Tunisia Police Clearance Certificate (Bulletin No. 3)

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Topic: Practical guide

Tunisia police clearance certificate (bulletin no. 3): documents, applying online or from abroad, validity, old convictions and the apostille for visas.

Tunisia's police clearance certificate is bulletin no. 3 (bulletin n°3, بطاقة عدد 3), the extract from the criminal record that you can request for yourself. You can apply in person at the competent security office or online through the Ministry of the Interior's official platform, b3.interieur.gov.tn , which delivers by post. From abroad, you use the online service if you are eligible, or go through a Tunisian embassy or consulate. What is bulletin no. 3, and how is it different from no. 1 and no. 2? Criminal convictions are entered in the criminal record, which the Code of Criminal Procedure organises as follows: Bulletin no. 1 is the slip drawn up for each conviction for a serious or intermediate offence (crime or délit) and for certain other decisions; these slips are centralised by the service that keeps the criminal record. Bulletin no. 2 is the full statement of all the no. 1 slips for one person, and is only issued at the express request of a judicial authority. Bulletin no. 3 is only issued to the person it concerns. It contains fewer entries: for example, it does not show convictions wiped out by rehabilitation, suspended sentences unless the suspension has been revoked, or certain minor sentences within limits set by law. When a foreign embassy, immigration service or employer asks for a "police certificate", a "criminal record certificate" or a "B3" from Tunisia, they almost always mean bulletin no. 3. If no conviction is recorded, it is issued blank, which people call a "clean" bulletin. Documents needed The list varies a little depending on how you apply and your situation, but usually includes: your national ID card and a copy of it or, for foreigners living in Tunisia, proof of residence in Tunisia; a birth certificate for minors and for people without a national ID card; the application form, filled in and signed, available at the office or on the platform; proof of payment of the fiscal stamp duty, whose amount is set by current regulations. Check the up-to-date list on idaraty.tn, the government's portal for administrative procedures, or with the office before you go, as details change. Tunisian police certificate online: how it works The Ministry of the Interior first opened online applications to Tunisians living abroad and later extended them to residents. The steps, as they stood when this guide was written: Go to the official platform, b3.interieur.gov.tn. Avoid third-party websites that charge for "help". Fill in the form with your details exactly as they appear on your ID card or passport. Give an accurate delivery address, because the certificate is sent by post (by Rapid-Poste, according to the announcement made when the service opened). Follow the payment instructions and keep your application reference to track it. Important: according to the Ministry of the Interior's announcement when the service opened, only clean certificates are issued online. If your record contains an entry, ask the security services which procedure applies to you. Tunisia criminal record certificate from abroad If you are a Tunisian living abroad, you have two routes: the online service if you are eligible, or an application at the Tunisian embassy or consulate in your country of residence. The consular route usually takes longer, so plan ahead if you have a visa appointment or a filing deadline. If you are a foreign national who was born in Tunisia or lived there for a period and now need a Tunisian police certificate, for example for Canadian immigration (IRCC), the government portal idaraty.tn lists you among those who can apply online, with a certificate proving your birth or residence in Tunisia. Canada's IRCC page also mentions applying through the reception and guidance office of a Tunisian consulate. Follow the requesting authority's instructions to the letter. Thinking of asking a relative or a lawyer in Tunisia to apply for you? The Code of Criminal Procedure says bulletin no. 3 may never be issued to a private individual other than the person it concerns, so do not count on someone else collecting it for you, and check with the office first. How long is bulletin no. 3 valid? The official procedure sheets give no validity period for bulletin no. 3. In practice, the body asking for the certificate decides how recent it must be, and many want one issued recently. Processing time depends on the route you choose. In practice: ask the receiving body (embassy, employer, immigration service) what date it requires before you apply; don't request the certificate too early before you file your application; if the document is going abroad, allow time for translation and an apostille or legalisation. If your record is not clean: rehabilitation and corrections An old conviction does not always stay on your record for good. Tunisian law provides for rehabilitation (réhabilitation, رد الاعتبار), which removes the effects of a conviction for the future: certificates issued to you no longer mention it. It happens either automatically, when no new conviction for a crime or délit follows within a period set by law, or on application, under a procedure set by the Code of Criminal Procedure. Separately, the record slips for convictions covered by an amnesty are removed. These are technical procedures; it is best to have a lawyer look at them with the judgment in hand. If your certificate shows a conviction that isn't yours (for example, because someone has the same name) or an entry that should have been removed, ask for it to be corrected straight away. Do not submit the certificate as it is. A request to correct the criminal record is decided by the court that passed the sentence. Frequently asked questions How can I get bulletin no. 3 quickly? If your record is clean and you are eligible for the online service, applying online saves you a trip. Enter your details carefully: a mistake in your name or address will hold everything up. Does a Tunisian police certificate need an apostille? That depends on the country and the body receiving it. Many foreign authorities ask for a sworn translation plus an apostille or legalisation. Tunisia has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 30 March 2018. See our guide on apostille and document legalisation. Can I apply online if I have a criminal record? According to the announcement made when the service opened, no. Only clean certificates are issued online; otherwise, ask the security services which procedure applies. Can a foreigner get a Tunisian criminal record certificate? Yes. A foreign national who was born in Tunisia, or lives or has lived there, can request bulletin no. 3, with proof of their birth or residence in Tunisia. They can apply online, and from abroad they can also ask the Tunisian consulate. When should you talk to a lawyer? You don't need a lawyer to get a clean certificate. A lawyer becomes useful if: an old conviction appears and you want to know whether rehabilitation is possible; the certificate contains a mistake or a conviction that isn't yours; a visa, immigration or job application is blocked because of an entry on your record; you live abroad and need someone to follow up a correction or rehabilitation request in Tunisia for you. The site's directory lets you find a lawyer registered with the ONAT (the Tunisian bar) in your city. This article gives general information and does not replace advice from a lawyer who looks at your own situation.

Last updated: 19 October 2026