Driving licence

I think by the time you get the residence paper, you should be required a Tunisian driving licence and or the international driving licence will not be allowed anymore

I'm in the exact same situation as you only I have lived in this country without a residence permit for more than 2 years and I'm supposed to get mine any moment now and the requirement is that you leave the country and re-enter within the last 12 months.

You can leave the country to go to Malta or Algeria then re-enter and make a scan of your driving license and passport from the page where there is the entry stamp and then go to the ATTT and hand them either driving license.

The official requirements are rather difficult to satisfy for most people as you must have not been in the country for more than 12 months since your last entry, but even if you received your driving license (miraculously) today after having been in the country for 2 years without leaving and then you leave the country and come back with your second residence permit since you have moved to Tunisia, you will be able to exchange this driving license... but if you have a British driving license that you obtained many years ago and you have been in the country for 2 years and only now have a residence permit (without which you will not be able to get a Tunisian driving license, although you will be able to register a car to your name and address in Tunisia for use on a holiday!) then you will not be able to exchange your driving license.

The cost of the exchange is 30 dinars. Send me a message if you have any questions!

Hi.

I know how difficult it is in Tunisie, in everything from the residence paper to driving licence to ext....
I have been waiting for my residence paper for more than 5 months, why ???? No one know.

And as for the driving licence, normally there is something called International Driving Licence, can take it from your country apart of the normal driving licence but with the same licenced information and can be used only outside you country too, mostly it's issued for 1 year only.
You can use it in any country you're travelling to  as long as your Visa is Valid with the Passport too to prove your ID information.
And this (international driving licence) will be unacceptable only when you got your residence permit, then you're required to get a (Tunisian Driving Licence).

hano_m wrote:

Hi.

I know how difficult it is in Tunisie, in everything from the residence paper to driving licence to ext....
I have been waiting for my residence paper for more than 5 months, why ???? No one know.

And as for the driving licence, normally there is something called International Driving Licence, can take it from your country apart of the normal driving licence but with the same licenced information and can be used only outside you country too, mostly it's issued for 1 year only.
You can use it in any country you're travelling to  as long as your Visa is Valid with the Passport too to prove your ID information.
And this (international driving licence) will be unacceptable only when you got your residence permit, then you're required to get a (Tunisian Driving Licence).

I, too, have been waiting for 5 months to get my residence permit, and I've been told it might take at least 6 - even though the lawyer swore it'd take 1-3 months. I am happy to know that the secret service didn't find something wrong with me in particular - don't forget that the Tunisian SS researches every residence permit applicant thourougly and monitors him or her for a few months before issuing them a residence permit.

The person who wrote the post said that their British license has, or soon will, expire. You do not need an IDP in Tunisia - one is never asked of drivers, and it will make much more sense to exchange it for a current, valid Tunisian driving license, and then renew it if/when she returns to the UK, with her up-to-date address.

If she is interested, I can walk her through the process, my inbox is open

Hi.

I am a Lebanese, and  been Travelling for many countries before, and don't know if my case works for her/him.
Normally the overseas driving licence ( called International D. L. issued only for 1 year), is required for any other countries but not your home country, where it is a normal driving licence issued for ( 10 years or 25 years).
And normally the overseas D. L. Agreement is to be used in the foreign counties long as you're a Visa holder, (1 year).
but the time you get the residence paper you are required to get a D. L. from  the host country, you can request to exchange with the same benefits.
For ex:
I have a driving licence in Lebanon for 10 years. ( private, public and companies)
Driving Licence from International Use only ( used outside the Lebanese territory)
Driving licence in Guinea for long term.

Waiting for my residence paper in Tunisie, to request a Tunisian D. L. Hopefully this 2 weeks.
😊

Normally:
The papers required.
A copy of the residence paper.
A copy of any valid driving licence.
With the normal request order for a Tunisian D. L.

You forgot the 30 TND fee and the scan of your passport and the page with the entry stamp - you must have not been in the country for more than 12 months. For example, let us assume that it takes 13 months for you to get a residence permit and you've been in TN for that long, you must (with your newly-issued bitaqat iqama) leave Tunisia (to Algeria/Libya or elsewhere) and then turn around and come back. The law isnt flexible and is very stubborn: you must be a resident AND not have been in Tunisia, regardless of your status (legal/illegal) for more than 12 months since your last entry.

I'd be interested in a Lebanese DL, if you could make me one without me becoming a resident of Lebanon

😂😂😂😂

Stubborn yes that's true, but normally if i have to leave Tunisie, i will not come back, 😊
I have came because my wife is Tunisian/Lebanese and my daughter too.
The situation in Lebanon these days are like hell. Never thought that will suffer here too.
Willing to travel anywhere to get a good job.
After the Corona Pandemic 😞 all the countries are falling apart.
30 DT is nothing my friend in Lebanon you have to pay 100 $ with driving test 😂😂😂

Thanks for the reply. What is IDP? 

I will not be able to renew my UK driving licence unless I go back there and establish residency, which legally speaking means living there  for 6 months and a day within a tax year (April to April) and declaring my world wide income for tax purposes. (although I have read posts about this and some say they have done it using a friend or relative's address - a bit risky though as there could be cross referencing with HMGov vis a vis tax information).

I DO have a uae licence however, valid till 2023, as that was the last country I lived in. Apparently you can exchange this for a Tunisian one, but it has to be accompanied by an official letter of authenticity from the issuing authority. Right now, it is now almost impossible to go to Abu Dhabi (where it was issued) because of Covid. However, someone told me that the licensing dept here can contact the overseas issuer for this authentication. Will investigate further.

Hi helensou.

Don't listen to anybody, trust what you see.

As long as you have your residenc paper in Tunisie, and have any driving licence (a Valid date). Hit the road and try you shoot.
Get this copied and go to do the request form.
I advise you to check the (driving, training cars people) they do fill the roads , in your area to show you where to do the Dr Lic exchange office, and try your shoot.
That's what i am going to do, i have a lot training car in my street, will ask them and tell you as long as i got a logical answer. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Hi Helen.

I have just stopped a (Driving Learning Car) and asked him:
As long as your residenc paper are ready you'll be treated like a Tunisian Resident in low.
1 copy of your residenc paper in Tunisie.
2 copy of your Passport.
3 copy of your (any Valid Driving licence)
4 photos (4).
5 the private office (Driving Learning Office) will do a small driving test just to follow a driving confirmation form.

And he (the office) will get you your Tunisian Driving Licence.
😊😊😊
He didn't know how much it cost cause i have to ask the office. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Your efforts are much appreciated. However, I don't think you have to do a driving test.

helensou wrote:

Your efforts are much appreciated. However, I don't think you have to do a driving test.

I don't think that a Tunisian who cannot write a comprehensible sentence in English is better versed in matters pertaining to getting a residence permit/driving license than someone who has a) gone/will go through this in the immediate past/future and b) specialises in tax residency planning/document aquisition and does this sort of thing for a living - but feel free to ignore my advice

You need to be in the country for less than 12 months since your last entry: you will need to go to Algeria, Libya, Malta, Lebanon or planet Mars and then return in order to be able to exchange your license. The date on which you lodged your request for residency, and when you actually recieved it has no relevance. The rules on exchanging foreign driving licenses do not foresee/take into consideration the possibility of it taking close to a year to get a residence permit.

The fact that your license from the UK is expired may be overlooked, but YMMV. You do not need to be a tax resident of the UK (assuming you have British citizenship! Key detail) to have a Provisional/full Driving License issued to you, and sent to your last known address in the UK. HMRC and the DVLA are two separate government bodies.

I have sent you my contact details, should you need further assistance/clarification

I have a residence permit as I am married to a Tunisian. Re previous UK address, I haven't lived in there for over 40 years - most of this time I/we lived in the Middle East. My son said he converted his UAE licence to a Tunisian one with no problem - but maybe that's because he has a Tunisian passport, which I don't.