Security Guard Services in Tunisia

How to Become a Licensed Security Guard in Tunisia

In Tunisia, private guarding, cash transport and the physical protection of persons are governed by Law No. 2002-81 of August 3, 2002, as amended by Law No. 2008-14 of February 18, 2008, and are subject to prior authorization from the Minister of the Interior. The authorization is held by the company or the sole operator, not by the officer.

Competent authority: Ministry of the Interior (Ministère de l’Intérieur). It issues prior authorization to companies and receives the named list of officers the employer plans to hire. interieur.gov.tn

Requirements

• Tunisian nationality for at least five years (Law No. 2002-81, Art. 11)
• Enjoyment of civil and political rights and no final conviction for the listed offenses (including extortion by a public official, embezzlement, theft, fraud, falsification, forgery, breach of trust, organized crime or terrorism); judicial rehabilitation is accepted for other offenses (Art. 11 as amended in 2008)
• Known good conduct
• Minimum age of 20
• Completion of at least the ninth year of basic education, or an equivalent level
• Physical, mental and psychological fitness for the role
• Basic and continuing training delivered by instructors from the National Security (Sûreté nationale) schools, leading to a certificate of professional aptitude, under terms set by order of the Minister of the Interior
• Guarding and cash transport officers must wear a distinctive uniform that does not resemble official uniforms (a gray combat uniform set by the 2003 order), and all officers must carry a professional card issued by the employer following a model set by the minister

Application Steps

1. Apply to a security company holding an authorization from the Ministry of the Interior; the officer does not apply for a personal license
2. The employer checks the legal conditions (nationality, criminal record, conduct, age, education level, fitness)
3. The employer sends the Ministry of the Interior the named list of candidates to be hired, giving for each the name, date and place of birth, national identity card number, marital status, state of health, education level and address
4. Complete the basic training delivered by instructors from the National Security schools and obtain the certificate of professional aptitude
5. Receive the professional card and uniform from the employer, and be entered in the company’s personnel register, numbered and initialed by the Ministry of the Interior
6. Complete continuing training; a continuing training certificate for each officer is required when the company’s authorization is renewed

Agency Licensing

Prior authorization from the Minister of the Interior is mandatory, with a separate authorization for each branch. It is personal and may not be transferred, leased or sold. A single operator may not combine all activities, but the minister may authorize combining guarding with the physical protection of persons. The holder must have held Tunisian nationality for at least five years, have a clean criminal record and good conduct, be entered in the commercial register and carry out no other professional activity. Under Decree No. 2003-1090, the procedure has two stages: an agreement in principle within two months of filing the application (information form, certificate of non-bankruptcy, certificate of no prohibition from managing companies, articles of association, list of founders and managers, list of officers to be hired), then final approval by ministerial order within two months of filing the supporting documents (articles of association published in the Official Journal and in two daily newspapers, receipt for payment of fees, lease or title deed for the premises, tax identification number, commercial register extract, certificate of professional aptitude for each officer and a fire prevention certificate issued by the National Civil Protection Office (Office national de la protection civile)). The supporting documents must be filed within six months of the agreement in principle. Fees set in 2003: 2,000 dinars for guarding, 3,000 dinars for cash transport, 1,000 dinars for the physical protection of persons and 5,000 dinars for guarding combined with physical protection. Operating without authorization is punishable by imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 dinars, or either of these penalties.

The law does not provide for armed private security officers. Officers may not perform acts reserved for public authorities, such as crime prevention or pursuing offenders, and may not carry out searches, pat-downs or identity checks without consent. The use of physical force is prohibited, except in self-defense. Officers work only inside the premises or sites they guard, unless the ministry grants exceptional authorization for patrols on public roads. The loading, transport and unloading of cash, jewelry and precious metals take place under the protection and escort of state security units.

The authorization is valid for five years and renewable. The renewal file is filed with the Ministry of the Interior two months before expiry and includes the information form, a certificate of non-bankruptcy, a tax status certificate, a certified copy of the initial authorization, a fire prevention certificate, the list of officers and a continuing training certificate for each officer. The decision is issued within two months, and approval is conditional on presenting the receipt for payment of the renewal fees.

Sources

• Law No. 2002-81 of August 3, 2002 (consolidated text with 2008-14 amendments), legislation-securite.tn
• Decree No. 2003-1090 of May 13, 2003, legislation-securite.tn
• Order of the Minister of the Interior of June 11, 2003 (uniform), legislation-securite.tn

Regulations change. Confirm current rules with the competent official authority before taking any steps. This summary provides general information and is not legal advice. Last updated November 2026.