Selling your house or villa in Djerba when you live abroad

Short answer: yes, you can sell your house or villa in Djerba while living abroad. You need to prepare the file (land title, recent certificate of ownership, building permit, currency exchange records from your purchase), set a realistic price based on comparable sales and arrange to be represented through a power of attorney. Allow extra time if the buyer is a foreigner (governor's authorisation) and have the tax position checked by a Tunisian chartered accountant.

In brief

• Gather the land title, a recent certificate of ownership, permit, plans and receipts now.
• The exchange records from your purchase are used to request the transfer of the sale price abroad.
• The price is set from comparable sales, not from a wish.
• Sign a written sales mandate; the power of attorney is drawn up by a notary or at the consulate.
• Foreign buyer: governor's authorisation, sometimes several months.
• Capital gains are in principle taxable in Tunisia: have this confirmed by a chartered accountant.

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

Can you sell your property in Djerba without being there?

Yes, and it is a common situation: many villa owners in Djerba live in France, Belgium, Germany, Canada or elsewhere and cannot travel for every viewing. A remote sale simply needs more organisation. Three things make the difference: a complete file from the outset, a reliable contact on site for viewings, and legal representation arranged early enough for the signing.

The timetable depends mainly on two factors you do not fully control: the buyer's profile (Tunisian or foreign) and how quickly each document can be obtained. So it is best to start with the paperwork, even before publishing a listing.

Which documents should you prepare before putting the property on the market?

A serious buyer, and above all their notary, will quickly ask for the following. Gathering them in advance saves weeks of waiting:

• The land title and a recent certificate of ownership: the National Land Registry Office (ONPF) issues it online. For e-Citoyen procedures, the original is required with a validity of 3 months. Our article on the titre bleu and checking the land title explains what the buyer will read in it.
• The building permit and plans: if the villa was built or extended, keep the permit issued by the municipality and the architect's plans. Your notary will tell you which compliance documents are required in your case.
• Receipts and bills: local taxes, STEG, SONEDE, ONAS. A reassured buyer negotiates more calmly.
• Your purchase deed: it shows the property's history and will be useful to your accountant for the capital gain.
• The exchange records from your purchase: if you are a non-resident and bought with foreign currency imported and converted by a Tunisian bank, these documents are essential to request the later transfer of the sale proceeds.

If the property is jointly owned, for example after an inheritance, every registered co-owner will have to sign: identify them now and check that they agree.

How do you set a realistic price?

Price is the main reason sales drag on. A price that is too high puts buyers off during the first weeks, when a listing attracts the most attention, and later forces a reduction in poor conditions.

1. Start from comparable sales: properties of the same type, in the same area (Midoun, Tezdaine, Houmt Souk, Aghir…), of similar size and condition. Asking prices in listings are not sale prices.
2. Take the real condition into account: a pool to renovate, waterproofing, joinery, incomplete paperwork all weigh in the negotiation.
3. Separate sentimental value from market value: what you have put in, or what the house means to your family, is not always reflected in the price.
4. Ask for a reasoned valuation: a serious agency should be able to explain its valuation with concrete examples, not quote a flattering figure to win the mandate.

Should you sign a sales mandate, and with whom?

Yes, a written sales mandate protects both parties. It specifies the property, the asking price, the duration, the agency's fee and who pays it, and what the agency undertakes to do (photos, advertising, viewings, reports). Avoid verbal agreements, especially from a distance: if there is a disagreement, nobody can prove what was agreed.

Before entrusting your property, check who you are dealing with: in Tunisia, working as an estate agent is regulated, but many intermediaries operate without approval. Our list of questions to ask when choosing an estate agency in Djerba will help you sort them out.

How do you handle viewings and signing from abroad?

For viewings, the key is to have a trusted person on site who holds the keys and knows the property. Recent, bright photos, a video tour and a clean, well-kept property (garden, pool) make a real difference. If your villa is already looked after by a manager, viewings are easier to organise; our article on managing a villa in Djerba from abroad explains how.

