Paying for your property from abroad: currency, bank, repatriation

Do you live in the UK, France, Germany or Canada and are you buying a villa or a plot of land in Djerba? How you pay matters as much as the price. For a non-resident foreign buyer, payment falls under Tunisian foreign exchange regulations, and the documents your bank gives you at purchase will be invaluable the day you sell. Here is how it works in practice.

Why does the payment method matter so much for a non-resident?

In Tunisia, a property purchase by a non-resident foreigner is not only a matter of property law (with the governor's authorisation, explained in Buying in Djerba as a foreigner). It also falls under foreign exchange regulations: Law no. 76-18 of 21 January 1976, Decree no. 77-608 (Article 20) and Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) circular no. 2018-14 of 26 December 2018.

The key principle: your purchase must be funded with foreign currency brought into Tunisia and converted into dinars by a Tunisian bank. This traceability protects you, both now and when you sell.

How does payment in foreign currency work in practice?

1. Choosing a Tunisian bank: the transaction goes through an approved bank, known as an "authorised intermediary". It will tell you which type of account suits your situation and which documents are required.
2. The transfer from your bank abroad: you send the funds in pounds, euros, Swiss francs, Canadian dollars or another currency to the Tunisian bank.
3. Conversion into dinars: the bank converts the currency into Tunisian dinars and issues the supporting documents (exchange certificate or exchange notice).
4. Declaration to the BCT: the transaction is declared to the Central Bank of Tunisia, within the framework set by the regulations.
5. Paying the seller: this takes place on the terms set by your notary or lawyer, in connection with the signing of the deed.

The exact timetable (when to transfer, when to pay, what happens to the funds if the governor's authorisation is delayed) must be arranged with your notary and your bank before any transfer.

Which documents should you keep, and why?

Keep every exchange document: transfer advices, exchange certificates or notices, bank statements, as well as the deed of sale and receipts. Make digital and paper copies, filed together.

These documents are not just for the purchase. They are what will later allow you to request the transfer abroad of the net proceeds of a resale, after the required formalities. A lost document can seriously complicate that process.

Good habit: a single "Djerba" file containing the deed, the land title, all exchange notices and bank statements, in chronological order.

Can you pay in cash or hand to hand?

No, avoid this at all costs. Never pay in cash without a deed, and never pay a deposit without a written preliminary sale agreement drafted by a professional. Cash leaves no bank trail: you will be unable to prove where the funds came from or rely on exchange documents for a future transfer. Be wary of any request to pay into a foreign account in a third party's name, or to pay "to reserve" without a document.

Likewise, keep full consistency between the price in the deed and the sums transferred: do not accept an understated price in the deed. We explain why in Fees, taxes and hidden costs of buying property in Tunisia.

Can you get your money back if you sell?

The exchange documents issued at purchase allow you to request the transfer abroad of the net proceeds of a resale, after the formalities. That is precisely why paying in foreign currency through the bank is essential. The taxation of the resale and the details of the formalities depend on your situation: review them with a Tunisian notary and accountant before putting the property on the market.

What about rent if you let your villa?

Rental income from a property in Tunisia is taxable in Tunisia (annual return). The regime depends on how you let: an accountant will advise you. If you are tax resident in France, the France–Tunisia tax treaty applies and this income must also be declared in France (form 2047): check with your tax office; residents of other countries should ask their own tax adviser. For transferring rent abroad, ask your bank. If you entrust your property to our property management service, we send you clear statements that help with these formalities.

Can a foreigner get a mortgage in Tunisia?

With great difficulty. A non-resident foreigner rarely obtains a mortgage from a Tunisian bank. Most buyers fund their purchase with money from abroad: own funds or a loan taken out in their home country. Check with your bank, and include transfer and exchange charges in your budget.

Does the foreign exchange code reform change anything?

A reform of the foreign exchange code is under discussion in Tunisia (2025–2026). As of this article, it is a draft: the current rules apply to your purchase. If a new text comes into force, your bank and notary will tell you what changes. Do not make any decision based on an announced reform.

How should you organise your payment, step by step?

• before any transfer, have your notary or lawyer approve the payment timetable;
• open a relationship with a Tunisian bank and ask for its list of documents and charges;
• transfer funds from an account in your own name and always ask for the exchange documents;
• check that the amounts transferred match the price in the deed and the costs;
• archive everything, for the purchase and for any future sale.

To find a property, browse our properties for sale in Djerba; for a villa project on a plot, discover our construction management. MY VILLA RISE coordinates exchanges between you, the seller and the notary, but does not handle funds in place of the bank.

This information is general and dated November 2026; rules change: have your case confirmed by a Tunisian notary or lawyer.

Frequently asked questions

Do you have to pay in foreign currency?

For a non-resident foreigner, the property is paid for with foreign currency brought in and converted into dinars by a Tunisian bank. This is what gives you the exchange documents.

What is an exchange notice?

It is the document issued by the Tunisian bank certifying the conversion of your currency into dinars. Keep it safe.

Can you repatriate the money from a resale?

The exchange documents allow you to request the transfer of the net proceeds of a resale, after the formalities. Get support from a notary.

Is the foreign exchange code reform in force?

No, it is under discussion as of this article. The current rules apply.

Can you borrow from a Tunisian bank?

It is very difficult for a non-resident. Most buyers fund the purchase from abroad.

Sources: BCT circular no. 2018-14 on foreign currency investments by non-residents (text published by Webmanagercenter); Legal Doctrine, "L'acquisition d'un bien immobilier par les étrangers en Tunisie" (April 2024); official portal idaraty.tn.

A question about your project? Contact the MY VILLA RISE front desk on +216 99 573 082 (phone and WhatsApp) or at contact@myvillarise.com.