Applying for a visa to Morocco. Do you need a visa for Morocco? Vacation with children

The African state of Morocco today is popular among tourists due to its excellent beaches and interesting natural and man-made attractions.

This country combines the exoticism of Africa and the Arab states in an original and aesthetically pleasing way. But every traveler, first of all, is concerned with the question: do you need a visa to Morocco, what are the rules for entering the territory of this Muslim country?

The answer to this question is clear: a visa is really needed. But not for everyone and not under all conditions. Let's consider the procedure for preparing documents for residents of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

Visa to Morocco for Russian citizens

The Russians are the luckiest of all. Since 2005, residents of the Russian Federation have the right to visa-free crossing of the Moroccan border. A tourist can stay there without additional permits for 3 months (90 days). To enter, you only need a valid passport and migration card. It is best to have a return ticket with you. In some cases, border guards may request confirmation of the financial solvency of the arriving tourist.

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If you plan to stay in the country for a longer time, then obtaining a special residence permit will be a prerequisite. A foreign tourist can obtain it at any police station. But this must be done a maximum of 15 days before the end of the 90-day right to a visa-free visit to Morocco.

Visa to Morocco for Ukrainians and Belarusians

There is no visa-free regime for citizens of Ukraine and Belarus yet. So you should take care of obtaining a permit in advance.

Belarusians can apply for a single-entry (21 day) or long-term (3 months) visa only at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Moscow. His address in the capital is st. Koroviy Val, 7. However, if you don’t have the time or opportunity to come to Moscow, you can contact travel companies in Minsk. The conditions for assistance in obtaining a visa will vary. The consular fee at the embassy will cost $80. And when registering through an intermediary, you will have to pay additionally for the services of the company and the courier service.

What documents are required for citizens of Belarus?

Valid passport;
A copy of all its pages with marks and personal information;
Certificate from the applicant’s place of work, indicating his salary for the last six months and his position (in French or English);
Two completed forms;
Two photographs (light background, the applicant’s face is clearly visible, size 3.5x4.5 cm);
Confirmation of airfare and hotel reservations.

The period for receiving the document is approximately 2 weeks; this figure will depend more on the chosen method of obtaining a visa.

Ukrainians can apply for a visa through a travel agency or officially at the consular service of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Kyiv. Typically, the refusal rate for visas to this country is very low. Registration through the consulate takes from 5 to 10 days. The document is valid for 90 days. The cost of an entry permit for Ukrainian citizens is only $15.

For a tourist visa you need to provide the consular service with the following list of documents:

Completed visa application form;
A foreign passport, the validity of which is at least 6 months longer than the period of stay in Morocco;
A copy of the internal passport of Ukraine;
Two photographs 3.5x4.5 cm;
Document on assignment of identification code;
Certificate from the applicant’s place of study or work (the latest indicating salary and position);
Confirmation of air tickets and hotel reservations.

In order to obtain a work or business visa to Morocco, you additionally need an invitation from the receiving party (company or organization). A visitor visa requires an invitation from a citizen of the country. Pensioners must provide a pension certificate. To travel with children, you need their birth certificate and certified permission from the parents to leave the country of residence (if only one of the parents is traveling with the child or it is a trip with a group or other relatives).

Morocco is a paradise for those who love sun and beaches. Summer occurs for about nine months of the year. Due to budget tours, the resort is very popular among Russians. Most Russian tourists relax by the sea, take part in excursions, get acquainted with local culture and visit ancient cities. These conditions make your vacation unforgettable. Before choosing a suitable tour, you should find out how a visa is issued in Morocco and in what cases you can do without it.

Do Russians need a visa to Morocco?

Russians like the Kingdom of Morocco not only because of the year-round summer, but also because of the visa-free regime. An ordinary tourist just needs to take his passport and migration card with him. Upon presentation of these documents, he is given a stamp equivalent to a visa. The mark is also placed when leaving the country. In this case, there is no need to pay the consular fee. It is advisable to have a return ticket, as checkpoint employees may inquire about its availability.

A visa to Morocco is required if tourists intend to stay in the country for more than three months. You can obtain permission at the Moscow branch of the Moroccan Consulate or upon arrival at the resort. To do this, you should visit any police station no later than 15 days before the end of the visa-free period.

In 2019, a visa to Morocco is required if a Russian citizen intends to study or work in the country. He will need an official permit to work or study.

Conditions for visa-free visits to the country

Visa-free entry rules apply to Morocco:

if the purpose of the trip is recreation and tourism, and its duration is up to 90 days, permission is not required;
on the plane you will be given a migration card, which must be filled out carefully;
when crossing the border you must present a foreign passport and a migration card;
tourists are assigned a personal number, which is affixed along with a stamp;
The Moroccan government does not deny entry to citizens whose passport has a stamp indicating a visit to Israel.