For the signing, you can travel to Tunisia or be represented. The power of attorney should be drawn up by a notary or at the consulate; ask the notary handling the sale exactly what it must contain (power to sign, to receive the price, to deal with the bank). Arrange this document several weeks in advance.

What changes if the buyer is a foreigner?

If your buyer is a foreigner, they must in principle obtain the prior authorisation of the governor (for Djerba, the governor of Medenine), under the beylical decree of 4 June 1957. Without it, the sale is exposed to being declared void. This can take several months and is not guaranteed; the notary checks the applicable regime. A Tunisian buyer, including a Tunisian living abroad, is not affected.

In practice, the timetable, the conditions and what happens to the deposit during the wait must be written into the preliminary contract drafted by a professional. Full details are in our article on buying as a foreigner and the governor's authorisation.

How is the sale taxed, and how do you avoid double taxation?

The capital gain made on the sale of a property in Tunisia is in principle taxable in Tunisia. The specialist press (Tunisie Numérique, June 2026) reports a rate of 15% on the net capital gain for individuals, and a withholding tax of 2.5% of the sale price in some cases, which is a payment on account credited against the final tax.

The tax treaties signed by Tunisia (with France, Belgium, Germany, Canada…) in principle prevent double taxation, but you must also declare the sale in your country of residence. The exact regime depends on how long you have owned the property, your supporting documents and your situation: have it confirmed by a Tunisian chartered accountant or tax adviser before setting your net price. For the buyer's costs, see our article on property purchase costs in Tunisia.

How do you transfer the sale price abroad?

For a non-resident, the purchase will normally have been financed with foreign currency imported and converted by a Tunisian bank (authorised intermediary), which issued exchange records. These records are what you use to request the transfer abroad of the resale proceeds. The rules are based on Law No. 76-18 of 21 January 1976 and Central Bank of Tunisia circular No. 2018-14; a reform of the foreign exchange code is under discussion but not in force.

• Find and keep all the records from your purchase.
• Contact your Tunisian bank before the signing to find out which documents it requires.
• If documents are missing, raise it with your bank and notary now, not on the day of the sale.

Details are in our article on paying in foreign currency and repatriation.

How can MY VILLA RISE help you?

MY VILLA RISE is an estate agency based on Route du Phare, in Midoun. For owners living abroad, we can value your property using comparables, prepare the list of documents with you, take the photos, organise viewings on site or by video and keep you informed at every stage. The notary, lawyer and accountant remain your own advisers, chosen by you.

• Tell us about your project on our sell your property in Djerba page.
• See how we present our properties for sale in Djerba, for example this 3-bedroom house in Fatou.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to travel to Tunisia to sell my villa in Djerba?

Not necessarily. You can be represented through a power of attorney drawn up by a notary or at the consulate. Ask the notary handling the sale exactly what this document must contain.

How long does it take to sell to a foreign buyer?

You need to add the time for the governor's authorisation, which can take several months and is not guaranteed. The preliminary contract should provide for this delay and its consequences.

What if I have lost my exchange records?

Contact your Tunisian bank and your notary before putting the property on the market. These documents are used to request the transfer of the price abroad; it is better to find out early what options exist in your case.

Will I pay tax in Tunisia and in my own country?

The capital gain is in principle taxable in Tunisia, and tax treaties in principle prevent double taxation; you must also declare the sale in your own country. Have your situation confirmed by a Tunisian chartered accountant or tax adviser.

Can I sell a property I inherited with my brothers and sisters?

Yes, provided every co-owner registered on the land title signs the sale, in person or through a power of attorney. First check that the inheritance has been registered and that everyone agrees.

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

Sources: Tunisie Numérique — selling a property when living abroad (June 2026); WMC — BCT circular No. 2018-14; idaraty.tn — online issue of the title of ownership; Legal Doctrine — acquisition by foreigners; La Presse — estate agents (October 2025).

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.