The Tunisian Startup Act, enacted in April 2018, remains in 2026 one of the most favorable legislative frameworks for startups in Africa and the Arab world. This program grants labeled companies a considerable set of advantages covering taxation, social charges, international mobility and access to public procurement.
To be eligible for the startup label in 2026, the company must be incorporated in Tunisia as a commercial company for less than eight years. Its business model must be based on technological innovation or high growth potential. Annual revenue must not exceed 2 million dinars and no shareholder holding more than 49% of the capital may be a large corporation.
The tax advantages of the label are particularly attractive. Labeled startups benefit from corporate tax exemption for the entire label duration, up to eight years. They are also exempt from VAT on certain operations and benefit from state coverage of employer CNSS contributions. These savings allow dedicating more resources to product development and growth.
The business creation leave allows employed founders to suspend their employment contract for one year to focus on their project, with a guarantee of returning to their position in case of failure. The startup visa facilitates obtaining residence permits for foreign talent recruited by the startup, significantly simplifying immigration formalities.
The label obtainment process involves filing an application with the Startup Act Committee. This file includes the business plan, description of the project's innovative nature, financial projections and founders' CVs. The committee evaluates applications on a monthly basis and renders its decision within an average of four to eight weeks.
In 2026, several improvements have been made to the program. The application process has been fully digitized, evaluation criteria have been clarified and post-labeling support has been strengthened with mentoring programs and access to financing. The number of labeled startups in Tunisia now exceeds one thousand, demonstrating the program's success.
Legalium is a recognized partner in supporting startups toward obtaining the label. Our experts prepare your application file, draft your business plan according to committee expectations and follow up on your application. Our high success rate reflects our deep knowledge of evaluation criteria and Startup Act Committee expectations.