Titre bleu in Djerba: understanding and checking the land title before you buy

Short answer: in Djerba, the “titre bleu” (blue title) is the land title of a property registered with the Land Registry (Conservation de la propriété foncière): it shows who owns the property, the boundaries of the plot and any charges (mortgages, easements). Before buying a villa or a plot of land, request a recent certificate of ownership, which the ONPF can issue online, and have it read by a Tunisian notary or lawyer. A property without a land title (“titre arabe”) carries more risk.

In brief

• Titre bleu = registered property with a land title; “titre arabe” = deed not entered in the register, riskier.
• Request a recent certificate of ownership before signing anything or paying any deposit.
• Read the registered owners, surface area, boundaries, mortgages, easements and other entries.
• Inherited property (joint ownership): every registered co-owner must sign.
• Land: check its designated use (certificate from the municipality) and the origin of the plot with the notary.
• Foreign buyer: the governor's authorisation comes on top of these checks.

By the MY VILLA RISE team, estate agency in Midoun (Djerba) — updated 6 November 2026.

What is the “titre bleu” in Djerba?

In Tunisia, there are two main situations. A registered property has a land title kept by the Land Registry (Conservation de la propriété foncière): this is what everyone, in Djerba and elsewhere, calls the “titre bleu”. An unregistered property relies on a deed that is not entered in that register: an old deed known as a “titre arabe”, a notarial deed or a private agreement that has not been registered.

The land title is, in a sense, the legal identity card of the property. It shows the registered owner or owners, the description and boundaries of the plot, and the charges attached to it: mortgages, easements and other entries. So when people search for “land for sale in Djerba with titre bleu”, they are really looking for a property whose situation is clear and verifiable.

It does not tell you whether the land can be built on, but it remains the first check, the one without which the others make little sense.

Titre bleu or titre arabe: what difference does it make to the buyer?

A property under “titre arabe” is not necessarily irregular: many of the island's old houses, menzels and houchs in particular, have a long family history. But for a buyer, the difference is very practical:

• Proof of ownership: titre bleu — the owner is entered in the register; titre arabe — the chain of deeds and inheritances has to be reconstructed.
• Charges: titre bleu — mortgages and easements appear on the title; titre arabe — they are harder to identify.
• Plot boundaries: titre bleu — described in the title; titre arabe — often described in old or imprecise terms.
• Future resale: titre bleu — a simpler file to present; titre arabe — you will pass the same uncertainty on to your own buyer.

If the property you like has no land title, sign nothing until a Tunisian notary or lawyer has analysed the deeds and told you whether regularisation is possible, and how long it might take. There is no general answer: every file is different. See also our article on renovating a menzel or houch in Djerba.

How do you obtain a recent certificate of ownership?

A copy of the title shown by the seller is not enough: it may be several years old. What you need is a recent certificate of ownership, reflecting the state of the register at the moment you commit.

1. Ask the seller for the land title number and the exact identity of all the owners.
2. Have the certificate requested: the National Land Registry Office (ONPF) offers the issue of the title or certificate of ownership online (procedure described on idaraty.tn, updated on 27 October 2026).
3. Check the date of the document: for e-Citoyen procedures, the original certificate of ownership is required with a validity of 3 months. An older document should be renewed.
4. Have it read by the notary or lawyer who will draw up the deed, chosen by you.

This certificate should be requested before any signature and before any deposit. That is often when a forgotten heir or an undischarged mortgage comes to light.

What should you read in the land title?

With your notary or lawyer, go through each section:

• Registered owners: do the names match exactly the people selling to you? How many are there?
• Surface area and boundaries: do they match what you visited? A wall, a well or part of the garden may lie outside the plot.
• Mortgages: if a loan is secured on the property, the notary must arrange how it will be repaid and the entry discharged.
• Easements: rights of way, pipes, views… they can restrict the use of the land or a future project.
• Other entries: any entry you do not understand should be explained to you in writing.

A good habit: compare the title with the property on site, plan in hand. If you live abroad, ask for a live video tour along the boundaries of the plot.

What happens if the property is jointly owned (inheritance)?

