The travel visa requirements for Morocco are simpler than most people expect. Citizens of around seventy countries, including the whole of the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Korea, need no visa at all for tourism and can stay for up to 90 days per entry. If you hold one of those passports, you turn up, get a stamp, and that is the whole process.
This guide covers who is exempt, what the 90-day rule actually means, passport validity, the e-visa for everyone else, extensions, and what happens at the border. We are a Moroccan tour operator and deal with arriving guests constantly, but immigration rules do change: treat this as orientation and confirm your own nationality with the Moroccan consulate before you travel.
Do you need a visa for Morocco?
For tourism, probably not. Around seventy nationalities are exempt from the visa requirement for short stays. The exempt list includes:
- All European Union and Schengen countries
- United Kingdom
- United States and Canada
- Australia and New Zealand
- Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong
- Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru
- Switzerland, Norway, Iceland
- Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman
- Turkey, Tunisia, Algeria and several other regional neighbours
That is not the complete list, and it is the kind of list that changes. If your nationality is not obviously on it, check with the Moroccan embassy or consulate for your country before booking flights.
The 90-day rule
Exempt nationalities may stay up to 90 days per entry, counted from the date stamped in your passport on arrival. It is per entry rather than a rolling allowance, so leaving and returning starts a new 90 days, though repeatedly doing so to live in Morocco long-term will eventually attract questions at the border.
The stamp is what matters. Check it before you leave the immigration desk, because a missing or wrong entry stamp causes real problems on departure.
Passport validity
Officially your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay, and the commonly stated minimum is 90 days of remaining validity. In practice, airlines routinely enforce a six-month rule regardless of what the destination requires, and it is the airline that decides whether you board.
The safe answer: travel with at least six months of validity remaining. Also make sure you have a blank page for the stamp.
If you do need a visa: the e-visa
Morocco operates an electronic visa for nationalities that require one. The essentials:
- Single entry, for stays of up to 30 days
- Valid for 180 days from the date of issue, meaning you must enter within that window
- Processing: around 72 hours standard, or 24 hours on the express option
- Applied for online through the official Moroccan government portal at acces-maroc.ma
You will typically need a passport scan, a passport photograph, proof of accommodation, a return or onward ticket and payment of the fee. Apply well before you travel rather than relying on the express service.
Be careful which website you use. There are many commercial sites that charge a substantial mark-up to submit the same form on your behalf. The official portal is the government one.
What about the AEVM?
You may come across references to an “AEVM” electronic travel authorisation for Morocco, and a lot of what is written about it online is now out of date.
The AEVM was a temporary measure introduced around the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. It applied only to citizens of eight African countries, namely Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gabon, Niger, Senegal, Togo and Tunisia, and it ran from 25 September 2025 to 25 January 2026. That window has now closed.
So no, there is no general electronic travel authorisation required to enter Morocco as things stand. If a website tells you that every visitor now needs one, it is either out of date or trying to sell you something. As always, verify against the official portal.
Extending your stay
If you want to stay beyond 90 days, you apply for a residence permit, the carte de séjour, at the local police headquarters, the Préfecture de Police, in the town where you are staying. Start the process well before your 90 days expire, because it takes time and requires documents including proof of address, proof of means and often a local sponsor or contract.
The informal alternative many long-stay visitors use is a “visa run”, leaving the country briefly and re-entering for a fresh 90 days. This works in practice but is not a formal right, and border officers can and do refuse re-entry to people who appear to be living in Morocco on tourist stamps.
Overstaying
Overstaying is treated seriously. You are likely to be held at the airport on departure while a fine is assessed and paperwork completed, and repeat or lengthy overstays can result in being barred from returning. If you realise you are going to overstay, go to the police before your permission expires rather than after.
What happens at the border
Arrival is straightforward. You complete a short entry form with your name, passport details, purpose of visit and your address in Morocco, hand it in with your passport at immigration, and receive a stamp. Officers may ask where you are staying and how long for, which is routine.
Useful to have ready:
- The name and address of your first hotel or riad
- Your return or onward ticket
- Your tour confirmation if you are travelling with an operator
Every accommodation in Morocco registers guests with the police, which is why they take your passport at check-in. That is normal and legally required, not a scam.
A few related practicalities
- Currency. The dirham is a closed currency and technically cannot be taken in or out in quantity. Change money on arrival, and spend or convert back what you have before you leave.
- Vaccinations. None are legally required for entry from most countries. Check routine immunisations with your own doctor.
- Travel insurance. Not a legal entry requirement, but strongly advisable, particularly if you are going into the desert or the mountains.
- Drones. Bringing a drone into Morocco without prior authorisation is prohibited and they are routinely confiscated at customs.
- Double nationality. If you hold Moroccan nationality as well as another, you are expected to enter and leave on your Moroccan passport.
Check before you fly
Immigration rules are the one part of trip planning where being nearly right is not good enough, and they change without much publicity. Confirm your own nationality’s position with the Moroccan embassy or consulate in your country, or the official government visa portal, close to your departure date.
If you are booking a tour with us we will always tell you what we know of the current position, and our drivers meet arrivals daily, so we hear quickly when something at the border changes. See our Morocco tours, read our guide on where to go in Morocco, or get in touch with your dates and nationality and we will help you plan around them.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to travel to Morocco?
Citizens of around seventy countries, including the EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Korea, do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Other nationalities need a visa, and many can apply for an e-visa online. Check your specific nationality with the Moroccan consulate before booking.
How long can I stay in Morocco without a visa?
Up to 90 days per entry for visa-exempt nationalities, counted from the entry stamp in your passport. Staying longer requires a residence permit applied for at the local police headquarters before your 90 days expire.
How much passport validity do I need for Morocco?
Officially your passport must be valid for the length of your stay, with 90 days of remaining validity commonly stated as the minimum. However, airlines frequently enforce a six-month rule of their own, so travel with at least six months remaining to avoid being refused boarding.
How does the Morocco e-visa work?
The e-visa is for nationalities that require a visa. It is single entry for stays of up to 30 days, valid 180 days from issue, and processed in roughly 72 hours as standard or 24 hours on the express option. Apply through the official government portal rather than a commercial reseller.
Is the AEVM travel authorisation still required for Morocco?
No. The AEVM was a temporary measure around the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, applying only to citizens of eight African countries, and it ran from 25 September 2025 to 25 January 2026. That period has ended, and there is no general electronic travel authorisation for Morocco.
What happens if I overstay my 90 days in Morocco?
You will normally be held at the airport on departure while a fine is processed, and repeat or lengthy overstays can lead to being refused entry in future. If you realise you will overstay, approach the police before your permission expires rather than waiting until you leave.
