Every company needs an official address: its registered office (siège social). It's where it receives administrative mail, it's the address in its articles of association, and it determines which administrations are competent. For a founder without premises yet, or living abroad, the question comes up on day one: where should the company be registered?
This guide covers the three options accepted in Tunisia, their costs, the documents required and the traps to avoid, based on the official APII list.
In short
- A SARL of Tunisian nationality must have its registered office in Tunisia (article 95 of the Commercial Companies Code).
- Three options are accepted: a registered lease, a domiciliation certificate from a licensed provider, or your personal address with a written undertaking and a certificate of ownership.
- Registering a lease costs 1% of annual rent + 5 TND stamp duty per page. Domiciliation offers published by Tunis business centres start at around 79 TND.
- Depending on the activity, operating premises may be required on top of the domiciliation.
Why the registered office matters so much
The registered office is more than an address on an invoice. It determines:
- the tax office competent for your declaration of existence and tax returns;
- the CNSS regional or local office where you'll register the company if you hire;
- for a SUARL, the court registry of the court of first instance that initials the special register of the sole partner's decisions (article 154 of the Commercial Companies Code).
It also appears in the statuts: changing it later requires amending the statuts and declaring the change to the register. So choose it carefully at creation.
The three accepted options
According to the official APII list (updated 31 August 2026), the incorporation file must include just one of the following:
| Option | Document | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rented premises | Registered lease, or 3 originals to register at the tax office | 1% of annual rent + 5 TND stamp duty per page | Activities that need premises (shop, workshop, office) |
| Domiciliation | Certificate from a licensed domiciliation provider, with its tax ID, stamp and signature | Provider's subscription | No premises needed, founder abroad, professional address |
| Personal address | Written undertaking + certificate of ownership | No lease registration fee | Services run from home, tight budget |
Option 1: renting premises
This is the natural option if your activity needs a place: retail, workshop, practice, office with staff.
The lease must be registered at the tax office. The fees given by the APII are 1% of annual rent, plus 5 TND stamp duty per page. For rent of 9,000 TND a year, that's 90 TND of registration duty, plus stamp duty.
Watch the timing: if more than two months pass between signing and registering the lease, the stamp duty rises to 7.5 TND per page and a fixed 10 TND penalty is added, again according to the APII. Register the lease as soon as it's signed.
If you take over, buy or lease a business (fonds de commerce), you also need the registered contract and its publication in the Official Journal (JORT).
Option 2: domiciliation
A domiciliation provider lends its address to your company and handles your mail. It's the most common solution for service businesses without premises, and for founders living abroad.
What the APII requires:
- the certificate must be issued by a licensed (patenté) provider;
- it must carry the provider's tax ID, along with its stamp and signature.
How much does domiciliation cost?
Prices are set freely. As an indication, one Tunis business centre publishes packages "from" 79, 99, 149 and 199 TND depending on the services included (mail handling, forwarding by email, phone answering, meeting-room access), without always stating the billing period on its page. Always ask for a quote including tax, the commitment period and the cancellation terms.
What to check before signing
- Is the provider properly licensed, and will its tax ID appear on the certificate?
- Does the contract term cover at least the incorporation period and the first year?
- How is mail handled: scanning, forwarding, notification time?
- What happens at the end of the contract? If the domiciliation stops, you'll have to move the registered office, which means amending the statuts.
- Does your activity need operating premises as well? The APII notes that, depending on the activity, a lease for the operating premises may be required in addition to the domiciliation certificate.
Option 3: your personal address
If you own your home, you can register the company there with a written undertaking and a certificate of ownership, according to the APII list. It's the cheapest option, suited to consulting or services run from home.
Its limits: your private address becomes public on the company's documents, and it doesn't work if your activity needs premises open to the public. Here too, the APII notes that a lease for the operating premises may be required depending on the activity.
If you live abroad
For Tunisians living abroad, domiciliation is often the simplest solution: a professional address in Tunisia, mail scanned and sent by email, and no premises to manage remotely. It fits well with a fully online incorporation using a digital identity, described in our guide to creating a company in Tunisia from abroad.
Moving the registered office later
Your company is growing and you're finally renting offices? Moving the registered office involves:
- a partners' decision (or the sole partner's for a SUARL) amending the statuts;
- declaring the change to the RNE, online;
- updating your file with the tax office and the CNSS if needed.
Budget for this change: it involves formalities and registration fees. Our guide to the cost of registering a company in Tunisia details the official fees.
Frequently asked questions
Is company domiciliation legal in Tunisia?
Yes. The official APII list accepts a domiciliation certificate as proof of registered office, provided it's issued by a licensed provider and carries its tax ID, stamp and signature.
How much does company domiciliation cost in Tunisia?
Prices are set freely. Tunis business centres publish packages from about 79 TND up to 199 TND and more, depending on services. Ask for a quote including tax, with the commitment period.
Can I register my company at home?
Yes, if you own the property: you need a written undertaking and a certificate of ownership. Check that your activity doesn't require separate operating premises.
How much does registering a commercial lease cost?
1% of annual rent, plus 5 TND stamp duty per page, according to the APII. If more than two months pass between signing and registration, stamp duty rises to 7.5 TND per page with a 10 TND penalty.
Can the registered office be abroad?
Not for a SARL of Tunisian nationality: article 95 of the Commercial Companies Code requires the registered office to be in Tunisia.
Want us to check your proof of registered office before filing? Tell us about your project. For the full document list, see our list of documents to create a SARL and our comparison SARL or SUARL.
Sources
- Documents required to incorporate a SARL/SUARL — APII, updated 31 August 2026 (in French)
- Commercial Companies Code, 2022 edition, articles 95 and 154 — Official Printing Office, via the CMF (in French)
- Example domiciliation price list from a Tunis business centre — Jasmin Business Center (in French)
- Employer registration at the office competent for the registered office — CNSS (in Arabic)
