An incorporation file that comes back for one missing document costs you days. The good news is that the list is public: the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation (APII), which runs the one-stop shop for incorporating companies, publishes the official list of documents.
Here is that list for a SARL or a SUARL, explained document by document, with a printable checklist and the mistakes that send files back. It is based on the APII version updated on 31 August 2026.
In short
- You need 6 core documents: the manager's CIN, the name reservation certificate, proof of the registered office, the signed articles of association (statuts), the declaration of existence, and a power of attorney if someone files for you.
- Depending on your case, add: an authorisation for a regulated activity, a contributions auditor's report, minutes appointing the manager or a statutory auditor.
- The beneficial owner declaration and RNE registration are done online, after obtaining the tax identification card.
- The name reservation certificate is valid for 6 months.
The mandatory documents for any SARL or SUARL
1. The manager's identity
A copy of the national ID card (CIN) for a Tunisian manager. For a foreign manager, the APII list asks for a copy of the passport and, depending on the activity, the trader's card.
Check the expiry date: an expired CIN blocks the file, and renewing it can take time if you live abroad.
2. The name reservation certificate
It's obtained online on the National Business Register (RNE) website. The certificate is valid for 6 months: reserve the name when your project is ready, not months before. Have two or three back-up names in case the first is taken or too close to an existing brand.
3. Proof of the registered office
Just one of the following three options, depending on your situation:
| Option | Document | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Rented premises | Registered lease, or 3 originals to register at the tax office | 1% of annual rent + 5 TND stamp duty per page |
| Domiciliation | Certificate issued by a licensed domiciliation provider, with its tax ID, stamp and signature | Provider's subscription |
| Personal address | Written undertaking + certificate of ownership | No lease registration fee |
Note: depending on the activity, a lease for the operating premises may be required in addition to the domiciliation or undertaking. If you rent, buy or lease a business (fonds de commerce), you also need the registered contract and its publication in the Official Journal (JORT).
To compare these options in detail (costs, contract, traps), read our guide to company domiciliation in Tunisia.
If more than two months pass between signing the lease and registering it, the stamp duty rises from 5 to 7.5 TND per page, with a fixed 10 TND penalty, according to the APII.
4. The original articles of association
One original copy of the statuts signed by the partners and the manager. The APII provides model statuts for the SARL and the SUARL. They must state, among other things, the company name, corporate purpose, registered office, duration, amount of capital and its split into shares.
Good to know: since law no. 2019-47, the statuts no longer have to name the bank that received the capital.
5. The declaration of existence
This is the tax form that gets the company its tax identification card, with its tax ID (matricule fiscal). The form can be downloaded from the APII website. We cover this step in our article on the matricule fiscal in Tunisia.
6. The power of attorney, if you don't file yourself
- the original power of attorney;
- a copy of the representative's ID.
For a Tunisian principal, the signature must be legalised. The power of attorney must specify the powers granted and, where relevant, signing in place of the manager, including for the statuts. It's the key document if you live outside Tunisia: see our guide to creating a company in Tunisia from abroad.
Extra documents depending on your situation
| Situation | Additional document |
|---|---|
| Activity requiring an authorisation or specifications document | Copy of the authorisation or the endorsed specifications document |
| Contributions in kind over 3,000 TND | 3 original contributions auditor's reports |
| Contribution of land | Statuts drafted by a lawyer, legalised signatures |
| Manager appointed by separate deed | 3 original appointment minutes (registration: 30 TND per page) |
| Statutory auditor appointed | Appointment minutes and copy of their professional card |
| Partner that is a Tunisian legal entity | Signature of its legal representative and company stamp |
To find out whether you need a lawyer, read do you need a lawyer to start a company in Tunisia.
After filing: the online steps
Once you have the tax identification card, two formalities are done online on the RNE website:
- the beneficial owner declaration, which identifies the individuals who control the company;
- registration of the company, which gives it legal existence.
Our article on RNE online registration walks through these steps.
The printable checklist
Tick every line before filing:
- Manager's CIN, valid
- Name reservation certificate (less than 6 months old)
- Proof of registered office: registered lease, domiciliation certificate, or undertaking + certificate of ownership
- Original statuts signed by all partners and the manager
- Completed declaration of existence form
- Power of attorney with legalised signature + representative's ID (if needed)
- Authorisation or specifications document (regulated activity)
- Contributions auditor's report (contributions in kind over 3,000 TND)
- Manager appointment minutes (if not named in the statuts)
The 5 mistakes that send a file back
- A corporate purpose that's too vague or doesn't match a recognised activity.
- A poorly evidenced registered office: domiciliation certificate without the provider's tax ID, or an unregistered lease.
- A signature that doesn't match the ID provided.
- An incomplete power of attorney that doesn't authorise signing the statuts.
- An expired name certificate, because the file dragged on for more than 6 months.
Each mistake adds a round trip. It's the main reason real timelines exceed advertised ones: see our article on how long company registration takes.
Frequently asked questions
What documents are needed to create a SARL in Tunisia?
The manager's CIN, the name reservation certificate, proof of registered office, the signed original statuts and the declaration of existence. Depending on the case, add the power of attorney, an activity authorisation or a contributions auditor's report.
Are the documents the same for a SUARL?
Yes. The APII publishes a single list for the SARL and the SUARL. The difference is in the statuts, which have only one partner for a SUARL.
Do I need a capital deposit certificate?
The official APII list doesn't mention one, and since law no. 2019-47 the statuts no longer have to name the bank. However, the manager cannot use the capital before the company is registered.
Can I register the company at my home address?
Yes, with a written undertaking and a certificate of ownership, according to the APII list. Check, though, that your activity doesn't require separate operating premises.
How long is the company name reservation valid?
Six months, according to the APII list. After that, you need to reserve the name again.
Would you like us to check your file before you submit it? Send us your project: we'll send back the exact list of what's missing, with no commitment.
Sources
- Documents required to incorporate a SARL/SUARL — APII, updated 31 August 2026 (in French)
- One-stop shop: steps and model statuts — APII (in French)
- Company creation process — Tunisia Investment Authority
- Law no. 2019-47 on improving the investment climate — analysis by Boussayene Knani & Associés (in French)
