Based in or relocating to Tunis? Request a licensed residential security assessment.
Tunis residential security is calibrated to Tunisia’s medium-risk profile and specific terrorism context: licensed operators delivering property surveys, domestic staff vetting, terrorism soft-target assessment, and residential zone guidance for expatriate and HNWI families in Les Berges du Lac, La Marsa, and Carthage.
The residential environment in Tunis
Tunis has a comparatively manageable residential security environment for North Africa, with an active private security sector, functioning civil identity registry, and a coastal residential corridor that provides the best available infrastructure and services. The documented terrorism risk, rooted in Tunisia’s attack history and the ongoing Libya border situation, is the primary residential security consideration that distinguishes Tunis from lower-risk Mediterranean capitals.
Private security in Tunisia needs an authorisation under Law No. 2002-81 of 3 August 2002, so ask each provider for its authorisation and the issuing authority.
What residential security covers in Tunis
A Tunis residential security programme includes a written property security survey for Les Berges du Lac, La Marsa, or Carthage accommodation, licensed guard deployment where required, domestic staff vetting through the national identity and Ministry background check process, and a terrorism soft-target assessment for the international venues in the principal’s regular routine.
For the full Tunis security picture, see our Tunis city briefing. For principals requiring personal close protection, close protection officers in Tunis covers the licensed CPO programme.
What does this cover in Tunis?
Licensed Operators
Private security in Tunisia, including the physical protection of persons, needs an authorisation under Law No. 2002-81 of 3 August 2002, and working without one is an offence (Article 32). Ask any provider for its licence and the issuing authority, and take local legal advice before engagement. All our Tunis residential security partners show current licence documents before deployment.
Les Berges du Lac and La Marsa Zone Assessment
Les Berges du Lac (Lac 1 and Lac 2), La Marsa, Gammarth, and Carthage are the primary zones for senior expatriate, diplomatic, and HNWI residential accommodation in Tunis. A written property security assessment for these zones covers apartment building or villa access control, CCTV placement and blind spots, perimeter assessment for villa properties, domestic staff access management, and vehicle parking security. Les Berges du Lac 2 properties in particular have grown rapidly; building management quality varies and specific assessment is valuable.
Terrorism Context and Soft-Target Assessment
Tunisia has experienced significant terrorist attacks including the March 2015 Bardo National Museum attack (22 killed) and the June 2015 Sousse beach resort attack (38 killed). FCDO maintains a high terrorism warning for Tunisia and advises particular vigilance around tourist and hospitality venues. Residential security planning in Tunis includes an assessment of the soft-target profile of international hotels, restaurants, and leisure venues in the principal's regular routine, and a standing brief on the current threat picture from FCDO and the US State Department. Source: FCDO Tunisia travel advice, 2025.
Domestic Staff Vetting
Domestic staff vetting in Tunis uses Tunisia's Carte d'Identite Nationale system for identity verification, a Ministry of Interior criminal background check through an established local vetting agency, and employment references with previous Tunis employers. Tunisia has a functioning civil identity registry. For household staff with access to the property when the principal is absent, the vetting process is the primary insider-access control measure.
Border Area and Regional Awareness
Tunisia borders Libya to the east and Algeria to the west. The Libyan border region (Ben Gardane, Djerba-adjacent) has seen documented terrorist activity and cross-border movement by armed groups. Residential security planning for Tunis includes a standing brief on the Libya border situation as it affects national threat level, but the primary residential zone is the Tunis coastal corridor (La Marsa, Carthage, Les Berges du Lac) which is several hundred kilometres from the border area.
Sources for this page
Licensing, firearms and foreign-operator rules for Tunis, checked : Journal Officiel de la République Tunisienne No. 16 of 22 February 2008, pages 781 to 782: the law of 18 February 2008 amending Law No. 2002-81 of 3 August 2002 (new Articles 30 and 32; Article 4 repeals Articles 21 to 25), FAOLEX copy; UN Human Rights Council, Working Group on the use of mercenaries, A/HRC/27/50 (2014), paragraphs 20, 25 and 34: Tunisia's private security law and licensing by the ministry responsible for internal security. The full rules are on our Tunis security overview.
Travel advice quoted on this page: FCDO travel advice: Tunisia; US State Department travel advisory: Tunisia. Advice changes; read the current version before travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What terrorism-awareness considerations apply to Tunis residential clients?
Which Tunis zones are appropriate for expatriate residential accommodation?
What licensing must a Tunis residential security company hold?
What are the primary residential security concerns in Tunis for HNWI families?
This page is published by CloseProtectionHire.com and written to editorial standards overseen by James Calloway, Senior Security Consultant (regulation, licensing, vetting and risk frameworks) and Marcus Webb, Security Operations Adviser (operational close protection, secure transport and city-specific safety).
Threat, regulatory and emergency information is sourced to named, dated authorities such as the FCDO, the US State Department and national licensing bodies. Last updated . See how we verify.