A Filmmaker’s Guide
to Shooting in Tunisia
Our company works with local professionals to make sure you
are getting the right help throughout media production.
Permits in Tunisia: What You Need to Know
The steps to get a film permit allowing you to shoot in public areas throughout Tunisia are time-consuming but straightforward. The first step is to email the Tunisian Embassy in your own country detailing everything about your video project include locations and filming dates. If you are a journalist embarking on a news or documentary story, you will need to attach your editor’s letter of assignment.
The global interest in Sub-Saharan migration is a particularly sensitive subject, and if this is the focus of your news piece, it’s likely your permits will be rejected. It’s a good idea to discuss the contents of your application with your local production support company before you send it to the embassy.
Once the embassy has sent the documents to Tunisia, your local fixer will take over to ensure the process continues. Overall, it can take anywhere between two weeks and two months for your permit request to be evaluated and given the go-ahead.
Timing Your Tunisia Film Production around the Weather
As a primarily Mediterranean country, you can expect warm, dry days throughout the year in Tunisia. In fact, this North African country is known to have approximately 3,000 hours of sunshine annually. The optimal time for shooting your video is spring or autumnwhere average highs are 19-20°C. Summers can get exceedingly hot, with areas of the Sahara Desert in the south often climbing to 50°C and beyond.
Winter, which lasts from December to February, can be quite cold in the Kroumirie mountain range in the northeast of the country, though generally mild elsewhere.
Planning Filming Equipment Rental & Local Crew Logistics
If you want to bring your own film equipment with you and use the ATA carnet to move it easily through customs, you can. However, be aware that you cannot include drones or radio mics as part of your kit. You can rent these and other gear if you don’t have your own, cheaply in Tunisia.
You can also hire professional, experienced crew members in Tunis and other towns. English is widely spoken here, so having a crew fluent in English will not be more expensive than a wholly Arabic-speaking team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it an ATA carnet country?
Yes, it is.
Is it safe for me and my team to film there?
Yes.
Do I need a visa or a work visa to film there?
If you are coming from Europe, Australia, or the United States, you do not need a work visa. Other nationalities will need to apply for a work visa, which kicks off once your local production partner in Tunisia sends you a letter of invitation to film here.
Do I need a local company to film or get visas there?
Only if you have to get a work visa.
Do I need a permit for drones?
Yes. It is a complicated procedure that can take up to three months, so give yourself ample time to ensure you have everything organised before filming begins.
Is there a cash rebate/tax exemption or any other fiscal advantage?
There is a cash rebate available for very big international projects. If your project is relatively small, it is probably not worth your time applying.
Can I shoot in a national park and, if so, under what circumstances?
Yes, if you’ve noted that location in your permit application.
Working with Fixer Tunisia
We’ve been working as a professional film fixer for a long time in Tunisia, but our five-year relationship with global production support agency Storytailors has helped us grow our services exponentially over the last half a decade.
In that time, we’ve provided support including equipment rental, crew hire, field production, research, location scouting, permit applications, transport, drone operation, translation services, and full logistics on a wide range of international productions in Tunisia and the African continent. Top Storytailors clients include Puma, BMW Group, Al Jazeera, the BBC, and Google.