Before you book

Do You Need a Visa for Morocco? Entry Rules Explained

By Hassan Bouaouina, licensed guide and founder of Uniquely Morocco, guiding since 2004.

Hassan welcoming travelers at the start of their tour

Quick answer

Citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada and Australia can enter as tourists without a visa for up to 90 days. Travel with a passport valid for at least six months from the day you arrive.

Who needs a visa

Travelers from the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada and Australia do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. No vaccinations are required for entry. Other nationalities should ask the Moroccan consulate, because some need a visa or an online authorisation, and I am happy to help you check.

Nationalities that need a visa

Many nationalities can visit Morocco without a visa for up to 90 days, including citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the European Union countries, Switzerland, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea, among others. Some nationalities need a visa, and a number of them can apply online for an electronic visa. South African passport holders, for example, apply through the Moroccan Embassy, which only accepts applications in the three months before travel. Always check with the Moroccan consulate for your passport before you book flights.

For guests who need a visa, I send a confirmation letter with your itinerary and hotels to support the application.

Arriving at the airport

  • You fill in a short arrival form or have your details taken at the passport desk, with the address of your first hotel.
  • Your passport is stamped with your entry date. Keep it safe, because hotels and riads register every guest with the passport details.
  • After baggage, customs may scan your luggage. Drones are confiscated without prior authorisation.
  • On my tours I or your driver wait in the arrivals hall with your name.

Money rules at the border

RuleWhat it means for you
Dirham cashYou may bring in or take out up to 2,000 MAD in banknotes
Foreign currencyDeclare 100,000 MAD or more in value when you arrive, and keep the form
Leaving with foreign cashAmounts of 100,000 MAD or more need your arrival declaration or a bank document
Changing money backKeep your exchange receipts so you can change dirhams back at the airport

Failing to declare large sums can lead to seizure of the excess and a fine. For everyday travel money, see money, tipping, ATMs and SIM cards.

Staying longer than 90 days

Visa free visitors who want to stay beyond 90 days must apply for an extension at the police before the end of the stay. Overstaying can bring a fine and problems at departure, so plan your dates carefully.

Passport validity

My advice to every guest is simple: travel with a passport valid for at least six months from your arrival date, with a blank page for the entry stamp. Airlines often check this at check in, so it saves any stress at the airport.

Money and cash at the border

You may bring in or take out up to 2,000 MAD in banknotes. Change leftover dirhams back before you leave and keep your exchange receipts. If you bring a large amount of foreign cash, declare it on arrival and keep the form until you leave.

Drones and gadgets

Drones need prior authorisation and are confiscated if you arrive without it.

Questions

Quick questions

How long can I stay in Morocco without a visa?

Up to 90 days for the nationalities above.

Do I need vaccinations?

None are required for entry, but see a travel clinic about routine vaccines.

Can I bring a drone?

Only with prior authorisation.

Can I bring dirhams into Morocco?

Yes, up to 2,000 MAD in banknotes.

Do South Africans need a visa for Morocco?

Yes. They apply through the Moroccan Embassy, within three months of travel.

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