Region

Jurisdiction

Regulator

2016-12-30

Central Bank of Tunisia Circular No. 2016-10 to Authorized Intermediaries dated December 30, 2016

The Central Bank of Tunisia issued Circular No. 2016-10 to mandate authorized intermediaries to establish and issue personal, non-transferable export authorizations for foreign currency in banknotes or by checks to resident and non-resident travelers. The circular standardizes the issuance process across three identical forms (A, B, and C), specifying permissible funding origins, validity periods of up to two months per trip, and strict reconciliation procedures for unused balances. It further obliges intermediaries to maintain accessible records and requires customs countersignation upon departure, while repealing all conflicting prior provisions.

Tunisia

Banque Centrale de Tunisie

Tunis, December 30, 2016 CIRCULAR TO AUTHORIZED INTERMEDIARIES No. 2016-10 OBJECT: On the authorization for exporting foreign currency in banknotes and by checks.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia;

Having regard to Law No. 2016-35 of April 25, 2016, establishing the statutes of the Central Bank of Tunisia;
Having regard to the Exchange and Foreign Trade Code promulgated by Law No. 76-18 of January 12, 1976, consolidating and codifying the legislation governing relations between Tunisia and foreign countries, as amended by subsequent texts, particularly Law No. 93-48 of May 3, 1993;
Having regard to Decree No. 77-608 of July 27, 1977, setting the conditions for applying the Exchange and Foreign Trade Code, as amended by subsequent texts, particularly Decree No. 93-1696 of August 16, 1993, and Decree No. 2007-394 of February 26, 2007;
Having regard to Opinion No. 8 of the Compliance Control Committee dated December 29, 2016, as provided for in Article 42 of Law No. 2016-35 of April 25, 2016 establishing the statutes of the Central Bank of Tunisia; Decides:

Article 1: This circular sets out the conditions for authorized intermediaries to issue the authorization for exporting foreign currency in the form of foreign banknotes or by checks, and its delivery to resident and non-resident travelers authorized to export such currency in accordance with the prevailing exchange regulations.

Article 2: The issuance of foreign currency in the form of foreign banknotes or by checks requires the authorized intermediary to issue an authorization for exporting foreign currency in three identical copies bearing the same serial number and conforming to the models of forms "A", "B" and "C" attached to this circular.

Article 3: The authorization for exporting foreign currency in the form of foreign banknotes or by checks must indicate the origin of the currency to be exported, specifying the nature of the transaction that led to its issuance, according to one of the following cases:

Tourist allowance.
Savings on salaries.
Remuneration for services provided in Tunisia by a non-resident.
Business travel allowance.
Stay expenses for official missions and internships.
Debit operation on a foreign currency or convertible dinar account opened in Tunisia in favor of a resident (account number to be indicated on the authorization).
Debit operation on a foreign currency or convertible dinar account opened in Tunisia in favor of a non-resident (account number to be indicated on the authorization).
Stay expenses for sports teams regarding their international sporting competitions abroad.
Other foreign currency whose transfer in the form of foreign banknotes or by checks is authorized under prevailing exchange regulations.

Article 4: Form "A" is handed to the beneficiary of the transfer and retained by him/her as proof, prior to departing Tunisia for abroad, of the origin of the currency or checks he/she holds. Form "B" is retained by the authorized intermediary. Form "C" serves as the authorization to export foreign currency in the form of foreign banknotes or by checks issued by the authorized intermediary and is submitted to Customs services upon leaving Tunisian territory.

Article 5: The authorization for exporting foreign currency in the form of foreign banknotes or by checks is personal and non-transferable. It is valid for a single trip and, at the maximum, for a duration of two months from the date of its issuance by the authorized intermediary.

Article 6: The authorization for exporting currency is intended exclusively to justify the origin of the exported currency by the resident or non-resident traveler. It cannot under any circumstances be used for other operations, regardless of their nature.

Article 7: Authorized intermediaries are required to keep in accessible files for control purposes the copies of the authorization for exporting currency that they issue in accordance with this circular and which are intended for them, accompanied by the required supporting documents as stipulated in this circular.

Article 8: All provisions contrary to or duplicating the content of this circular are hereby repealed.

