According to liuxers.com, the North African country of Morocco with a warm climate, unique culture and low prices is becoming an attractive holiday destination for many travelers. An additional advantage is the ability to enter the territory of the state without a visa if the period of stay does not exceed 90 days, and the purpose of the visit is tourism.
Those who travel to the Kingdom of Morocco to study, work or conduct business will have to apply for a visa for 3 months, and then obtain a residence permit for a period of 1 to 5 years.
Tourist visa to Morocco: general information
| Do they give multivisa? | give for 3 months |
| Term of receipt | 14 business days |
| Validity limit | 6 months from date of entry |
- The cost of a regular visa
- Express Visa: not issued
- Visa fees: 34USD
Types of visas
There are the following types of visas:
- visa-free entry – up to 90 days;
- long-term visa (study, work, business, etc.);
- residence permit, it is issued on the spot.
Visa-free entry
Russian citizens have the right to stay in Morocco without a visa for 90 days. In this case, the purpose of the trip may be tourism, visiting relatives and other private tasks. You cannot study or work with a visa-free entry.
To cross the border, you must:
- present to the customs officer a passport valid for at least 6 months from the end date of the trip;
- correctly fill out the migration card (details below).
You must have return tickets, a hotel reservation or other confirmation of your place of residence, as well as a bank statement guaranteeing the availability of funds. In practice, these documents are rarely checked, but if the tourist cannot provide them, there may be problems crossing the border.
A visa is not glued into the passport, but a special stamp with an individual number is put, the passenger will receive the same (only with information about the exit) on the way back.
Each tourist must pass the customs control procedure, in case of violation in Morocco they may not be allowed in. You can not take with you more than 1 bottle of strong alcohol and 1 bottle of wine, 10 packs of cigarettes. It is strictly forbidden to import not only weapons and drugs, but also gasoline in canisters, items that violate Islamic norms (these include any materials that defame Islam and people who profess this religion, as well as the existing system and top leadership in the country, any pornographic products).
Please note that the local Moroccan currency cannot be brought into or out of Morocco. Other money (dollars, euros, etc.) can be taken in unlimited quantities, but the amount equivalent to 15,000 MAD and above must be declared.
How to fill out a migration card in Morocco
Forms of the migration card are distributed on the plane, so it is convenient to enter data into it during the flight. If necessary, flight attendants will answer all questions. The pen is blue or black, you need to write in Latin, capital letters in English, French or Arabic. No mistakes or corrections allowed.
At the top of the form, in the frame, the date and flight number are noted. Then they write the last name, first name, maiden name (if any), date and place of birth, current citizenship, country of residence, profession, passport number and date of issue, place where the plane took off from, place of residence in Morocco (only the name of the hotel and city are possible) and a contact number. The last item is the purpose of the visit (it should be ticked, for example, tourism).
One part of the migration card will be taken away at the entrance, it is important to keep the second part until the end of the trip.
Extension of visa-free stay
If you arrive in Morocco without a visa and want to stay in the country for more than 90 days, you must apply for a residence permit. To do this, no later than 75 days from the date of entry, you must contact the police station and submit an application.
Some practice the “visa run” method: a short trip to visa-free Tunisia, or Mauritania or Spain (if there is an appropriate visa), and then return to Morocco for another 90 days. There is no official ban on such an “extension”, but customs officers may have questions.
Applying for a visa yourself
In some cases, Russians may need to apply for a visa to Morocco. This applies to those who travel to the country to study, work, do business or for other similar purposes. Despite the fact that the visa is called long-term, it is also issued for 3 months with the possibility of subsequent extension or residence permit. Documents can only be submitted in person at the embassy. Papers are not accepted by mail.
The entire package of documents must be translated into French or Arabic and notarized.
Documents for a visa to Morocco
Required documents for obtaining a visa to Morocco:
- Questionnaire
The visa application form is available at the embassy website, where you can also find recommendations for filling out;
- international passport
The validity period must exceed 6 months from the date of departure from the country, photocopies of all pages are also required;
- Documents confirming the purpose of stay
An invitation from an educational institution or company to a conference, colloquium, work contract, etc.;
- Booking a hotel
Accept both paid and regular reservations;
- Flights
Paid round-trip tickets with exact dates, as well as their photocopies;
- Copy of Russian passport
We need copies of all pages with any marks;
- Insurance policy
Medical insurance (and its photocopy), which can be issued online, the type should be chosen based on the perceived risks;
- Help from the place of work
Certificate from work with the prescribed position and salary, for students – a certificate from the place of study;
- Photo
Two photographs 35×45 mm in size (see requirements below);
Visa processing for children
In addition to all the documents listed above, in order to apply for a visa, minors require a birth certificate, as well as permission for the child to travel abroad from mom or dad if he is traveling with only one of the parents, from both if the children are accompanied by third parties.
If one of the parents has died or is deprived of his rights, permission will only be required from the other, but you must have a paper confirming the absence with you (certificate of death, etc.). For visa-free entry of a child into Morocco, this permission is also required.
Photo Requirements
When applying for a visa, you must provide two color photographs 35 × 45 mm in size, printed on matte or glossy paper. The applicant must be photographed from the front, with a neutral facial expression, a slight smile is allowed, the mouth is closed.
The gaze is directed directly into the camera, large glasses should be removed, small frames that do not cover the eyes can be left. Headwear (other than those worn for religious reasons) is prohibited. Accessories should not cover the face. Too original and extravagant hairstyles are also prohibited, it is desirable that the ears be open. Minimal retouching is allowed, which does not distort the proportions and natural tones of the skin, hair and eyes.
The length of the head from chin to crown is approximately 35 mm (70-80% of the area). There should be another 3 mm of free space from the top to the edge of the frame. The background of the photo is light grey.
Consular fee
Travelers entering the country without a visa are not charged any fees. When applying for a visa, you must pay a consular fee equivalent to 34 USD at the embassy. The exact amount varies depending on the course, you need to find out before the visit. The prices on the page are for October 2022.
Visa processing and validity periods
All procedures related to the border crossing with visa-free entry usually take about an hour. The consulate takes from 14 days to apply for a visa, in some cases the period can be extended, and the applicant is invited for an interview, but this happens extremely rarely. After the traveler submits the paperwork, he is informed of the date of receipt of the finished visa. All entry permits are valid for 3 months.
