Bureaucratic formalities for visiting Morocco: documentation, visas, customs...
Preparing for a trip to Morocco involves taking care of various bureaucratic formalities such as documentation, visas, customs and permits. Here is some detailed information.
Exploring Morocco has become an attractive option for tourists, thanks to the country's firm commitment to the tourism sector in recent years.
Although the requirements for travelling to Morocco have been relaxed, there are still regulations and formalities that travellers must comply with in relation to documentation, the Moroccan visa, and other aspects.
- Documents needed to travel to Morocco
- Entry requirements for Morocco at Customs
- How to complete the temporary import permit for the vehicle?
- What can you import and export at Moroccan customs?
In this article, we provide detailed information on these requirements, although it is important to note that these regulations may change over time due to political, health or other factors.
It is therefore advisable to check with your travel agent or consulate before planning your visit. Do I need a passport to go to Morocco? Do I need a visa for Morocco? We explain it below.
Documents needed to travel to Morocco
Here is the guide to the documents you will need to obtain your tourist visa:
Application documents:
- Fill out the application form (paper or online).
- Make sure you have two recent passport-style photos.
- If you are not in your home country, bring your residence card or equivalent document.
- Your passport must be valid for more than 3 months from the start of your trip.
- Don't forget a photocopy of the identification and validity pages of your passport.
- Show a bank statement.
- Attach a request from an authorised travel agency or a recommendation from the Ministry of Tourism or the Delegation of the Moroccan National Tourist Office.
Documents to collect your visa:
- Get your return ticket with confirmed reservation.
- Make sure you have travel insurance valid in Morocco.
- Book your accommodation in the country or present an equivalent voucher.
- Prepare your chancellery fees.
Passport requirements for Morocco
If you are a citizen of any of these countries, you only need your passport to enjoy this fascinating destination:
List of countries: Algeria, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Argentina, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Finland, France, Germany, Gabon, Philippines, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Great Britain, Greece, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Macao Administrative Region, Romania, San Marino, China, Russian Federation, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia and Turkey.
Tourists from these countries can stay in Morocco for up to 90 days, with the option to extend their stay for a further 90 days. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 3 months from the date of travel, although 6 months is recommended to cover any extension of stay. Also, you will need to complete a simple information form on arrival in Morocco, either at the airport of departure or on board the ferry if you choose this option.
For some countries, their citizens do not require a tourist visa to visit Morocco, but should be aware of specific conditions:
- Electronic Authorisation for Travel to Morocco (ESMA): Citizens of Congo (Brazzaville), Guinea (Conakry) and Mali need to obtain this authorisation before travelling.
- Stay limited to 30 days (non-extendable): For Hong-Kong and Maldives, your stay in Morocco is limited to 30 days, and cannot be extended.
- Stay limited to 90 days (non-extendable): For Malaysia and Hungary, your stay in Morocco is limited to 90 days and cannot be extended.
Passport and visa requirements for Morocco
If your country is not on the above lists and does not have special agreements with Morocco for travel and tourism, then you need to apply for a visa to enter. Also, make sure you have a valid passport with at least 3 months validity from the start of your trip (it would be great if you have 6 months validity from the start of your trip).
Entry requirements for Morocco at Customs
If you plan to take your own car to Morocco, be aware that, in addition to passport control, you will have to meet specific requirements at customs. This includes completing and submitting a vehicle form along with all the necessary documents.
At customs, you will be asked for the vehicle's temporary admission declaration, the car's original registration certificate, your passport, an insurance policy covering Morocco, in case the driver is not the owner, a legalised power of attorney from the owner of the vehicle. If you are using a rental car, you must show the contract authorising the vehicle's entry into Morocco.
It is important to remember that only one vehicle per person is allowed, and this is linked to the passport number. In addition, when you leave Morocco, you must cancel the vehicle's import permit, which was completed when you entered the country.
How to complete the temporary import permit for the vehicle?
To obtain the temporary import permit for your vehicle in Morocco, you must complete the procedure at the country's customs office.
However, to facilitate the process, an online form has been set up for you to complete. In this form, you will need to provide essential details such as your name, passport number, vehicle VIN, model, make, registration plate and date of registration.
It is crucial that, when applying for the permit, you meet all the requirements for travel to Morocco, including possession of your visa (if required) and a passport with a customs stamp. It is not uncommon to see people at customs who are willing to help you complete the paperwork for a small tip of up to 10 dirhams normally.
What can you import and export at Moroccan customs?
At Moroccan customs, items are classified into three groups: those that can be freely imported, those that require special formalities and those that are prohibited.
Below, we will look at each of them in detail:
Objects of free importation
Objects of free importation into Morocco are items such as clothing, personal jewellery, musical instruments, personal electronic devices, wheelchairs, light sporting goods and children's toys, which can enter or leave without being taxed or declared.
Goods subject to special formalities
Certain goods in Morocco, such as plant products, animals, personal medicines, donations to local entities, hunting weapons, industrial products and telecommunications equipment, are not prohibited, but must meet specific requirements, such as phytosanitary certificates, veterinary certificates or authorisations.
If these requirements are not met, owners may have to pay taxes or leave the items at customs for a maximum of 45 days for regularisation; otherwise, they will be considered abandoned.
Prohibited goods for import
In Morocco, it is forbidden to import or export items such as weapons and ammunition of war, narcotics, materials contrary to good manners and public order, counterfeit goods and the local currency, the Dirham.