Many Tunisians come to Spain with a skilled profile (engineering, healthcare, tech), to take a master’s degree or to join family. You need a visa, but Tunisia benefits from the apostille, a social security agreement and driving licence exchange. Here are the usual routes and how to prepare Tunisian documents.
Key facts
- Entry: Tunisian passport holders need a visa even for short Schengen stays. To live in Spain you need a national residence visa for a specific purpose.
- Citizenship: the general requirement is 10 years of legal, continuous residence. At the oath you must declare that you renounce Tunisian nationality (art. 24 of the Civil Code); its effect in Tunisia depends on Tunisian law. The CCSE and DELE A2 tests are required.
- Documents: Tunisia has applied the Hague Convention since 2018, so an apostille is enough. Documents in Arabic or French need a sworn translation.
- Driving: there is an exchange agreement. Once resident you can drive for six months on your Tunisian licence and exchange it without a test for cars and motorcycles, if you obtained it before becoming resident in Spain.
- Social security: the Spain–Tunisia agreement lets you combine contributions from both countries.
How people usually move
- Skilled work. With an offer from a Spanish company you can apply for the highly qualified professional permit or the EU Blue Card, processed by the Large Companies Unit (UGE). Highly qualified professional
- Employment. For other jobs, the employer applies for the permit in Spain and you then apply for the visa. Employment permit
- Studies. A master’s, PhD or vocational course with a study authorisation, which allows work up to 30 hours a week. Time as a student does not count towards citizenship. Study permit
- Family reunification. A relative legally resident in Spain can bring a spouse, children and, under conditions, parents after at least one year of residence with renewal obtained or applied for. Family reunification
- Family of a Spanish or EU citizen. Marriage or registered partnership with a Spanish or EU citizen. Family member of a Spanish or EU citizen
- Arraigo. If you already live in Spain, after 2 years of continuous stay and with no criminal record. The 2026 extraordinary regularisation closed on 30 June 2026. Arraigo
Documents and apostille
- Criminal record: bulletin n°3 from the Tunisian Ministry of the Interior, requested online. It usually has to be recent, apostilled and with a sworn translation; add one from any other country you lived in during the last 5 years.
- Apostille: in Tunisia it is issued by notaries designated by the Ministry of Justice, not by the consulate. Get it before translating and photocopying.
- Civil status records: birth extract and marriage certificate, recent, apostilled and translated.
- University degrees, apostilled; if you will work in a regulated profession (medicine, nursing, licensed engineering), start the recognition process in Spain early.
- Sworn translation into Spanish of every document in Arabic or French, by an authorised sworn translator.
What to keep in mind
- Visas are handled by the Embassy of Spain in Tunis. Applications are filed by appointment at the BLS International centre in Les Berges du Lac, in the capital.
- For a work or study visa, allow for the notarial apostille, translation and appointment: start several months ahead.
- A common mistake is an expired bulletin n°3 or an apostille added after translation. The order is document, apostille, then sworn translation.
- In Spain: register at the town hall (padrón) and, if you came with a residence visa, apply for your TIE within the first month.
Frequently asked questions
Who apostilles my documents in Tunisia?
Tunisian notaries designated by the Ministry of Justice are the competent authority for the apostille. The Spanish consulate plays no part in that step. Afterwards you will need a sworn translation into Spanish.
Do my years of contributions in Tunisia count in Spain?
Yes. Under the Spain–Tunisia social security agreement you can combine periods contributed in both countries to qualify for a pension; each country pays its own share.
Can I drive in Spain on my Tunisian licence?
Yes, for the first six months of residence. After that you must exchange it at the DGT: for cars and motorcycles there is no test, provided you obtained the licence before becoming resident in Spain.