THE GOVERNOR CHEDLY AYARI

ANNEX TO CIRCULAR NO. 2016-10 DATED DECEMBER 30, 2016 AUTHORIZATION FOR EXPORT OF CURRENCY NO. ………… (VALID FOR A SINGLE TRIP AND FOR A MAXIMUM DURATION OF 2 MONTHS)

FORM "A" MODEL intended for the client [Client Information Box] Name & Surname: Accompanied by: Persons Address: Nationality: Profession: Passport No.: Issued at: on: CIN [ ] or CS [ ] or Passport [ ] No.: 1 [Note 1: Check the corresponding box and enter the CIN or CS number depending on whether the beneficiary is a Tunisian national or foreign resident.] [Note 2: Place an (x) in the appropriate box and indicate "CIN" for a Tunisian national beneficiary, "CS" for a foreign resident beneficiary, or "Passport" for a non-resident foreign beneficiary.] Purpose of transfer: Destination: is authorized to export the following payment instruments:

[Authorized Intermediary Box] PAYMENT INSTRUMENTS | AMOUNT IN FOREIGN CURRENCY | EXCHANGE RATE (TODAY) | EQUIVALENT IN DINAR [ ] Cash (Banknotes of: ………….) TOTAL: [ ] Check No. ……….. dated ………….. Corresponding to ………………… Date: …………………………. In: .................................. STAMP AND SIGNATURE OF THE AUTHORIZED INTERMEDIARY

Origin of funds to be exported in the form of foreign banknotes or by check (To be indicated according to the cases provided for in Article 3 of this circular)

IMPORTANT 1/ The authorization for exporting foreign currency in banknotes and by checks is personal and non-transferable. 2/ The authorization for exporting foreign currency in banknotes and by checks is valid for a single trip and, in all cases, for a maximum duration of two months (60 calendar days) from the date of its issuance. 3/ The authorization for exporting foreign currency in banknotes and by checks is used exclusively for the physical export of the currency for the amount inscribed on it. It cannot under any circumstances be used for other operations, regardless of their nature. 4/ The balance of the tourist allowance transferred under the authorization for exporting foreign currency and not used following a trip abroad must, to be re-registered on the beneficiary's passport, be subject to an import declaration of foreign currency in cash countersigned by Customs upon entry into Tunisia and refunded in dinars to an authorized intermediary within a maximum period of seven working days following the return date to Tunisia as inscribed on the passport. 5/ The tourist allowance issued under the authorization for exporting foreign currency and not transferred following cancellation of a trip abroad must, to be re-registered on the beneficiary's passport, be refunded in dinars to an authorized intermediary within a maximum period of fifteen working days following the expiration date of the validity period of the authorization for exporting foreign currency. 6/ The balance of the amount transferred by charge against a business travel allowance under the authorization for exporting foreign currency and not used following a trip abroad must, to be re-registered to the credit of the allowance, be subject to an import declaration of foreign currency in cash countersigned by Customs upon entry into Tunisia and refunded in dinars to an authorized intermediary within a maximum period of seven working days following the return date to Tunisia as inscribed on the passport. 7/ The amount issued by charge against a business travel allowance under the authorization for exporting foreign currency and not transferred following cancellation of a trip abroad must, to be re-registered to the credit of the allowance, be refunded in dinars to an authorized intermediary within a maximum period of seven working days following the expiration date of the validity period of the authorization for exporting foreign currency.

ANNEX TO CIRCULAR NO. 2016-10 DATED DECEMBER 30, 2016 AUTHORIZATION FOR EXPORT OF CURRENCY NO. ………… (VALID FOR A SINGLE TRIP AND FOR A MAXIMUM DURATION OF 2 MONTHS)

FORM "B" MODEL retained by the Authorized Intermediary (I.A.) [Client Information Box] Name & Surname: Accompanied by: Persons Address: Nationality: Profession: Passport No.: Issued at: on: CIN [ ] or CS [ ] or Passport [ ] No.: 2 [Note 1 & 2 as above] Purpose of transfer: Destination: is authorized to export the following payment instruments:

Origin of funds to be exported in the form of foreign banknotes or by check (To be indicated according to the cases provided for in Article 3 of this circular)

IMPORTANT (Identical to Form A notes 1-7) [Listed identically above]

ANNEX NO. 5 TO CIRCULAR NO. 2016-10 DATED DECEMBER 30, 2016 AUTHORIZATION FOR EXPORT OF CURRENCY NO. ………… (VALID FOR A SINGLE TRIP AND FOR A MAXIMUM DURATION OF 2 MONTHS)

FORM "C" MODEL intended for the client to be submitted to Customs [Client Information Box] Name & Surname: Accompanied by: Persons Address: Nationality: Profession: Passport No.: Issued at: on: CIN [ ] or CS [ ] or Passport [ ] No.: 3 [Note 1 & 2 as above] Purpose of transfer: Destination: is authorized to export the following payment instruments:

Origin of funds to be exported in the form of foreign banknotes or by check (To be indicated according to the cases provided for in Article 3 of this circular)