In Djerba, many houses and plots belong to several heirs. In that case, the rule is clear: every registered co-owner must sign the sale. A single heir cannot sell on their own.

In practice, ask for the full list of registered owners, check that each of them will be present or represented at the signing, and have the notary check any powers of attorney. If an heir lives abroad, allow time: their power of attorney must be drawn up in the proper form, which can take several weeks.

Land: how do you check the subdivision and the designated use?

For a plot of land, two checks come on top of reading the land title.

Does the plot have its own title?

Many plots on offer are parts of a larger parcel. A plot should in principle have its own title or come from an authorised subdivision. If you are offered “a piece” of a large plot, ask how the division was made and have the notary check it before you commit.

What is the land's designated use?

Land designated for agricultural use cannot be bought by foreigners. The designated use is checked with the certificate of land use (attestation de vocation d'un terrain), requested from the municipality (e-Citoyen procedure). If you plan to build, also look into the urban development plan (height, setbacks, footprint): our article on having your villa built in Djerba from abroad explains the next steps. For the rest of the process, read our guide to buying land in Djerba.

You are a foreigner: which extra checks apply?

A foreigner buying property in Tunisia must in principle obtain the prior authorisation of the governor — for Djerba, the governor of Medenine. This rule stems from the beylical decree of 4 June 1957; without this authorisation, the sale is exposed to being declared void. The process can take several months and is not guaranteed. Special regimes exist: your notary will check which one applies to you. Tunisians living abroad buy as Tunisians.

A clear land title makes every following step easier. The procedure is detailed in our article on buying in Djerba as a foreigner and the governor's authorisation.

What are the 10 points to check before signing?

1. The property is registered (titre bleu); if not, the deeds have been analysed by a notary or lawyer.
2. A recent certificate of ownership has been obtained.
3. The sellers are exactly the registered owners, with identity documents to prove it.
4. If jointly owned, all co-owners will sign or be validly represented.
5. The surface area and boundaries in the title match the property you visited.
6. Any mortgages will be discharged under arrangements set by the notary.
7. Easements are known and compatible with your plans.
8. For land: the plot has its own title or comes from an authorised subdivision (checked by the notary), and the certificate of land use has been obtained.
9. For a foreign buyer: the governor's authorisation is built into the timetable and into the signed documents.
10. No deposit without a written document, and payment through the bank, never in cash.

To recognise risky situations, also read our warning signs before buying in Djerba.

How can MY VILLA RISE help you?

MY VILLA RISE is an estate agency based on Route du Phare, in Midoun. We do not replace the notary or the lawyer: our role is to help you gather the documents from the seller, organise viewings on site or by video, and follow the timetable through to signing. You remain free to choose your own notary or lawyer.

• Browse our land for sale in Djerba.
• Discover, for example, this single-storey 3-bedroom villa in Tezdaine.
• If you are comparing several intermediaries, use our list of questions to ask an estate agency in Djerba.

Frequently asked questions

Does a titre bleu guarantee that the land can be built on?

No. The land title proves ownership and shows the charges, but it says nothing about the designated use of the land or planning rules. Request the certificate of land use from the municipality and look into the urban development plan.

Can you buy a property under “titre arabe” in Djerba?

It is not ruled out, but it is riskier, because ownership and charges are harder to establish. Only commit after a full analysis of the deeds by a Tunisian notary or lawyer.

How long is a certificate of ownership valid?

For e-Citoyen procedures, the original certificate of ownership is required with a validity of 3 months. In practice, request a recent certificate just before you commit.

Can a foreigner buy land with a titre bleu in Djerba?

In principle yes, with the prior authorisation of the governor of Medenine, provided the land is not designated for agricultural use. The notary checks the applicable regime and the authorisation before the sale.

Can you check the land title from abroad?

Yes. The certificate of ownership can be requested online from the ONPF, and your notary or lawyer can analyse it remotely. Add a live video tour of the property and its boundaries.

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

Sources: idaraty.tn — online issue of the title of ownership (ONPF); idaraty.tn — change of ownership (e-Citoyen); idaraty.tn — certificate of land use; Legal Doctrine — acquisition of property by foreigners.

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, or via the contact page.