e-TafaknaA freelance contract governs an assignment that a client gives to an independent professional, paid for a result rather than for subordinated working time. Companies use it to outsource a project, and freelancers use it to secure their payment and their rights.
What every template should include before you sign.
Full identity of the parties, the freelancer's professional status and tax or registration number. These details show that the contractor works independently.
A precise description of the expected result, the deliverables and their acceptance criteria. An assignment defined by deliverables is distinct from a job.
The freelancer chooses methods, hours, place of work and tools, with no reporting line to the client. The freelancer remains free to work for other clients.
Start date, interim milestones and final delivery date. The contract sets out the consequences of a delay caused by either party.
Fixed or milestone-based price, invoicing terms, payment deadline and late-payment penalties. An upfront deposit may be agreed.
Scope of the assignment of rights in the deliverables (uses, territory, duration) and when ownership passes, often on full payment. The freelancer's pre-existing tools remain theirs.
Confidentiality of the client's information during and after the assignment. Rules for any personal data shared with the freelancer.
Termination rights of each party, notice and payment for work already done. Return of documents and handover of work in progress.
Applicable law, competent court or mediation or arbitration. This matters most when client and freelancer are in different countries.
Pick a country: key points, formalities and reference texts.
In Tunisia, a freelance contract falls under general contract law; the point to get right is the contractor's real independence.
All templates in Tunisia
In Algeria, an individual freelancer's activity falls under the self-employed entrepreneur status of Law No. 22-23; the contract follows general Civil Code rules.
All templates in Algeria
In Morocco, freelancers often work under the self-employed entrepreneur status (Law No. 114-13), and the relationship can be reclassified as employment if the client directs it.
All templates in Morocco
In Egypt, a freelance contract is in principle treated as a contract for work (muqawala) under the Civil Code.
All templates in Egypt
In Lebanon, an employment contract can be oral (Labour Code, Art. 12): the actual relationship matters more than the contract's label.
All templates in Lebanon
In Iraq, worker status depends on the direction, supervision and control exercised by the employer, whatever the contract is called.
All templates in Iraq
In Saudi Arabia, freelance work relies on the Freelance Work Document issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and managed on freelance.sa.
All templates in Saudi Arabia
In the UAE, freelancers work under a MOHRE freelance permit or a free zone freelance licence.
All templates in the United Arab Emirates
In Qatar, it is the absence of a relationship of subordination that places a freelance contract under the Civil Code rather than the Labour Law.
All templates in Qatar
In Oman, whether the relationship falls under labour law or civil law depends on whether the client directs and controls the work.
All templates in Oman
In Yemen, the Civil Code (Law No. 14 of 2002) imposes no form; if reclassified as employment, the relationship falls under the Labour Law (Law No. 5 of 1995).
All templates in Yemen
Kenya is a common-law country: whether someone is an employee or an independent contractor depends on the reality of the relationship, not its label.
All templates in Kenya
In France, a registered freelancer is presumed not to be the client's employee, but the presumption falls where there is a permanent legal relationship of subordination.
All templates in France
In Italy, a mainly personal, continuous collaboration organised by the client falls in principle under employee labour law; the law also protects the self-employed against certain abusive clauses.
All templates in ItalySimple signature, OTP signature or TunTrust qualified signature (DigiGO, Mobile ID) in Tunisia.
See the signature levelsOur complete guide to this contract under Tunisian law.
The identity and status of the parties, the scope and deliverables, deadlines, price and payment terms, intellectual property, confidentiality and termination. An independence clause describes how the freelancer organises the work freely. Governing law and dispute resolution complete the contract.
TunisiaAlgeriaMoroccoEgyptSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesQatarOmanIraqYemenLebanonKenyaFranceItalyGeneral information, up to date at the date shown. It does not replace legal advice tailored to your situation.
