decree No. 2024-370 of 19 June 2024, particularly Articles 2, 5, 6, 7 and 10.
• Customs implementation note No. 041/2024 of 21 June 2024.
• Tunisian Customs: permanent return, French guidance.
• Tunisian Customs: updated Arabic permanent-return guidance.

Documentary verification: 8 October 2026. The legislation dates are separate from this consultation date. Confirm how the rules apply to your circumstances before dispatch.