If a Russian tourist liked Morocco so much that he doesn’t want to leave, he can extend his visa-free stay in the country. This can be done in several ways:

Get a visa. The permit is issued no later than 15 days before the end of the visa-free period of stay. You need to contact the police department. Extension is possible if there are certificates of illness and other compelling reasons.
Make a visa run. An option for those who do not want to waste time on obtaining an official permit. When the end of the visa-free period approaches, the tourist can leave for a neighboring state. Nearby is Tunisia, which allows entry without a visa. If you have a Schengen visa, you can go to Spain or France. In a few days you can return to Morocco and receive a new stamp for three months of residence in the country.

When crossing the Moroccan border by car, the following will be added to the standard set of documents:

driver's license;
technical certificate;
power of attorney to drive a car if the tourist is not its owner.

If you have an international medical policy, it is better to take it with you. This is not a requirement. Medical services in Morocco are expensive, so it is better to have a health insurance policy with you.

Customs regulations

There are restrictions on imported items into the Kingdom of Morocco:

You can take 1 bottle of wine and 1 bottle of spirits with you without paying a fee;
200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco or 50 cigars do not need to be declared;
It is prohibited to transport professional cameras and video cameras across the border;
The import of printed materials that desecrate Islam is prohibited;
When crossing the border by car, it is prohibited to carry gasoline in cans.

Types of visas

There is no need to obtain permission to travel to Morocco if Russians are going on vacation for up to three months. The right to a long stay in the country or to carry out work activities is given by having a permit. You can get a visa to Morocco both in Russia and upon arrival in the country.

Working

A work visa to Morocco is a document that allows you to find employment legally. The permit is valid until the end of the work contract. To obtain a work visa, you must provide a special permit to the Moroccan Embassy. This is an invitation from an employer who is registered and located in Morocco.

Without an invitation, it is difficult for foreigners to get a job. This is due to the fact that the Moroccan government’s priority is employment of the indigenous population. Foreign citizens are often refused, but if they have an official letter from the employer, there will be no problems.

Transit

For tourists, Morocco may not be the only country they want to visit during their vacation. It is often combined with Tunisia, Spain and other nearby countries. When transiting, you do not need a visa, but you need to take care of the documents required to visit other countries.

Tunisia is a visa-free state for citizens of the Russian Federation, and France and Spain are not included in this list. Before planning a vacation, you should apply for a Schengen visa. It can be obtained no earlier than 3 months before the trip. The registration procedure takes up to 10 days.

Student

If you want to get an education or take advanced training courses in Morocco, Russian citizens need a visa. It is issued for 90 days, after which you can apply for a residence permit. The college, institute or other educational institution must send an invitation to the student indicating his details.

To obtain a student permit you will need:

a foreign passport that will be valid while the Russian is in the country;
completed application;
4 color passport photographs taken no later than 6 months before submitting documents;
an invitation from the institution, which indicates its coordinates and the conditions under which the student was enrolled;
a document confirming the presence of a permanent place of residence (hotel reservation, rental agreement);
check for payment of the consular fee (original and copy).

Long-term

Despite the name, a long-term visa is issued for only 3 months. This document is needed for those who visit the country not for leisure or work. The reason for the visit may be a business trip, participation in conferences, etc. To obtain a long-term visa to Morocco, you must provide the authorized body with a document confirming the invitation to the event.

Required documents

To obtain a Moroccan visa you need to collect the following documents:

foreign passport (original and copy);
permission form;
4 photos;
receipt for payment of visa fee;
document confirming accommodation reservation in Morocco;
medical insurance;
invitation from an educational institution or employer;
round-trip tickets if you are applying for a long-term visa.

All documents (except for the international passport) must be translated into Arabic or French, then the translated copies must be certified by a notary. The application form can be downloaded from the official website of the Moroccan Embassy. It is worth filling out the form carefully, as even the slightest mistake will cause a refusal to issue a permit.

The questionnaire includes a number of points:

personal data: gender, full name (you must also indicate your last name before marriage);
Date and place of birth;
nationality;
marital status (if there is a spouse, his first and last name is indicated);
information about children;
foreign passport details;
telephone number and address of permanent residence;
occupation;
place of work, address and telephone number of the employer;
border point through which the border will be crossed;
purpose of visit to the country;
permanent residence address in Morocco;
dates of departure from the country and validity dates of the permit;
confirmation of timely departure from the country.

