Travelling to Morocco

The visa requirements for living in Morocco vary somewhat by country. Many countries allow foreigners to reside or travel in Morocco for 90 days before it is required to apply for a visa, which means that if you are doing only a short course of studies or internship, or are just in Morocco as a tourist, you may not need to apply for a visa at all. Other countries require foreigners to apply for a visa before arriving in Morocco. Anyone looking to stay past 90 days must have some type of valid visa.

Requirements by country

To travel to Morocco for less than 90 days, nationals of the countries listed below do not need to apply for a visa. All that is required is a valid passport.

• All European Union citizens
• Algeria
• Andorra
• Argentina
• Australia
• Bahrain
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chile
• China
• Gabon
• Hong Kong
• Iceland
• Indonesia
• Ivory Coast
• Japan
• Kuwait
• Liechtenstein
• Macau
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Mexico
• Monaco
• New Zealand
• Niger
• Norway
• Oman
• Peru
• Philippines
• Qatar
• Russia
• San Marino
• Saudi Arabia
• Senegal
• Singapore (30 days)
• South Korea
• Switzerland
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• UAE
• USA
• Venezuela

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA):

• Republic of Congo
• Guinea
• Mali

Visa not required for holders of passport of the United Nations (laissez-passer) travelling on duty.

Visa waiver agreement for diplomatic passports was signed with Angola, and it is yet to come into force.

If you are from one of these countries and wish to extend your stay in Morocco, you can request an extension of stay at the local police protectorate. If you are employed or are studying, you must apply for a visa through your employer or school before the 90-day period is up.

Differences by country

If your country is not on the list of nationalities exempted from a visa, you have to contact the Moroccan embassy or consulate nearest to your area for more information about obtaining a visa. You will need to produce a :

• Duly filled and signed application form
• Copy of your passport's first page,
• Copy of your legal status in your country of origin
• Two passport size colour pictures of you.

You may also need other documents such as a copy of your detailed provisional flight itinerary, or an employment certificate from your actual or previous employer, and hotel reservation. If you are a student, you will need a confirmation letter from the college or university you will be attending. If you are moving to Morocco to set up a business, you will need to produce a copy of your last income tax.

The required documents may differ according to your country of origin.

 Good to know:

A resident card is required for certain services, for instance, opening a bank account in the country. If you are waiting for your card to be delivered, you can usually use the receipt, which you will receive when you turn in your documents. The card takes at least three months to be issued after you apply. Note that the receipt also expires every three months, requiring you to go to the prefecture to get it stamped if the card is not ready on time. It is wise to apply for and renew visas well before the deadline, as the process can sometimes be complicated and requirements can change.

Visa extension in Morocco

Applying for a Visa extension in Morocco or for a residency card are not very different although Visa extension can take a lot of time. To proceed for either of them, you need to report to the Bureau des Etrangers (Foreigners' Office) at the head police precinct (not just any local police station). For a Visa extension you will need:

• 3 copies of your passport and original
• Proof of where you're staying
• Copies of your bank statement proving you can support yourself.

Keep in mind that these copies will have to be notarized at any prefecture (an average of 2 DH per copy for the stamps)

Residency card in Morocco

Application for residency card is also done at the Bureau des Etrangers (Foreigners Office) at the head police precinct in the city where you're staying. The documents required for a first application and a renewal are not different, you will need :

• Two registration forms, and two information cards presented at the Office
• 100 Dhs
• Birth certificate translated in Arabic
• Certificate of domicile
• Medical clearance certificate
• Criminal background check
• CV in French or Arabic
• Copy of your passport including one of the entry stamp
• Bank statement showing you can support yourself
• 6 passport-size pictures

 Good to know:

The application process for a residency card differs depending on your case (marriage, family, etc.). Your first application is good for one year; then it's extended for either 5 or 10 years. If you've travelled to Morocco with the intention to stay, you will have to apply for a residency card within the first 15 days of your stay. After your third renewal of a residency card you can then apply for a residency permit (note the difference between residency card and permit), that's valid for 10 years and will allow you to create a bank account and work.

 Useful link:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs