The Kingdom of Morocco is located in northern Africa. In this wonderful country, the tourist season lasts more than 8 months. Travelers are attracted by inexpensive tours, accommodation in excellent hotels that welcome holidaymakers all year round, a colorful atmosphere and a European level of service. But still, foreigners are well aware of the influence of Muslim life. The local way of life is reflected in the rules for passing customs control and staying in the country.
Russians often wonder whether a visa is needed for Morocco? A significant advantage for them is that they have a visa-free regime. But there are still some features and nuances that you should know about in advance. More details about them on Travel247.
Visa-free regime
Tourists in Morocco
For several years now, Russians have not needed a visa to visit Morocco for a tourist trip. If you are a citizen of Belarus or Ukraine, obtaining a visa is mandatory. The visa-free regime has its own characteristic features:
- the trip is planned solely for tourism purposes;
- the period of stay in the Kingdom is no more than three months;
- it is necessary to adhere to established laws and regulations;
- there are no prohibited items in your luggage for import into the country.
If the permissible period of stay in the country without a visa needs to be extended, a special permit must be obtained. This must be done no later than 15 days before the end of the three-month visa-free regime.
To visit the country without a visa you need:
- enter all the necessary data into the migration card;
- undergo inspection at customs;
- The validity of the foreign passport must be at least 6 months.
It is recommended to fill out the migration card in advance; it is issued on board the plane. You should not print out the form yourself, as it will most likely not be accepted.
Question to the expert
Who does the visa-free regime apply to?
It applies to Russians who visit the country for tourism purposes for a period of no more than 90 days.
Despite the fact that Russian citizens do not need to apply for a visa, at passport control a person may be asked to provide a hotel reservation or confirm their welfare. But this happens extremely rarely.
Long-term visa
The Embassy does not issue visas for stays longer than 90 days. This visa is needed mainly for CIS citizens, since they do not have the right to visa-free entry.
Required documents to obtain:
- Confirmation of the purpose of the trip: invitation, hotel reservation for the entire duration of the trip, conference, work.
- Original passport valid for more than 6 months at the time of departure and a copy of its first three pages.
- A copy of paid round-trip air tickets.
- A copy of a document that confirms permanent and legal residence in Russia, Kazakhstan or Belarus.
- One photo.
- Certificate from work.
- Medical insurance.
- Completed visa application form.
- Payment of the fee: 2095 rubles.
Types of visas
Tourist visa
The visa-free regime does not allow Russians to stay in Morocco for a long time or carry out work activities.
To visit the country you may need one of the following types of visa:
- tourist spot;
- transit;
- working;
- educational;
- business;
- long-term;
- resident card.
As already noted, Russians do not need to obtain a tourist or transit permit. The main thing is not to violate the established rules for visiting the state.
- With a student document, a foreigner will be able to enter a higher educational institution and receive an education.
- A work visa is an official document that allows you to carry out work and receive wages for performing your duties.
- A business permit works on the same principle. Its main difference is that using such a document you can open your own business.
- A long-term permit is issued for a maximum period of 3 months. It is necessary for those foreigners who plan to visit the country not for the purpose of leisure or work. For example, such a visa is issued for participation in conferences and sports competitions.
- A residence permit gives a person the right to stay and live in Morocco on an equal basis with other local residents. When first received, it is valid for 12 months. In the future, it is issued for up to 5 years.
Types of visas
Copper door of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. The mosque is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. This is the second largest mosque in the world, the height of its minaret is 210 meters, which significantly exceeds the height of the Cheops pyramid. The mosque was built in 1993. The amount for construction was collected from donations from believers. 25 thousand believers can pray inside it, and another 80 thousand in the square next to it.
You do not need to obtain a permit to travel to Morocco if the purpose of your trip is tourism. But foreign citizens have the right to long-term residence in the country or employment only when they issue a visa document.
Work visa to Morocco
This type of permit allows you to legally work in the country. In this case, a visa to Morocco is issued for the period of validity of the business contract. To receive it, you need to provide the authorities with an invitation from the employing company from the host country. In addition, the organization to which the foreign citizen was invited must be registered in Morocco.