Processing times and costs

To obtain a permit, you will have to visit the Moroccan embassy several times. It is located in Moscow at Prechistensky Lane, 8a. The immigration reception department is open on weekdays from 9.00 to 17.00. You can get a consultation by calling +7 495 691-17-62 or +7 495 637-73-51.

Registration takes about two working weeks. For a visa-free trip for tourism purposes, you do not need to pay a fee. To obtain student and other permits in Morocco, residents of the Russian Federation must pay a consular fee in the amount of 2,095 rubles.

Visa validity periods

The Moroccan government issues permits for three months, regardless of the purpose of travel to the country. The document is one-time, but it is possible to extend it. Depending on the purpose of your stay in the country, extension is possible for 3, 6 and 12 months. After a year of permanent residence in the country, you can apply for a residence permit.

How to apply for a visa for a child

There are a number of rules for children:

To travel to Morocco you do not need to obtain a visa if the child is under 16 years of age;
if the child is under 14 years old and is listed in the parents’ passport, then his data is entered into the parents’ migration card;
a child over 14 years of age with his own passport is required to obtain a separate migration card;
permission from the other parent is required if only one is accompanying him (the document is not needed if the parent is deceased or missing).

Who can be refused

The main reasons for refusal of entry are the following:

documents are filled out incorrectly;
false documents were provided;
insufficient funds to live in the kingdom;
there is an outstanding criminal record;
there is a debt to the FSSP;
suspicion of extremism or terrorism;
public insult to Islam;
violation of Moroccan laws on previous visits.

A citizen of the Russian Federation receives a letter commenting on the reasons for the refusal. If the problem is the absence of any documents or an error in the application form, you can submit a second application. If the decision of the Moroccan authorities is again negative, then you can challenge the decision in court. In this case, it is advisable to use the services of a lawyer specializing in immigration matters.

The Kingdom of Morocco is a real discovery for many Russians. The holiday season lasts almost the entire year. During this time, vacationers can visit the beaches, go on excursions and get acquainted with local traditions. There are many hotels throughout the country where you can stay at a budget price.

Many tourists come here without a visa, since the stay period is three months. This is quite enough time for a vacation. Obtaining a visa to Morocco for Russians is necessary if they want to undergo training or get a job. This must be done in advance, since entry requires an official invitation from an educational institution or employer.

Exotic Morocco is one of the most beautiful corners of our planet. Located in North Africa, the kingdom attracts travelers from all over the world. The Muslim country is famous for beach and ski holidays, ecotourism and a rich excursion program. Let's find out whether Russians who dream of visiting Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakesh and the Sahara Desert need a visa to Morocco.

With or without a visa?

Do Russians need a visa to visit Morocco? This question is the first to arise before our fellow citizens planning a trip to a distant Islamic state. And the answer will undoubtedly please everyone who wants to visit the North African power.

Citizens of the Russian Federation have every right to enter Morocco without a visa. Moreover, you are allowed to stay in the kingdom visa-free for as long as 3 months (90 days). When crossing the border, it is enough to present your passport.

Its validity period must be at least six months at the time of the intended departure to your homeland. The foreigner will be given a visa stamp. No money is taken in this case. There are also no departure fees.

Do I need to present something other than a “foreign passport”?

In exceptional cases, the guest may be asked to additionally present air tickets and a hotel reservation or voucher. As a rule, it is not required to confirm a sufficient amount of finances at the border. But for your own peace of mind, you can make a bank statement before your trip.

It is important to know! When entering Morocco for a short stay, the availability of health insurance is not controlled. But, given the fairly high prices for medical services, it is recommended to purchase an insurance policy.

Migration card

A “visa-free” visitor fills out a migration card. The necessary forms are issued on the plane or airport terminal. There is no need to download the form online and fill it out before your trip. She may not be accepted. On the migration card, the guest will need to indicate:

Basic information about yourself:

first and last name;
surname at birth (if necessary);
Date and place of birth;
citizenship;
Country of Residence;
profession;
passport details.

Moroccan tour details:

city of arrival and departure;
residential address (usually the name and location of the hotel);
purpose of the visit.

The information is written in Latin letters (block letters), legibly and without blots. You can write with a pen with blue or black ink.

Note! A separate card will be needed for each family member participating in the trip (including small children who have their own “foreign borders”).

When a child is on tour

Subject to a 3-month stay, Morocco visas are not required for both adults and children. And in general, trips with minors do not require additional documentation. A young traveler will be allowed to cross the borders of a Muslim country if:

the child will have his own foreigner;
or the child’s record will be in the parent’s passport.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the situation when a young citizen makes a Moroccan voyage in the presence of only one parent or without both parents, with someone else. In the first case, a standard certified permission is required from the second parent, and in the second - from both parents. Compliance with these requirements is especially strictly controlled in relation to children whose parents have Moroccan citizenship.

