Evicting a Tenant in Tunisia from Abroad: Consular Power of Attorney & Bailiff Procedures
Expatriate guide to evicting defaulting tenants in Tunisia remotely via consular power of attorney, bailiff notices, and police-assisted eviction.
Direct Answer: How to evict a non-paying tenant in Tunisia while residing abroad?
Living abroad in France, Canada, Europe, or the Gulf is no impediment to recovering possession of your property in Tunisia. You do not need to travel to Tunisia to execute an eviction. The process is conducted entirely remotely through a special power of attorney legalised at the Tunisian consulate and sent to Cabinet Maître Nabil Baffoun, together with the lease, the unpaid rent receipts and your identity document. The judicial bailiff (huissier de justice) serves the formal demand to pay at the rented property, coordinates the expedited summary eviction order before the Court of First Instance of Tunis, and physically executes the eviction with police assistance under CPCC Art. 285+, then hands over the keys. The procedure relies on Articles 727 et seq. of the Code of Obligations and Contracts and Article 13 of Organic Law No. 2018-9 of 30 January 2018. In Greater Tunis, obtaining and executing the order typically takes 2 to 4 months.
The remote procedure at a glance
| Step | Who | Indicative time | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Documents and special power of attorney legalised at the consulate | Landlord abroad | — | — |
| Demand to pay served at the rented property | Judicial bailiff | Within 48h | Organic Law No. 2018-9, Art. 13 |
| Summary eviction proceedings and order | Court of First Instance of Tunis | 2 to 4 months on average, including enforcement (Greater Tunis) | COC, Art. 727 et seq. |
| Service, police requisition, eviction and handover of keys | Judicial bailiff | — | CPCC, Art. 285 et seq. |
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Frequently Asked Legal Questions
How long does a remote tenant eviction procedure take in Tunisia?
Questions regarding this procedure? Contact our Tunis Office
Maître Nabil Baffoun's Office — 32 Avenue de la Liberté, Lafayette, 1002 Tunis