1. THE CONCEPT OF NATIONAL SERVICE
2. STAGES TO CONSCRIPTION
3. SITUATIONS' REGULARISATION TOWARDS THE NATIONAL SERVICE
4. THE ORGANS OF THE DIRECTION OF CONSCRIPTION AND MOBILIZATION
   

The Tunisian constitution stipulates in article 15 that:  

 “Every citizen has the duty to protect the country, to safeguard its independence, its sovereignty, and the integrity of the national territory. The defense of the homeland is a holy duty for every citizen"

President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, chief commander of the Armed Forces asserted this meaning in the declaration of November 7th, 1987:

“The Independence of our country, the integrity of our territory, the invulnerability of our homeland and the progress of our people are the concern of all Tunisians. The love for our homeland, its protection and the endeavor for its development constitute a holy duty for all citizens".

The national service aims at:

• The preparation of the citizen to the defense of the homeland.

• The participation to the spreading of peace in the world.
  

• The contribution to propaganda peace in the world.

2 - STAGES OF CONSCRIPTION

2.1- The Census

From the age of 18, every Tunisian citizen is requested to the military census. Thus, he has to:

•  a- Address himself to the City hall of his residence area with the following documents :

o    A valid birth certificate (delivered before the expiry of a 3 month period).

o    An identity photo.

o    A copy of the national ID card. 

•  b- Address himself to the regional National Service office of his district to withdraw his census bill, the National Service Guidebook, and any useful related information.

Citizens living abroad can directly address the Embassy or the closest Consulate to undergo the census operation.

2.2-The Conscription

Every 20-year-old citizen has to turn up to the regional office of the National Service of his residence in the previously mentioned class time indicated in his individual census bill. Through his census bill and his ID card, he would regularize his position vis à vis the National Service law.

The citizens who turn up to the Regional Centers of Conscription and Mobilization would undergo:

• A medical check-up to determine their aptitude to the accomplishment of the National Service.

• A psycho-technique test.

• A meeting with an officer in charge of information and briefing.

Those who are fit for the military service would be conducted to new recruits instruction centers for basic military training.

2.3- The military training:

At the end of the basic military training, the young recruits will be transferred to military units and could follow a professional training in various specialties at Professional Training Centers belonging to the three Armies and the central corps.

3 - SITUATIONS' REGULARISATION TOWARDS THE NATIONAL SERVICE

Situations' regularization towards the national service is carried out through one of the following ways:

    3.1 - Conscription to the  military service
    3.2 - Conscription within the framework of individual assignments
    3.3 - Obtaining a deferment from the accomplishment of the national service
    3.4 - obtaining an exemption from the accomplishment of the  national service

3.1 - Conscription to the military service

It is the conscription under the flag as a soldier during one year.

• 18-year-old citizens could accomplish the military service by forwarding a request after authorization of their tutor and agreement of the Minister of the National Defense.

• Young conscripts to the national service could, on their request, follow a professional training in the training centers belonging to the three Armed Forces or the central corps.

3.2 - Individual assignments :

• Citizens who exercise a liberal profession.

• Citizens who have private industrial projects.

• Civilian servants belonging to the State, or local collectivities or public institutions.

Those called up for the military service could choose one of the two next ways of a basic military training:

• A non-stop 21-day training.

• An open training period: military training in the nearest military installation, Sundays by fortnight from 09am to 5pm for a 21-day period.

The rate of monthly financial participation in the charge of the conscripts, who are called up for the accomplishment of the national service within the framework of individual assignments, is set up as follows:

These rates are calculated on the basis of the wage or the net retribution without taking into consideration the bonus output for the public sector civilian servants and the assimilated bonus for the private sector employees.

The assigned individual commits himself to monthly pay a contribution rate to the Funds of the National Service created in accordance with the Law n° 101-1974 of December 25th, 1974 related to the Law of Finance of the year 1975.

In case of non-payment of the mentioned contribution, within the agreed timeframe, the Minister in charge of the National Defense would set an end to the posting of the concerned individual and authorize his transfer to one of the Armed Forces' units for the remaining period.

