Many travellers do not need a visa for Morocco. Citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, European Union countries, Australia and a number of other states can generally enter visa-free for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Other nationalities must apply in advance, either through a Moroccan consulate or the official e-visa system.
Who can enter Morocco without a visa
Morocco keeps a list of countries whose citizens are exempt from a visa for short tourist visits. It includes most of Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and several countries in Latin America, the Gulf and Africa. If your passport is on that list, you simply arrive, have your passport stamped and receive permission to stay for up to 90 days.
The list is set by the Moroccan government and it does change. Before you book flights, check the current rules with the Moroccan embassy or consulate in your country, or with your own government's travel advice page. Do not rely on a blog, including this one, as your final source.
Who needs a visa and how to apply
If your nationality is not exempt, you need a visa before you travel. There are two routes.
- E-visa: Morocco runs an official online visa platform. It is open to certain nationalities and, in some cases, to travellers who hold a valid visa or residence permit from specific countries or zones such as the Schengen area, the United States or the United Kingdom. Eligibility conditions are published on the official platform.
- Consular visa: everyone else applies through the Moroccan embassy or consulate that covers their place of residence. You submit a form, photos, passport, proof of accommodation, travel bookings and proof of funds, and pay a fee.
Processing times vary by consulate and season. Apply several weeks before departure and do not buy non-refundable tickets until the visa is issued. Only use the official government e-visa site. Third-party sites that look similar often charge extra fees for the same application.
Passport validity and documents to carry
Your passport must be valid for your whole stay. Many airlines and official sources recommend at least six months of validity from the date you arrive, and that is the safe standard to follow. Make sure the passport has at least one blank page for the entry stamp, and that it is not damaged. Border officers can refuse a passport with torn pages.
At the border you may be asked for some or all of the following:
- The address of your first accommodation in Morocco (a riad or hotel booking is enough)
- A return or onward ticket
- Your occupation and the purpose of your visit
- Proof that you can pay for your stay
Keep a paper or offline copy of your first night's booking. Phone signal in arrival halls is not always reliable. Check that the officer has stamped your passport before you leave the desk, because a missing entry stamp causes problems when you depart.
How long you can stay
The standard tourist stay is up to 90 days. That is more than enough for almost every holiday: a typical trip covering Marrakech, the Sahara and Fes takes 7 to 10 days. For a sense of how that time is used, see our complete 10-day Morocco itinerary.
If you want to stay longer than your permitted period, you must request an extension from the police in the city where you are staying, at the office that handles foreigners, well before your 90 days run out. Extensions are not automatic. Overstaying can lead to a fine and a delay at the airport while the matter is settled, so do not let the date pass.
Entry points and what arrival looks like
Most visitors arrive by air at Casablanca Mohammed V, Marrakech Menara, Fes, Tangier, Agadir or Rabat. Others cross by ferry from Spain to Tangier Med or Tangier Ville, a crossing of roughly one to one and a half hours from Tarifa or Algeciras.
The process is the same everywhere: passport control first, then baggage reclaim, then customs. Queues at Marrakech and Casablanca can take anything from 15 minutes to more than an hour when several flights land together. If you have a driver waiting, tell them your flight number so they can follow delays. Our guides for visitors travelling to Morocco from the USA cover flight routes and arrival in more detail.
Customs rules worth knowing
A few customs points catch visitors out more often than visa rules do.
- Dirhams: the Moroccan dirham (MAD) is a restricted currency. You are only allowed to bring in or take out a small amount, so exchange money after you arrive and spend or change back what is left before you go.
- Drones: bringing a drone into Morocco without prior authorisation is not permitted. Drones are routinely held at customs, so leave yours at home.
- Medication: carry prescription medicine in its original packaging with a copy of the prescription.
- Large sums of cash: foreign currency above a certain value should be declared on arrival. Check the current threshold with official sources.
A simple pre-departure checklist
- Confirm whether your nationality needs a visa, using an official source.
- Check your passport's expiry date and blank pages.
- Apply for an e-visa or consular visa if required, allowing several weeks.
- Save your first accommodation address and return ticket offline.
- Buy travel insurance that covers medical care and the activities you plan, such as trekking or camel riding.
- Plan your route. Once the paperwork is clear, you can compare private Morocco tours or start from the airport you land at, for example with tours starting in Casablanca.
Frequently asked questions
Do US, UK and EU citizens need a visa for Morocco?
For tourist stays of up to 90 days, citizens of these countries generally do not need a visa. Confirm with the Moroccan embassy or your government's travel advice before you fly, as rules can change.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Morocco?
Morocco does not offer a general visa on arrival. If your nationality requires a visa, arrange it in advance through the official e-visa platform or a Moroccan consulate.
How many months must my passport be valid?
It must be valid for the length of your stay, and six months of remaining validity on arrival is the widely recommended safe margin. Airlines may refuse boarding if they consider your passport validity too short.
Does a tour company arrange my visa?
No. A visa is a personal application between you and the Moroccan authorities. A tour operator can provide a booking confirmation or itinerary, which is often useful as supporting evidence.
Once your entry documents are sorted, contact Discover Morocco Tour for a free custom quote and we will reply within 24 hours.