Old fortress. Any Moroccan city begins with the Kasbah, an old fortress, and the Medina, which stretches around the historical quarter. This is how all major cities in Morocco are arranged - first you see modern buildings, then you find yourself in the Medina, and in the very middle, in the very heart of the city, stands the Kasbah.
In this country, the number of unemployed citizens is 20-25%. Therefore, local employers set strict rules for foreign workers. Natives of Morocco are predominantly employed, and citizens of other countries are hired for positions much less frequently.
Transit visa to Morocco
Castle and port of Essaouira on the Atlantic coast in Morocco.
The fortress-port of Essaouira is located 170 km north of Agadir on the coast and is the center of Moroccan art, there are a lot of galleries located inside the fortress walls, among which the art galleries are the most famous. Russian citizens do not need to obtain a transit visa. Citizens of other countries must apply for it. You will have to collect the same documents as for obtaining a tourist permit. To fly through Morocco, Russian citizens will have to provide tickets to the country of arrival.
student visa
Le Jardin Secret, Marrakech, Morocco.
Marrakesh is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco. It is an economic center located in the west of the country, famous for its mosques, palaces and gardens. The medina, a medieval part of the city built during Berber rule and surrounded by a fortified fortress wall, attracts tourists with labyrinthine streets and colorful souks selling traditional textiles, pottery and jewelry. This document allows you to study unhindered at a university in Morocco. To obtain a student permit, you will need to provide an invitation from an educational institution from the host country. It can be issued at the Moscow embassy.
Also, upon arrival in Morocco, the student will have to contact local authorities to obtain a residence permit. This will give him the right to stay in the country for the required time for training.
Long-term Moroccan visa
Sahara Desert, Morocco.
The Sahara is the largest sandy area on the globe, stretching in North Africa from the Red Sea to the Atlantic for almost five thousand kilometers. Such a visa will have to be obtained in a situation where the purpose of the foreign citizen’s travel is not tourism (conferences, business meetings). If you need more than 90 days to complete all matters in Morocco, worry about obtaining a residence permit.
Visa to Morocco. Russian citizens do not need a visa to visit Morocco for a period not exceeding 90 days. To enter the country you will only need a foreign passport and a migration card. If circumstances require you to stay for a longer period, you should contact the foreign department of the local police department and extend your stay. The passport must remain valid for 6 months from the date of departure from the kingdom.
What documents are needed
International passport
Depending on the type of visa, various documents may be required.
All papers, with the exception of the passport, must be completed in French or Arabic. It can also be a translation certified by a notary.
For all types of visas you must provide the following documents:
- questionnaire with filled in fields;
- a copy of a foreign passport;
- a receipt confirming payment of customs duties;
- a document indicating the residential address;
- 4 photos;
- medical insurance.
List of documents for each type of visa:
- For a tourist permit, you will additionally need to have paid round-trip plane tickets.
- To obtain a student permit, you must additionally provide an invitation from the educational institution.
- For a work visa, you need a certificate from your previous workplace, as well as an invitation from your future employer.
- The business document also requires official documentation from Moroccan business partners, as well as confirmation from the Russian employer, which indicates the availability of relevant opportunities.
- To obtain a long-term visa, you must clearly explain the purpose of visiting the country, as well as have a round-trip plane ticket reservation.
To obtain a residence permit, you will need to provide:
- a copy of a foreign passport;
- 6 photos;
- a copy of the marriage certificate, if available;
- a guarantee that you will have a place to live;
- an official document from a banking institution confirming the opening of an account and the availability of sufficient funds for living.
What visas are issued in Morocco?
This is what a Moroccan visa looks like in a passport.
If you decide to stay to work in the state, a work visa is issued. It is issued only with documentary confirmation from an employer who is ready to hire a tourist.
The certificate must contain information that the vacancy for which the applicant is applying is not filled, and the employer needs a foreign specialist.
Getting a job in the Kingdom is quite difficult. There is an unspoken requirement - to give priority in employment to the local population, in extreme cases to invite foreign specialists.
Self-permit procedure
Embassy of Morocco
The procedure for the legal stay of a foreigner in the territory of the Moroccan Kingdom depends on which country he is a citizen of, as well as the purpose and duration of his stay.
