Tunisians Can Now Open Foreign Currency Accounts Without Central Bank Approval
The finance committees of the People's Representatives Assembly and the Council of Regions and Districts have approved, by a majority vote, an additional article in the 2025 Finance Law project, allowing Tunisian residents to open foreign currency accounts without prior authorization from the Central Bank.
This measure, adopted despite opposition from the Ministry of Finance, aims to simplify access to foreign currencies for citizens.
Maher Ketari, a member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, detailed this decision on Monday, November 18, 2024, during his intervention on Express FM. The article allows natural persons resident in Tunisia and of Tunisian nationality to open accounts with approved intermediaries.
These accounts can be funded by transfers from other foreign currency accounts or convertible dinar accounts, as well as by interest generated under certain conditions set by the Central Bank. Annual tourist allowance amounts can also be deposited into these accounts.
To prevent abuse and money laundering, it is strictly prohibited to deposit cash into these accounts. However, account holders will be able to use the funds to make payments abroad, withdraw foreign currencies for travel, or transfer amounts to other similar accounts, without requiring prior authorization.
These accounts must remain in credit, and the generated interest will be subject to a symbolic tax of 0.01%.
