Morocco Visa Rules in 2026: Who Can Enter Visa-Free and How

(MOROCCO) Morocco is keeping visa-free entry for many visitors in 2026, but the rules tighten around major tournaments, and digital checks are becoming routine before boarding flights too.

If you’re traveling for AFCON 2025 or scouting plans for the World Cup buildup, expect higher demand, faster screening, and less patience for missing stamps or paperwork. Most tourists and visitors enter for up to 90 days, counted from the passport stamp, so your first task is confirming whether you’re exempt or must apply.

Citizens of the United States 🇺🇸, the United Kingdom, all European Union countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, and many others qualify for that 90-day stay limit. If your passport country is not on the exempt list, Morocco’s online e-Visa system (AEVM) often replaces an embassy visit and usually returns a decision quickly now.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the shift to online authorisations has reduced last-minute travel stress, but it also makes travelers responsible for uploading clean, readable documents early.

What changed for travel in 2026

The e-Visa platform started July 10, 2022, and in 2026 it remains aimed at short stays, with a 30-day visit allowed inside a 180-day validity window.

Tournament pressure matters because AFCON 2025 runs December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026, and Morocco expects crowds to test airports, hotels, and border lines daily nationwide.

Travelers should also watch for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) requirement that may apply to some visa-free nationals September 25, 2025 to January 25, 2026 during event operations.

Spouses of Moroccan citizens and transit passengers are listed as exempt when they carry proof, but everyone should check status before buying nonrefundable tickets online.

Step-by-step: choosing the right entry path

1. Match your purpose of travel to the permission:

– Tourist/business → short-stay track.
– Work/study → long-term visa required.
2. Check whether you qualify for:
– Visa-free entry (up to 90 days).
– Regular e-Visa.
– Conditional e-Visa (requires a valid US, UK, Schengen, or similar permit).
3. Know your nationality rules:
– Regular e-Visas cover nationals such as India, Israel, Jordan, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Guatemala, Laos, and Benin — no third-country visa evidence needed.
– Conditional e-Visas require uploading a valid visa or residence card from countries like the United States 🇺🇸, Ireland, or the UAE.
– If you are from Iran, Kosovo, Palestine, Syria, Taiwan, or Tuvalu, the online channel is unavailable — prepare for an embassy filing.

Applying through the e-Visa system (AEVM)

For eligible travelers, apply through the official AccessMaroc portal at: https://www.access-maroc.ma.

• You will enter passport details, travel dates, and contact information in a single online session for short visits.
• Upload requirements:
• Scan of the passport bio page showing at least six months validity beyond entry.
• A photo.
• Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or invitation).
• Common extras: flight itinerary, proof of funds.
• Conditional applicants: upload the third-country visa or residence permit that makes them eligible.
• Processing options and fees:
• Standard service: Dh770 — 3 business days.
• Express service: Dh1,100 — 1 business day.
• Super Rush (peak): adds $129 surcharge, targets 1–2 days total during AFCON 2025 peak.

When approval arrives by email, print the authorisation and carry it with your passport, because airline staff and border officers often ask for paper copies at check-in.

Plan for at least 10 business days before travel, even with processing, since upload errors or unreadable scans can trigger requests that shorten your departure window.

When you must use an embassy

If you must apply through an embassy, expect:

• Longer processing: commonly 1 to 3 months, sometimes with ministry pre-approvals.
• Document checklist: passport, photos, completed application form, invitation letter or hotel booking, tickets, insurance (if requested).
• Long-term visa requirements: family reunion, retirement, study, or business residence may require certified birth certificates, police records, bank statements, etc.

Important: Tourist status does not allow paid work. Moroccan authorities treat undeclared work seriously — obtain the correct visa before starting jobs, internships, or gigs.

Arrival, stamping, and the 90-day clock

• On arrival, present your printed e-Visa approval or your visa-free passport.
• The entry stamp placed by the officer starts your legal stay clock. If you leave without a stamp, notify the officer immediately.
• Border officials may request:
• Return ticket.
• Proof of accommodation.
• Evidence you can support yourself (commonly framed as $50–$100 per day).
• A health declaration may be required within 72 hours before your flight — check airline messages and keep a screenshot or printout with travel documents.
• Drivers entering with a vehicle must carry original registration and insurance papers for temporary import rules.

Extending stays and switching to residence

• Visa-free entrants normally have a 90-day ceiling. Overstaying can lead to fines or exit delays.
• To request extra time:
• Apply for an extension at a police station within 15 days of arrival.
• Bring copies of passport, entry stamp, and local address proof.
• Extensions are not guaranteed. Some travelers re-enter to restart the count, but entry checks still apply and must be documented.

Residence process:

• Starts after arrival and can yield a card renewable for 3, 5, or 10 years.
• Expect to show reason for residence: work contract, marriage documentation, property ties, or retirement funds, plus certified civil documents and bank statements.
• Morocco currently has no dedicated digital nomad visa, so remote workers must use existing residence routes; authorities will examine monthly support evidence.

Border/territory notes:

• The Algeria border is closed, affecting overland plans.
• Travelers to Western Sahara should expect tighter controls and may need permits from local police posts.

Practical tips:

• Keep photocopies of passport, visa approval, and reservations in a separate bag — replacements take time and officers respond better when you can show copies fast.
• If heading to Casablanca in winter peak, note the United States 🇺🇸 planned thousands of consular appointment slots in January and February 2026, helping applicants who need US visas while in Morocco.
• Budget for price spikes during tournament windows — flights and hotels rise, and last-minute visa issues can force rebooking or missed events.

Key takeaway: apply early, upload clear documents, print approvals, and keep every entry stamp — small mistakes at borders can create big problems later.

Morocco’s mix of visa-free travel and the e-Visa system (AEVM) should make entry in 2026 relatively straightforward, but AFCON 2025 and World Cup-related travel will reward travelers who prepare.