On a note! If one of the parents of a minor citizen has died or is absent, this will need to be documented.

Transit through Morocco

Russians, for whom the kingdom will only be a short stop on the way to a third country, also do not require a visa. While waiting for the next flight, a transit passenger is completely free to leave the airport, go sightseeing, or check into a hotel for a while.

Entry nuances

The import and export of foreign currency is permitted in any volume. But it will have to be exchanged for Moroccan dirhams. The circulation of foreign money in the kingdom is prohibited. When exporting unspent currency, you must have a declaration indicating the amount of funds.

The Islamic State restricts the import of professional photo and video equipment. This does not apply to amateur photo and video equipment. In addition, there are restrictions on the transport of alcohol and tobacco products. You can freely bring into the territory of the state 1 bottle of wine and 1 bottle of strong alcohol, as well as a maximum of fifty cigars, two hundred cigarettes and 250 grams of tobacco per person.

To import and export pets, a standard set of documents is required:

international veterinary passport of the pet with vaccination records (chipping is also desirable);
medical certificate.

Extension of visa-free visa

It often happens that a tourist wants to stay in the country within the framework of a “visa-free” visa for longer than 3 months. In this case, he must apply for a temporary residence permit from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

It is also permissible to leave Morocco for a while and return back. The 3-month period of stay will begin to count again. For example, you can fly to visa-free Tunisia. And if you have a Schengen visa - to Europe, separated from the North African power by the Strait of Gibraltar.

Moroccan visa

Given the very long visa-free period, Russians rarely need a Moroccan visa. It will be needed if a citizen of the Russian Federation was able to find a job in the kingdom or entered a local educational institution. All other purposes of the visit (tourism, meetings with family and friends, business trips, business negotiations, attending colloquiums and conferences) are grounds for a 3-month visa-free stay.

Before you find out how a Moroccan visa is issued for Russians, and how much a visa to Morocco costs, you need to find out whether it is actually possible to find a job in a Muslim state.

Is it possible to get a job in Morocco?

For a foreigner, obtaining a work permit in the kingdom is an extremely difficult process. In terms of work, preference is always given to national personnel. A good education is not enough for a foreign citizen. He must not only have a high professional level, but also have a rare specialty.

A work permit for a foreign specialist will be issued only based on the results of a mandatory competition for filling the position. It is carried out by publication in the printed press. This way the employer will prove that specialists of the required profile are not available on the local labor market.

It is much easier to open your own business in Morocco. In recent years, a very favorable business climate has developed in the Islamic country. Measures to reduce bureaucratic obstacles are being actively implemented. If a foreign citizen has the necessary documents, he will be able to register his own enterprise in 2–4 weeks.

What documents are needed for a visa?

A visa to Morocco for Russians is opened at the embassy of a Muslim power in Moscow. The applicant needs:

fill out the form;
collect accompanying papers;
pay a non-refundable fee (visa costs RUB 2,377.50).

For any type of visa you will need the following documents:

Application form (filled out and signed by the applicant). The form can be found on the website of the Moroccan embassy.
Original passport. The document is valid for six months from the time of departure from Morocco.
One photocopy of the first 3 pages of the passport.
A copy of a Russian passport or other document confirming permanent residence in the Russian Federation.
One regular photo card (4.5x3.5).
Confirmation of the purpose of stay (work permit and invitation from the employer, document on enrollment in an educational institution, etc.) or reservation of a hotel or private apartment for the entire duration of stay.
Air ticket with exact dates of entry and exit (photocopy).
Certificate from place of work/study.
Medical insurance.
For children they will additionally require:

photocopied birth certificate;
permission to travel from parents/parent (if necessary).

Work, study and other Moroccan visas are long-term, single-entry. They are issued for a maximum of 3 months.

Residence permit

If a citizen wants to continuously stay in a North African country for more than 3 months (for any purpose), he must obtain a temporary residence permit. To complete the document you will need:

international passport (2 copies);
photographs (6 pieces);
confirmation of housing availability;
Bank reference;
a copy of the marriage certificate (for married persons);
health insurance.

Residence permits are issued to foreigners at police stations. The application must be submitted at least 15 days before the expiration of the 3-month “visa-free” period or the expiration of the visa. The first permit is usually valid for up to 1 year. Upon subsequent requests, the validity period of the document is extended. The maximum validity period of the permit is 5 years.