If Russian travelers visit Morocco for tourism purposes, they do not need to apply for a visa; a special mark is placed in their foreign passport.
To obtain all other types of visas, you must go to the Moroccan consulate located in Russia. It is located in the capital. To obtain permission on your own, a citizen will have to contact the embassy three times:
- During the first visit, a person receives a questionnaire and a list of required papers.
- On the second visit, the consulate accepts the necessary documents.
- At the 3rd meeting, the citizen is given a foreign passport - if the outcome is positive, he will receive a visa.
This process should only be carried out by the person who needs to obtain permission - this matter cannot be trusted to strangers.
Registration cost
At the same time as Russian citizens no longer need to obtain permits, the Moroccan authorities have completely abolished entry fees. Staying in the country for a full three months without a visa and without the right to carry out business activities is free. The stamp is affixed without paying a fee.
As for obtaining and processing a visa, you will have to pay for it. The exact tariff plans for special business permits should be clarified in advance upon your first visit to the Embassy. On average, long-term visas cost 2,100 rubles. A more accurate cost depends on the length of the planned stay and the goal set. Payment is made in rubles at the current exchange rate.
Traveling with children
Traveling to Morocco with a child
The following rules apply to persons under the age of majority:
- if the child has a personal foreign passport, then a migration card is also issued for him;
- if the child is indicated in the father or mother’s passport, one card is issued for the child and the parent;
- if a child visits the country with only one parent, then it is necessary to have permission from the second;
- if a child travels without parents, but with an accompanying person, then a power of attorney will be required from both parents;
- if it is not possible to obtain permission or a power of attorney from one of the parents, there must be compelling objective reasons for this.
Registration of visas for children
In addition to all the documents listed above, to obtain a visa for minors, a birth certificate is required, as well as permission for the child to travel abroad from the mother or father 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 is deceased or deprived of rights, permission will only be required from the other, but you must have paper with you confirming the absence (death certificate, etc.). For visa-free entry of a child into Morocco, this permit is also required.
Price and processing time
The city of Fetz in Morocco
In addition to the fact that Russian citizens do not need to obtain a tourist visa, border crossing fees have also been waived for them. Such conditions are valid for those who plan to stay in the country for no more than 90 days without the opportunity to carry out work.
FAQ
How much will it cost to obtain a visa?
The price depends on the type of visa and may vary. It is necessary to clarify the information at the embassy.
But you need to pay for a visa. Approximate prices are as follows:
- transit, long-term and student documents – 2,100 rubles;
- For other types of visas, the cost must be clarified in advance.
Payment is made in rubles, but prices may change due to unstable exchange rates.
- It can take an average of 10-14 days to obtain a visa. More exact deadlines can be found at the time of submitting documents.
- If embassy employees have questions, they can schedule a personal meeting with the applicant, at which they will clarify the points of interest. As a result, the period for obtaining permission may be extended.
- For those citizens who are covered by the visa-free regime, the procedure for obtaining papers will take no more than one hour (depending on the number of people in line and the duration of customs control).
It only takes a couple of minutes to get a stamp on your passport.
Self-registration
The process of full official legalization of a foreign citizen directly depends on the current citizenship, the temporary period of stay and the designated purposes of the trip. If you plan to come to the kingdom for a total period exceeding 90 days, you will need to obtain a special permit for this.
To apply for one of the long-term visas - student, business or work - you need to contact the official embassy. The organization is located in Moscow. It is important to make an appointment with the consulate. During the initial visit, the person will be given a special application form and a list of papers and documents that need to be collected. The applicant also needs to make an appointment for a secondary appointment to submit the collected and prepared papers.
If everything is in order with the documents, if all the requirements are met, you just have to visit the consulate again at a pre-arranged time. During this period, a completed document with permission is issued.
Documents cannot be submitted for other persons. When applying for a visa, a person must be present in person. As an exception, parents who act on behalf of children who have not reached the official age of majority are considered.
If you are visiting Morocco in transit, you will not need to obtain a permit. It will be possible to stay in the country for up to 5 days without affixing a stamp.
Extension of temporary stay
The city of El Jadida in Morocco
If there is a need to renew your permit, you need to go to the Moroccan police department. The period can be extended by 90, 185 or 360 days, depending on the purpose of the stay.
