Before you start

Resident status in Tunisia — a carte de séjour or equivalent
A valid foreign licence, not suspended, restricted or withdrawn
An official translation into Arabic or French if it is in another language
Evidence of your last entry into Tunisian territory

Step-by-step

1
Note the date of your last entry, because the clock runs from it
The transformation request must be submitted within a year of your most recent arrival in Tunisia, and the file requires a document proving that date. This is a different rule from most countries' and it means a trip home mid-process changes the reference date.
In personWho: YouWithin 1 year of last entry
2
Get the licence translated officially if needed
Two photocopies of the foreign licence plus an official translation where it is not in Arabic or French. A private translation is not the same thing — use a sworn translator.
In personWho: You
3
Complete the ATTT transformation form
The agency provides its own 'demande de transformation de permis de conduire étranger' form. Submit with the residence card copy, the licence copies and the entry evidence.
In personWho: You
4
Live on a rail line before deciding you need a car
The TGM runs from Tunis Marine to La Marsa through Carthage and Sidi Bou Said, the métro léger covers the city and inner suburbs, and the RFR lines have opened progressively since 2023. If you live along one of them, a car in Tunis is a convenience rather than a necessity.
In personWho: You
5
Learn how taxis and louages actually work
Yellow city taxis are metered — insist on the compteur, and note that the night tariff is legitimately higher and shown on the meter. Louages, the shared inter-city minibuses, leave when full from fixed stations and are the cheapest way to reach anywhere in the country.
In personWho: You
6
If you import a car, get advice before you ship it
Vehicle importation by foreign residents is governed by customs rules with conditions attached to residence status and to how long the vehicle has been owned. It is not a straightforward matter and the cost of getting it wrong is a vehicle stuck at the port. Take specific advice rather than following an expatriate forum.
In personWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Original foreign driving licence plus two photocopies
Official translation, where required
Copy of the carte de séjour or equivalent residence document
Document proving the date of your last entry into Tunisia
ATTT transformation form and identity photographs

Things most newcomers don’t know

The conversion deadline runs from your last entry into Tunisia, not from when you became resident.

The ATTT requires the transformation request within one year of your most recent arrival, and asks for evidence of that date. It is an unusual formulation and it has a practical consequence: someone who has been here three years but travels regularly is being measured against their last landing, not their first. Read the requirement carefully before assuming either that you are out of time or that you have plenty.

Source: ATTT

You must already be resident to convert, so the residence card is on the critical path.

The ATTT file asks for a copy of the carte de séjour or an equivalent document proving residence. That puts the licence behind the residence card, which is behind the lease and the district office. Anyone planning to drive from arrival should keep an international permit valid in the meantime rather than assuming a quick conversion.

Source: ATTT

Tunis is one of the few North African capitals where a rail line genuinely replaces a car.

The TGM has run from central Tunis to La Marsa through Carthage since the nineteenth century, and it puts the entire northern suburb belt — where most foreign residents live — on a fifteen-to-twenty-minute ride from the centre. Add the métro léger and the newer RFR lines and a great many people here simply do not own a vehicle. Choosing an address off the lines is the decision that forces a car.

Source: community-reported

Louages are a real transport system, not a curiosity.

The shared inter-city minibuses leave from fixed stations when they fill, with no timetable and fixed fares, and they reach essentially every town in the country faster and cheaper than the trains. Foreign residents tend to discover them years in, having hired cars for journeys that cost a few dinars. Ask which station serves your destination — there are several in Tunis, each for a different direction.

Source: community-reported

Common mistakes to avoid

Missing the one-year window measured from your last entry into Tunisia.
Attempting the conversion before you hold a residence document.
Using a non-sworn translation of the licence.
Choosing a home away from the TGM or métro léger and then needing a car you did not budget for.
Shipping a vehicle without checking the customs conditions attached to residence status.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.