You have searched every pocket and every bag, and your driving licence is still nowhere to be found. Don't panic: your right to drive is recorded in the ATTT's system, not on the piece of plastic you have just lost. You will not have to retake either the driving theory test or the practical driving test. You simply need to follow the right process, in the right order. That is where most people lose time.
The process in 3 steps
1. ATTT: your regional directorate
You report the loss or theft with your national identity card (CIN). You are given an official form, pre-filled with your details and your licence number.
It is this form that will allow the police or the national guard to identify you at the next step. Without it, you risk being turned away.
2. Police or national guard
You submit the form at the police station or national guard post for your place of residence. The officers check that your licence is not subject to withdrawal or suspension. It is this check that can take time.
Allow one week to ten days to obtain the loss certificate (شهادة ضياع).
3. Back to the ATTT
You return with the complete file. The officer checks the documents, collects the fees and issues the card. Allow around 30 minutes on site, and you leave with your new licence the same day.
The file to prepare
- The application form, issued by the ATTT
- The loss certificate or the stamp, for the Tunis district
- A copy of your CIN
- 2 recent passport photos
- A medical certificate less than 3 months old, only if your licence has expired or expires in less than 3 months
- 50 TND, the ATTT fee currently in force for a duplicate after loss, theft or damage
Even if the officer does not ask you for the photos or the copy of your CIN at the counter, take them with you. These are the documents that can save you a pointless return trip.
The pitfall to know about: unpaid fines
The ATTT does not issue a duplicate as long as traffic fines remain outstanding in your name. Many drivers are unaware that they have any.
Check your situation, online via the Ministry of Finance portal or at a post office, before starting the procedure. That way you will avoid discovering a debt at the final counter after already completing the various steps.
Can I drive in the meantime?
There is no temporary certificate acting as a driving licence in Tunisia. During a roadside check, you will therefore not have your original licence to present, and failure to present the required documents can result in a fine.
It is better to avoid getting behind the wheel during those few days of waiting. Don't count on renting a car in the meantime either: rental agencies generally require a valid driving licence.
Special cases
- Damaged licence, not lost: no need to go through the police. You go directly to the ATTT with the damaged licence, which replaces the loss certificate in the file. A single visit may be enough, taking around 30 minutes on site.
- Theft: the procedure is similar to that for a loss, but it is also recommended that you file a complaint at the station for the place of the theft in order to officially report the disappearance of the document.
- Expired licence: this is no longer a duplicate, but a renewal. The stated fee is 25 TND, with a compulsory medical certificate. Check your licence's validity date from your very first visit to the ATTT.
- Tunisian resident abroad: in addition to the loss certificate, you need a certificate from the authorities of your country of residence confirming that your Tunisian licence is still valid, not suspended and not converted into a foreign licence. Request it before your stay in Tunisia.
- Learner driver's application file lost during training, before obtaining the licence: no need to go through the police. A duplicate of this file is obtained directly from the ATTT, for 10 TND.
In summary
|
| Cost | 50 TND, plus any additional costs (photos, medical certificate) |
| Timeframe | 8 to 15 days in total, often reduced to one day in the Tunis district |
| Online | No, the procedure is carried out entirely in person |
| Test to retake | Never |
At Drivago, we support Tunisian drivers from online driving theory preparation through to the administrative procedures linked to the driving licence. Questions about your situation? Find us on Drivago.