On a note! It is important to submit your request no later than two weeks before the document expires.
Extension of visa-free stay
If a person arriving in Morocco without a visa wants to stay in the country for longer than 90 days, it is necessary to obtain a residence permit. To do this, no later than 75 days from the date of entry, you need to go to the police station and submit an application.
Some people practice the “visa-run” method: a short trip to visa-free Tunisia, or Mauritania or Spain (if you have the 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.
Reasons for refusal
Marrakech
The Royal Embassy may decide to refuse permission to visit the country. This happens due to non-compliance with customs regulations. If a foreigner adheres to all established laws, correctly filled out the application form and provided all the necessary documents, refusal is impossible.
In some cases, consular officials may refuse to issue a document and have the right not to explain the reason for their decision.
The most common reasons for refusal are:
- errors when filling out the form and processing documents;
- fraud or illegal actions have been detected;
- there were violations in the previous visa regime;
- the foreigner was blacklisted.
Cases of visa refusal
Traditional Moroccan architectural details in Chaven, Morocco. Chaven is a city in Morocco that is famous for its architecture and the fact that the vast majority of the walls of its buildings are painted in various shades of blue and light blue.
The most well-known reason for refusal to issue a permit is violation of customs rules. Individuals who comply with all state requirements are most often allowed to enter the country. But those foreign citizens who previously violated the visa regime may not be allowed into Morocco.
If a permit is refused, the applicant must be notified of the reasons for such a decision in an official letter. In this situation, it is necessary to eliminate the existing shortcomings and reapply for permission. This will allow you to receive the desired document without any problems. You can also appeal a visa refusal. It must be compiled correctly and include arguments in favor of the traveler.
Customs regulations
Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Morocco
The main condition for obtaining permission to visit the country visa-free is compliance with the established rules of the Kingdom. Some of them may be unusual for Russians.
Regarding the rules regarding monetary matters, you can carry an unlimited amount of foreign currency with you when crossing the border, but it is not allowed to be used within Morocco. The only currency used in the country is dirhams. It cannot be taken outside the state.
There are also restrictions on the transport of certain products:
- no more than one bottle of strong alcohol;
- one bottle of wine drink;
- 50 cigars or 10 packs of cigarettes.
If the values are exceeded, the goods must be declared.
You cannot enter the territory of the Kingdom with weapons, drugs, or items that contradict Islam.
If we are talking about electronics, then it must be securely packaged and have a declaration. In some cases, permission to transport them is required, which is issued at the consulate in Russia.
If a foreigner plans to import or export art objects, he must have a special permit for this.
On a note! Morocco has strict customs regulations and laws. If they are not followed, the offender may face severe penalties. In case of serious violations, a foreigner may be quickly deported from the country and subsequently banned from visiting Morocco.
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 purposes. You cannot study or work with visa-free entry. To cross the border you must:
- present to the customs officer a foreign passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of completion of the trip;
- fill out the migration card correctly (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 is unable to provide them, problems with crossing the border may occur.
The visa is not pasted into the passport, but a special stamp with an individual number is placed; the passenger will receive the same one (only with departure information) on the way back.
Every tourist must undergo customs control; if violated, they may not be allowed into Morocco. You cannot take with you more than 1 bottle of strong alcohol and 1 bottle of wine, 10 packs of cigarettes. The import of not only weapons and drugs, but also gasoline in cans, items that violate Islamic norms is strictly prohibited (this includes any materials discrediting Islam and the people who profess this religion, as well as the existing system and senior leadership in the country, any pornographic products ).
Please note that local Moroccan currency cannot be taken into or out of Morocco. Other money (dollars, euros, etc.) can be taken in unlimited quantities, but an amount equivalent to 15,000 MAD and above must be declared.
How to fill out a migration card in Morocco
Migration card forms 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 should be allowed.
At the top of the form, in the frame, mark the date and flight number. 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 from where the plane took off, place of residence in Morocco (only the name of the hotel and the city are allowed ) and contact phone number. The last point is the purpose of the visit (you need to tick the box, for example, tourism).
One part of the migration card will be taken away upon entry, but it is important to keep the second part until the end of the trip.