File Making Up for Individual Assignment :

1. A birth certificate of the concerned individual (delivered before the expiry date of 3 months),
   
   
2. Census voucher withdrawn from the National Guard (the recruitment bureau),
   
   
3. Two (02) identity photos,
   
   
4. A copy of the national identity card,
   
   
5. A certified copy of the obtained diploma or a certificate of scholar level, or an honor certification for non education,
   
   
6. An employment certificate for the employees, a copy of the legal authorization for the use of a shop or a business opening authorization or an agricultural activity certificate for liberal professions,
   
   
7. Last payment voucher for the employees and declaration on the yearly income for the liberal professions.
   
   
8. Application for the accomplishment of the national service within the framework of individual assignment, bearing the signature of both the employer or the local authority (the delegate) and the applicant,
   
   
9. Two (02) registered envelopes, bearing the personal address of the applicant and the address of the employer.

APPLICATION FORWARDING

The individual assignment files are forwarded to the Conscription and Mobilization Direction through various ways:

1. Either by registered mail to the Conscription and Mobilization Direction / Military Base El Omrane, zip code 1005 Tunis.
   
   
2. Or by forwarding the mentioned file to one of the Conscription and Mobilization Regional Centers or to one of the Regional Offices of National Service.

Warning

• Incomplete files will not be taken into consideration.

• Any False or Fraudulent declaration on income (which are contrary to facts) could bring the concerned individual to court in conformity with article 315.

3.3-The deferment from the national service accomplishment

The deferment from the national service accomplishment could be spared for a renewable year, to each 20-year-old citizen as far as he comes under the following cases:

• Having a brother serving in the military.

• Be in charge of one of the following persons that because of the conscription, could be left without living resources:

o    A father temporarily unable to work for health reasons.

o    A widowed or divorced mother.

o    At least a non married sister.

o    At least a brother of less than 20 years, still studying on a regular base.

o    One or several children under judicial tutelage in which the elder is under 20.

• Carrying out his studies in Tunisia or abroad in higher or secondary public teaching establishment or in public training centers belonging to the public sector.

• Carrying out his studies in Tunisia or abroad in private high or secondary teaching establishments or in private training centers, which are acknowledged by the official authorities.

 The deferment from the national service accomplishment is not attributed to the citizens who:

• Have interrupted their studies.

• Following evening courses.

FILE COMPOSITION

* COMMON DOCUMENTS FOR EVERY APPLICATION :

• An application addressed to the Minister in charge of the national defense,

• A birth certificate of the applicant delivered before a three month expiry date.

• A copy of the national identity card,

• copy of the census voucher,

• The voucher proving the transfer of an amount of one Dinar or its equivalent in foreign currency to the post account number CCP 616-82 with the name of the finance officer, "Monsieur le régisseur des recettes du Ministère de la Défense Nationale".

* SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS FOR EVREY CASE :

In addition to the previously mentioned documents, the applications should also contain documents mentioned below according to different situations:

APPLICATION FORWARDING

• The district national service regional center, or

• The regional Conscription and Mobilization center, or

• By sending an application to the Ministry of the National Defense : Boulevard Bab Mnara, zip code 1008 Tunis, or

• The Conscription and Mobilization Directorate, Military Base of El Omrane, zip code 1005 Tunis, or

• Through Internet.

NB:

If you are living abroad, you have the possibility to hand your application directly to the Embassy or the nearest Consulate.

3.4 - Exemption from national service accomplishment.

Every citizen is exempted from the national service if he is:

• Acknowledged as medically unfit to the military service by the medical service related to the regional centers of conscription and mobilization.

• Acknowledged as indispensable for family support because he is in charge of one of the following persons, who, from the fact of his conscription, would be deprived of sufficient resources to live :

One or several legitimate children.

             ° A wife whose marriage has been consumed since over two year.

              ° A disabled sister or brother.

              ° being over 28 years and proves that he continues to work and legally live abroad.

              ° Being over 35 years old.

File composition :

* COMMON DOCUMENTS FOR EVRY APPLICATION :

• An application addressed to the Minister in charge of the National Defense,

• A birth certificate of the concerned individual valid for the next three months at least,

• A copy of the national identity card.

• A copy of the census voucher.

• A voucher proving the transfer of one Dinar amount or its equivalent in foreign currency to post account number CCP 616-82 in the name of finance officer "Monsieur le régisseur des recettes du Ministère de la Défense Nationale".

• A registered envelope bearing the name and address of the concerned individual.
  
  

* SPECIFIC ITEMS TO EACH CASE:

DUAL NATIONALITY:

*If you are living in Tunisia contact:

• The office of the Military Attache at the Embassy of Tunisia.

• The Consulate of Tunisia in the state where you want to serve.

4 - THE ORGANS OF THE DIRECTION OF CONSCRIPTION AND MOBILIZATION

• Reginol Centers of Conscription and Mobilization

• Regional Offices of the National Service