2023-06-30

Circular to Approved Intermediaries No. 2023-03 of June 30, 2023

The Governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia issued Circular No. 2023-03 to update regulatory requirements for foreign professional training expense transfers managed by approved intermediaries. The circular repeals and replaces key provisions of the 2007 framework, confirming that any resident may receive transfers for overseas training, capping relocation allowances at 4,000 DT per period, and mandating sworn declarations alongside original training agreements to prevent duplicate claims. It further clarifies payment methods, authorizes third-party fee collection entities, and takes effect immediately upon publication.

Banque Centrale de Tunisie logo

Tunisia

Banque Centrale de Tunisie

Click to view thumbnail

Tunis, June 30, 2023 CIRCULAR TO APPROVED INTERMEDIARIES No. 2023 – 03 Object: Transfers for professional training expenses abroad. The Governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia; Having regard to the Foreign Exchange and External Trade Code promulgated by Law No. 76-18 of January 21, 1976 consolidating and codifying the legislation governing foreign exchange and external trade regulating relations between Tunisia and foreign countries, as amended by subsequent texts, particularly Legislative Decree No. 2011-98 of October 24, 2011; Having regard to Law No. 2016-35 of April 25, 2016 establishing the status of the Central Bank of Tunisia; Having regard to Decree No. 77-608 of July 27, 1977 setting the implementation conditions for the aforementioned Foreign Exchange and External Trade Code, as amended by subsequent texts, particularly Governmental Decree No. 2019-1115 of December 3, 2019; Having regard to Circular No. 2007-09 of April 12, 2007 regarding transfers for professional training expenses abroad, as amended by Circular No. 2015-07 of April 21, 2015; Having regard to Opinion No. 2023-03 of the Compliance Control Committee dated June 30, 2023 as provided for in Article 42 of Law No. 2016-35 of April 25, 2016 establishing the status of the Central Bank of Tunisia.

Decides: Article 1: The provisions of Article 2 of the aforementioned Circular No. 2007-09 of April 12, 2007 are repealed and replaced as follows: « Any resident individual wishing to pursue training abroad may benefit from transfers for professional training expenses. » Article 2: The provisions of the first paragraph of Article 3 of the aforementioned Circular No. 2007-09 of April 12, 2007 are amended as follows: « The transfer for relocation expenses is made in the form of an allowance with a maximum amount of four thousand dinars (4,000 DT) for each training period mentioned in the training agreement concluded between the training institution and the interested party, or any other supporting document issued by said institution in the name of the interested party. » Article 3: The provisions of Article 5 of the aforementioned Circular No. 2007-09 of April 12, 2007 are repealed. Article 4: A second paragraph is added to Article 8 of the aforementioned Circular No. 2007-09 of April 12, 2007, worded as follows: « To this effect, the Approved Intermediary must require, upon file domiciliation, a sworn declaration certifying that the beneficiary does not hold another transfer file for the training period in question. » Article 5: The provisions of Article 11 of the aforementioned Circular No. 2007-09 of April 12, 2007 are repealed and replaced as follows: « Upon file domiciliation and for each training period, the Approved Intermediary must obtain the original and a copy of the training agreement concluded between the training institution and the interested party, or any other supporting document issued by said institution in their name, specifying the duration and cost of the training as well as the payment deadlines. » Article 6: The provisions of Article 16 of the aforementioned Circular No. 2007-09 of April 12, 2007 are repealed and replaced as follows: « Transfers for registration and training fees are made either by bank transfer or by checks payable to the foreign training institution or to any other entity authorized by it to collect said fees on its behalf, including any commission due to the aforementioned entity. To this effect, in addition to the documents provided for in paragraph B of Section II of this circular, approved intermediaries must require any document issued by the foreign training institution authorizing the aforementioned entity to collect said fees on its behalf. » Article 7: This circular enters into force as of its publication date. THE GOVERNOR Marouane EL ABASSI