If you’re an international student planning to study abroad in Morocco, you’ll probably need to apply for a tourist visa, followed by a residency card.
However, many foreign nationals can enter Morocco without a tourist visa and stay for up to 90 days. You can find a full list of visa-exempt countries here. You’ll still need to obtain a residency card if your studies are set to last longer than three months.
A single-entry tourist visa will cost around 220 Moroccan Dirham ($23), with a residency card adding a further 100 Moroccan Dirham ($11) each year. It’s important to remember that costs can vary depending on your nationality, and each application takes around two weeks to process.
Application steps:
Part 1 - Applying for a Moroccan tourist visa:
Part 2 - Applying for a Moroccan residency card:
Required documents:
For the tourist visa:
For the residence card:
Morroccan student visa processing time
It should only take between 10 days and two weeks to process your student visa application, but the exact time will depend on your local Moroccan embassy or consulate.
Although it shouldn't take too long to get your visa, don't leave it until the last minute. Unexpected delays or an incomplete application could mean it takes much longer than you expect.
Can you work as an international student in Morocco?
Your employer will handle the work permit application on your behalf, but this means you must already have a job lined up.
Can your family members join you in Morocco?
To be eligible for this visa, an application must be submitted on behalf of each family member intending to travel. You can find full details of the documents you’ll need here.
If your family members are from one of the visa-exempt countries, they can enter the country without a tourist visa and stay for a maximum of 90 days. They’ll need to apply for a residency card after arrival if they plan on staying longer than three months.
What if your visa is rejected?
In the unlikely event of visa rejection, the Moroccan authorities don’t have to provide a reason for your denial.
Although a rejection letter can be disheartening, it doesn’t mean you have to abandon your international adventure entirely. You can begin the application process again at any point, but you’ll need to make edits and improvements to your initial request.
If you strongly believe your application has been incorrectly rejected, you should write a formal letter to the Moroccan embassy where you submitted your forms. Be aware that application fees are usually non-refundable and it's unlikely you'll get your money back if you choose to apply again.