How many residence permits in Morocco?
There are two types of residence permits in Morocco, which are the registration card and the residence card.
How to maintain or expand your stay in the kingdom of morocco?
The registration card is issued for specific reasons like studies or work when you do not plan to stay permanently.
There are 5 different types of registration cards: “visitor”, “student”, “for work”, “family reunification”, and “long-term medical care”.
The registration card for work requires specifying the professional activity. It remains valid for 1 to 10 years unless you leave the country for more than 6 months.
If the card expires, you must leave unless you renew it or have a residence card. If the registration card is refused or withdrawn, the person must leave within 15 days.
How to obtain a residence permit (carte de séjour) and address in Morocco?
The residence card (carte de séjour) in Morocco serves as a pathway for individuals who are seeking to establish permanent residency in the country.
To be eligible for this status, applicants must demonstrate a continuous presence of at least 4 years within Moroccan borders, by adhering to all relevant laws and regulations. This card is specifically designed for those looking to settle down in Morocco for the long term. It can be granted to a variety of individuals, including the foreign spouse of a Moroccan citizen, children born to a Moroccan mother, foreign ascendants of Moroccans, and other specific categories outlined in the regulations.
The residence card is typically valid for a period of 10 years and can be renewed upon expiration, by providing a stable and secure status for those who wish to call Morocco their permanent home.
You can obtain the residence permit from the immigration authorities (Bureau des Étrangers) at the central police station in your district.
- two completed application forms (available at the immigration office)
- ten passport photos (with your face taking up three-quarters of the photo)
- a work permit (attestation de travail) — see our Working in Morocco article for information
- a criminal record check from your previous home country (which can take up to 40 days to process)
- a statement from your Moroccan bank as proof of your local bank balance
- a medical certificate completed by a local doctor, which is certifying that you have no contagious diseases
According to the US embassy in Morocco, American citizens who intend to stay in Morocco for more than 90 days, you must apply for a residence permit known as Certificat d’Immatriculation by registering at the local Bureau des Etrangers in urban areas or the Gendarmerie in rural areas. Foreigners choose the correct category from the eight available and submit two notarized copies of each required document, including a criminal record check, a local medical certificate confirming you have no contagious diseases, and a Moroccan bank statement. After submitting the application and fee, the applicant will receive a provisional Récépissé while the residence permit is processed. For renewals, applicants should apply for a Casier Judiciaire at the Ministry of Justice in Rabat, submitting additional documentation like birth certificate and passport.
For more details on obtaining these cards, you can check the “Foreigners in Morocco” section or visit this link: https://www.consulat.ma/en
Citizens of USA, Europe, the UK, Australia and New Zeland can travel to Morocco without any visa requirement. They can stay in Morocco for three months or 90 days. The five major cities that can be visited for tourism are Marrakech, Tangier, Rabat, Fes and Agadir.