Debt Collection Agency Tunisia: Code de Commerce & Tribunal de Première Instance
Debt Collection Agency Tunisia: French Legal DNA, North African Reality
The Tunisian Framework
Tunisia's commercial legal system shares Morocco's French civil law foundation — the Code de Commerce, Code des Obligations et des Contrats, and court structure are all derived from the French model. For European creditors (particularly French and Italian companies with significant Tunisian trade relationships), the legal vocabulary and procedural logic are familiar. The injonction de payer, référé, and saisie conservatoire function similarly to their French originals.
Tunisia's strategic position — major EU trade partner (particularly with France, Italy, and Germany), growing offshore services sector, and proximity to European markets — means commercial debt collection against Tunisian companies is a regular requirement for European creditors.
The Collection Process
Mise en demeure (formal demand). Formal demand by registered letter or huissier de justice (bailiff) citing the contract, outstanding amount, and intérêts de retard (default interest). This step establishes the debtor's default and is a prerequisite for court proceedings. Tunisian business culture is relationship-oriented — a professionally drafted demand from a recognised agency or law firm produces better results than aggressive approaches.
Injonction de payer (payment order). For documented, undisputed claims, the creditor applies to the Tribunal de Première Instance (first instance court) for a payment order. The judge reviews the application ex parte and, if the documentation supports the claim, issues an ordonnance d'injonction de payer. The debtor has 30 days to file opposition. No opposition? The order becomes enforceable.
Référé (summary proceedings). For urgent claims or claims requiring provisional measures, the président du Tribunal can hear the case in référé and order saisie conservatoire (precautionary seizure). This is Tunisia's fastest judicial remedy.
Enforcement
Tunisian enforcement is handled by huissiers de justice (bailiffs) under the supervision of the court. Available measures: saisie-arrêt (bank account seizure), saisie-exécution (movable property seizure), and saisie immobilière (real property seizure). The enforcement system functions but timelines can be longer than in European jurisdictions — particularly for real property execution.
Key Parameters
Statute of limitations: 3 years for commercial claims (Article 28 of the Code de Commerce). General contractual limitation: 15 years (Code des Obligations et des Contrats).
Language: Court proceedings in Arabic, with French widely used in commercial practice and courts. Documents in French are generally accepted.
Currency: Tunisian dinar (TND). The dinar is not freely convertible — repatriation of recovered funds requires compliance with Tunisian exchange control regulations through the Banque Centrale de Tunisie.
Tunisia's French-influenced legal system, injonction de payer procedure, and EU trade relationships make it a functional jurisdiction for commercial debt collection — provided the creditor accounts for currency conversion and exchange control requirements.
