Short answer. Travel insurance is not a condition of entry to Tunisia: the UK Foreign Office's entry requirements do not list it. But the Foreign Office is clear on why you need it: "There's no provision for free medical attention for foreign nationals in Tunisia. All doctors' fees, medication and treatment in private clinics must be paid for on the spot (and sometimes before treatment). These costs can be high." Read on 26 October 2026.
Your GHIC does not cover Tunisia
The NHS page on the UK GHIC lists where the card works: the European Economic Area, Switzerland for some nationalities, Montenegro, Australia and a few territories. Tunisia is not on the list. The NHS also says a GHIC never covers medical repatriation or private treatment.
What a policy for Tunisia should cover
| Cover | Why, from the Foreign Office |
|---|---|
| Medical treatment | No free care for foreign nationals; private clinics paid on the spot, sometimes before treatment |
| Repatriation | The Foreign Office asks for funds "to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation" |
| Your itinerary and activities | "Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency" |
| Quad bikes, desert trips | Quad bikes are popular in desert resorts and safety standards vary; always wear a helmet |
| Driving | Carry a green card proving minimum insurance cover, plus a 1968 international driving permit |
Where a policy can stop working
The warnings page opens with it: your insurance "could be invalidated" if you travel against Foreign Office advice. In Tunisia that means all travel to the Chaambi Mountains National Park and the military zones of Mount Salloum, Mount Sammamma and Mount Mghila; the militarised zone south of El Borma and Dhehiba, within 20 km of the Libyan border and the town of Ben Guerdane; and all but essential travel to Kasserine Governorate (including Sbeitla), parts of Jendouba and El Kef near the Algerian border, and within 75 km of the Libyan border outside Zarzis and the north of Medenine Governorate. Djerba, Tunis, Hammamet, Sousse and Monastir are outside these areas. See is Tunisia safe?
Before you buy: three checks
- Medical conditions and pregnancy: the Foreign Office says checking cover is particularly important in both cases. Declare them.
- Activities: quad bikes, camel treks, diving, desert nights: check each one is covered.
- Bank card cover: some cards include medical cover abroad with their own conditions. Read the limits for medical costs, repatriation and trip length.
In Tunisia: how it works
- Call your insurer early. The Foreign Office asks you to contact your insurance company quickly if you are referred to a medical facility.
- Emergency numbers: ambulance 190, police in towns 197, National Guard in rural areas 193, fire and car accidents 198.
- The Foreign Office keeps a list of medical providers in Tunisia where some staff speak English.
Prepare before you go
Save your insurer's emergency number in your phone and on paper, keep a PDF of your certificate, and read Tunisia vaccinations and medication in Tunisia.
If you drive or ride
The Foreign Office lists what drivers need: a 1968 international driving permit with your UK licence, valid for up to a year, and a green card proving minimum insurance cover. Drink-driving is a serious offence with a stricter limit than in England and Wales, and driving at night outside towns can be hazardous because of unlit roads, vehicles without lights and livestock. For quad bikes in desert resorts, it says safety standards vary considerably and to always wear a helmet. Check that your policy covers each of these before you go.
Who needs to look closer
The Foreign Office says checking cover is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant. Tell the insurer before you buy, ask how an evacuation would be organised, and keep their answer with your documents.
Your phone
For the trip itself, our Tunisia eSIM runs on Orange Tunisie, from €6.50 for one day to €21.90 for 7 days and €29 for 10 days, with 1 GB a day at full 4G speed and then 512 kbps until the next day. It starts at your first connection in Tunisia, so you can install it at home on Wi-Fi; when you land, turn data roaming on for the eSIM line. Check that your phone is eSIM compatible first.