If you’re travelling to Tunisia, there’s one rule that catches a lot of people out: you cannot freely take Tunisian currency (the dinar) in or out of the country.
This isn’t a small technicality either — it’s strictly enforced, including at the airport. Understanding how it works before you travel can save you stress, delays and even financial penalties.
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What Is the Tunisian Currency?
The official currency is the Tunisian dinar (TND). It is a closed currency, which means it cannot legally be imported or exported.
Unlike euros or dollars, you won’t be able to buy Tunisian dinar before you arrive, and you are not allowed to take it home with you.
Bringing Money Into Tunisia
You cannot bring Tunisian dinar into the country.
Instead, you should bring foreign currency such as pounds, euros or US dollars and exchange it once you arrive. This can be done at:
- Airport exchange counters
- Banks
- Hotels (often at slightly worse rates)
If you are bringing in a large amount of foreign currency (typically the equivalent of 5,000 TND or more), you should declare it on arrival. This declaration is important if you plan to exchange it and later convert it back when leaving.
At the time of posting, these are the equivalents of 5000 Tunisian Dinar in GBP, Euro and USD.
| Tunisian Dinar | British Pound | Euro | US Dollar |
| 5000 | 1273.60 | 1473.93 | 1711.74 |
Taking Tunisian Dinar Out of Tunisia
This is where many travellers get caught out.
You are not allowed to take Tunisian dinar out of Tunisia. Not even small amounts as souvenirs.
At the airport, security and customs officers may check your wallet, bags or hand luggage. If they find dinars, they can confiscate them.
In many cases:
- The money is taken from you
- You are given a receipt which details how much money you handed in to officials
- If you return to Tunisia in the future, you may be able to reclaim it at the airport using that receipt
However, this is not guaranteed to be straightforward, and many travellers never reclaim it. The receipt also has a time limit in which you can collect it, and it seems that you can only collect the money from the same airport you handed it in at.
What Happens If You Try to Take Money Out?
For small amounts, the usual outcome is confiscation.
For larger amounts or if it appears deliberate, you could face:
- Fines
- Delays at the airport
- Questioning by customs officials
Tunisia takes currency control seriously, so it’s not something to risk.
How to Avoid Losing Money
The key is to plan ahead before you leave the country.
Before heading to the airport:
- Spend any remaining dinars
- Exchange them back into foreign currency at an authorised exchange office
- Keep your exchange receipts — you may need them to convert money back
You usually need proof (receipts) showing where and how you exchanged your money in the first place.
Important tips:
- Exchange offices at the airport can convert leftover dinars back, but queues can be long
- Rates may not be ideal, but it’s better than losing the money completely
- Don’t leave this until the last minute
Can You Use Cards Instead?
Yes — and this is often the easiest way to avoid leftover cash.
In tourist areas, hotels, larger restaurants and some shops accept card payments. However, cash is still widely used, especially in smaller towns, الأسواق (markets) and taxis.
To order food we often used the Glovo app in Yasmine Hammamet, Tunisia. This allowed us to use cards instead of cash. I booked our airport taxi online using a website for the transfer company, again allowing me to pay by cash.
A balanced approach works best:
- Use card where possible
- Withdraw or exchange smaller amounts of cash as needed
I would recommend getting a bank that allows you to hold multiple currencies for when you travel. I like to use Wise, previously known as Transferwise. The app allows you to hold multiple currencies and monitor spending in real time. If you want to explore it, you can use my Wise referral link: Wise referral
Otherwise, any other credit card or debit card should be okay but do remember to tell your bank that you plan to travel to avoid card blockages.
Earn travel rewards on your spends: Credit Cards with travel rewards for Brits
Quick Summary
- You cannot bring Tunisian dinar into Tunisia
- You cannot take Tunisian dinar out of Tunisia
- Any dinars found at the airport may be confiscated
- Tunisian dinar will be confiscated before you can shop in Duty Free
- You may receive a receipt to reclaim the money if you return
- Larger amounts could result in fines or delays
- Always exchange leftover dinars before leaving
This is one of those rules that feels easy to ignore — until you’re standing at airport security having money taken out of your wallet. The security team ask literally everyone if they have any Tunisian money on them before they head to security to have bags scanned, so you cannot skip being asked.
If you treat Tunisian dinar as “use it or exchange it before you leave,” you’ll avoid any issues and keep your trip stress-free right to the end.
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