Morocco entry requirements: passport, visa and customs

To enter Morocco as a tourist you need a valid passport, and as a sensible rule of thumb we ask that it has at least six months' validity. With a passport from Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia or the United States, according to the sources we have checked, you don't need a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Ecuador needs a prior electronic authorisation, and Venezuela and Uruguay are in a less clear situation that we explain further down. The rules change, so always check official sources before you travel.

We are a local agency with an office in Casablanca, not a consulate. What follows is what we check with each traveller before confirming a tour, arranged by nationality, followed by the questions we get most on WhatsApp and by email.

The passport, for everyone

Whatever your nationality, the document you need is your passport. Sources don't always agree on the exact validity period Morocco requires, which is why we say six months: it avoids problems with airlines, which sometimes apply their own rules at the check-in desk.

Look at its condition too. A passport with a loose cover, pages coming away or signs of water damage can give you a hard time at passport control. And leave a few blank pages, because the police stamp it on entry and exit.

Every child needs their own passport. If a child is travelling with only one parent or with other adults, check in your country what authorisation or document they should carry, and bring it printed out.

Visas by nationality

Morocco keeps a list of countries whose citizens, with an ordinary passport, are exempt from a visa for short stays. What we tell you here is based on consular and official information available when we wrote this. Always confirm your case with the Moroccan embassy or consulate in your country, or on the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Spain and the rest of the European Union

No visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Just your passport. Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes a page of recommendations on Morocco that is worth reading before you leave, and if you are arriving by ferry, see our guide on how to get from Spain to Morocco.

Mexico

Mexican citizens with an ordinary passport are on the list of those exempt from a visa for tourism of up to 90 days. Many of our Mexican travellers arrive via Madrid or another European city; in that case, check the transit requirements of the country where you change planes too.

Argentina, Chile and Peru

All three appear on the lists of exempt countries for ordinary passports, with stays of up to 90 days. We are not aware of any additional prior formality, but confirm it before paying for your flights.

Colombia

Colombia and Morocco have a visa exemption agreement for ordinary passports which, according to Colombia's Foreign Ministry, has been in force since late 2021, with stays of up to 90 days. At first some airlines kept asking for a visa because they didn't know about it. If it happens to you at the desk, it helps to carry a printed copy of the Foreign Ministry's official notice on the agreement.

Ecuador

According to an announcement by Ecuador's Foreign Ministry, since August 2025 Ecuadorians with an ordinary passport can enter without a visa, but they must first apply for an electronic travel authorisation, the AEVM, on the official Moroccan portal acces-maroc.ma. The Ecuadorian press described it as a free online process, with the reply arriving by email. Apply well ahead, print it and carry it with you.

Venezuela

Venezuela used to be on the exemption lists, but according to the information we have found Morocco suspended that exemption at the end of 2019 and a visa is now required. If you hold a valid visa or residence in the United States, a Schengen country or other countries on Morocco's list, you may be eligible for the electronic visa. We have not been able to confirm this in an up-to-date official source, so check with Morocco's diplomatic mission before booking anything.

Uruguay

Here the sources contradict each other. Some guides include Uruguay among the exempt countries, and the most recent lists we have checked do not. We would rather tell you that than give you a false answer: write to the Moroccan consulate responsible for Uruguay and ask for written confirmation.

United States and US residents

US citizens don't need a visa for tourism of up to 90 days. If you live in the United States with another nationality, what counts is your passport, not your residence. For some nationalities that do need a visa, Morocco has an electronic visa for holders of a valid US visa or permanent residence, among other countries. According to the information available, only visas stuck in the passport or residence cards are accepted. Check the conditions on Morocco's official e-visa portal.

Other nationalities

If your country isn't listed here, for example Bolivia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic or some Central American countries, you may need a consular or electronic visa. Ask in good time, because the consular process can take several weeks.

If you have dual nationality, travel on the passport that lets you enter without a visa and use the same one on entry and exit. It is the question we get most from Latin American travellers with a Spanish or Italian passport.

The questions people send us before arriving

Will they ask for a return ticket or a hotel booking?

They might. At passport control the police sometimes ask the purpose of your trip, how many days you are staying and where you are sleeping. Keep the address of your first riad or hotel and your ticket out of the country to hand. If you are travelling with us, the trip itinerary and our phone number settle the question in a minute.

What happens if I arrive by ferry?

Passport control is done on board or at the port, depending on the ferry company and the route. In summer, during Operation Crossing the Strait (Operación Paso del Estrecho), the queues at Tanger Med can be long, and if you come in your own car you need the vehicle documents and insurance valid in Morocco. We explain all of that in the ferry guide linked above.

My passport is about to expire. Should I risk it?

No. The risk is not only at the border: the airline can refuse to let you board before you leave. If you have less than six months left, renew it before booking, because your passport number goes on the flight booking and sometimes on the accommodation booking too.

Do I need vaccinations?

At present there are no compulsory vaccinations to enter Morocco from Spain or the Americas, and the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted a long time ago. What travel health services usually recommend is keeping routine vaccinations up to date, such as tetanus and measles, and considering hepatitis A, which is transmitted through water or food. Book an appointment at an international vaccination centre at least a month before, and earlier still if you have a chronic condition.

Day to day, we advise drinking bottled water, washing or peeling fruit and carrying a small first-aid kit with anti-diarrhoea tablets, painkillers, sun cream and your usual medication with the prescription.

Is travel insurance compulsory?

It is not always an entry requirement, but for us it is the first thing to buy after your flight. The European Health Insurance Card does not cover treatment in Morocco, and private healthcare, which is what travellers usually use, is paid on the spot. Look for a policy with medical and hospital cover for a sufficient amount, repatriation, cancellation if you have paid a lot in advance, and cover for camel rides, quad biking or hiking if you plan to do them.

How much money can I bring in and take out?

The dirham is a regulated currency. Sources indicate that only a limited amount of cash can be taken out of the country, and a maximum of 2,000 dirhams is usually quoted, so the practical approach is to change money little by little as you spend it. You can bring in euros or dollars, although above certain amounts you should declare them. Keep your exchange receipts, because you may be asked for them to change leftover dirhams back. More detail in Morocco travel facts.

What about my drone?

It is the question that comes up most on photography trips. Drones are restricted and customs usually hold them if there is no prior authorisation. If you bring one, expect to lose time at customs and to be without it for the trip. Leave it at home.

Is there anything else I shouldn't bring or should declare?

Alcohol and tobacco are allowed in limited quantities for personal use. Medicines: only your own, in their original packaging and with the prescription, especially if they are psychotropic or injectable. Film cameras or professional recording equipment may require paperwork; if you are coming to film, write to us well in advance.

Can I drive in Morocco with my licence?

If you want to hire a car, check whether you need an international driving permit alongside your national licence, which depends on your country. On our tours you don't need one, because the vehicle comes with a Spanish-speaking driver. If you only need transport, look at our private driver in Morocco service.

What can I take home?

Rugs, ceramics, leather and handicrafts leave the country without any problem; keep the invoice if the purchase is valuable. What you need to check are the rules of the country you are returning to for food, plants or animal products. If you are going back to Spain, Mexico or Argentina, each country has its own limits on spices, dates or argan oil in your luggage.

Cases we see often

A couple from Bogotá travelling via Madrid. They enter Morocco without a visa thanks to the bilateral agreement, but they also need to check transit conditions in Spain and, if they leave the airport, the Schengen entry rules. We ask them to carry a printed copy of the Foreign Ministry's notice in case the desk staff have doubts.

A family from Madrid with two children aged 8 and 12. Four passports, none relying on the DNI as plan B. On our tours children pay 3% less than an adult, and to work out the price we need their ages and their names exactly as they appear in the passport.

An Ecuadorian traveller who lives in New York. What counts is his Ecuadorian passport, so he needs the AEVM even though he has US residence. We ask him to apply for it before paying for the rest of the trip.

An Argentine traveller arriving in Tangier by ferry from Tarifa to do the 8-day tour of Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fez and the desert. She enters without a visa, passport control is done on the boat or at the port, and we pick her up right there.

Checklist before you travel

1. Passport with at least six months' validity and blank pages.
2. Visa, e-visa or AEVM, if your nationality requires it.
3. Return ticket or ticket out of the country.
4. Travel insurance with medical cover and repatriation.
5. Address of your first accommodation or the trip itinerary.
6. Some cash in euros or dollars to change on arrival.
7. Copies of your passport, insurance and bookings on your phone and in the cloud.

Once your documents are ready, the next step is packing, which we cover in what to pack for Morocco. To have all the information in one place, visit our Morocco travel guide and the FAQ page.

If you travel with us, we send you the practical information before you arrive, pick you up at the airport or port, and you travel with Spanish-speaking drivers and guides for the whole route. You can browse our private tours of Morocco or the 3-day trip to Merzouga from Marrakech, and if you have a question about your passport, write to us before booking and we'll look at it with you.