This guide will help you navigate the steps to obtaining residency in Morocco, a hospitable and amazing country open to world cultures not only because of its geographical location, but because it has been a country of coexistence and acceptance of others for many years.

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The Reasons You Need a residency in Morocco

If you are from a country that doesn’t need a visa, you can stay for up to 90 days. During this time, you are only allowed to be a tourist and cannot officially work or do official things. You need to apply for residency by getting a carte de séjour if you want to stay longer and make Morocco your home.

You can legally live in Morocco with this identity card. Moroccan people have something similar called a CIN (Carte Nationale d’Identité). For people who are not Moroccan, the carte de séjour is identical but has a different name.

Different Types of Residency Applications

You can apply for a carte de séjour in several different ways, based on your situation:

Couples.
Resident based on employment.
Residence for students.
Residence for retirement.
Resident for business or investment.

Each type of paper requires a certain amount of preparation. You should always check with the Office des Étrangers at the city’s central police station to ensure you know exactly what to do to join your group.

What You Need (For Example, If You’re Applying as a Spouse)

If you want to apply as the spouse of a Moroccan citizen, these are the kinds of papers that are usually needed:

A certified Arabic version of your birth certificate.
The Arabic version of your marriage license.
If it applies, a copy of your Islamic marriage certificate.
Proof of residency (address confirmation) plus two personal photos.
Proof of good health from a doctor.
A check of your criminal history from your home country.
Fresh CV or resume (in French or Arabic).
a copy of your passport and the page with the entry stamp.
Get a copy of your spouse’s CIN.
Proof that you have the money (bank records or a letter from your boss).
Six more current photos (passport-sized).
Two yellow information cards–filled out at the police station.
Two white registration forms.
Fees of 100 MAD have been paid.

Necessary Paperwork: Certificate of Domicile

This must be obtained from the police station in your area. You might have to show proof of where you live, like a rental agreement, electricity bills, or something else. If you are living with family, the cops may only check your home address by looking at their own records.

OK from doctors

You can get a medical document for a carte de séjour application by going to any general practitioner. The test’s primary purpose is to look for contagious diseases or other risks to public health.

Check for criminal records

For your first application, you will need a criminal record check from the country where you are from.

You may need an FBI check if you are an American, but some places will accept a state-level check.

You can ask for this paper online from the Justice Ministry in your country.

Proof that you can afford it

You must show that you have enough money to care for yourself. The Moroccan government has become stricter. In some places, you must prove that you have at least 100,000 MAD in a Moroccan bank account.
People working from home or freelancers should show clear bank records with consistent deposits.

Interview and Submission of Applications

As soon as you have all the necessary papers and have them notarized:

They should be sent to the Office des Étrangers.
There will be a short interview where you can explain why you want to stay in Morocco.
Please pay the application fee of 100 MAD.

After you send it all in, you’ll get a temporary paper ticket to use as ID until your real card arrives. Keep this paper safe because it’s essential.

New applications and long-term residency

Your initial stay permit is suitable for a year. Before it expires, you need to apply for a renewal by sending in two sets of copies (each page must be legalized) and new copies of all the required papers.

If you are from a certain country, you might be able to apply for a 5- or 10-year residency card.
A sound card costs 100 MAD annually, so a 10-year card costs 1000 MAD.

The time it takes to process varies greatly. Your new card might not arrive for a while, but while you’re waiting, your temporary ticket will show that you are legally present.

Can anyone in Morocco get a Residency in Morocco?

A carte de séjour is needed for anyone outside Morocco who wants to stay longer than 90 days as a tourist. If you are eligible, it depends on why you want to stay in Morocco. The law recognizes several acceptable reasons, such as:

Those married to Moroccan citizens.
Foreigners working for Moroccan companies.
Individuals who work for themselves or are owners of businesses.
Students in higher education schools in Morocco.
Retirees who have enough money.
Investors and people who own property.
Diplomats and some people who work for foreign groups.

There are different proof and evidence needed for each type. For instance, workers need to show a valid work contract, students need proof that they are enrolled in college, and retirees need evidence of a pension or stable income.

Some exceptions and things to think about

Standardization is used for the process, but there are times when the standard rules can be broken or changed:

Humanitarian Reasons

Residents may sometimes be allowed for humanitarian reasons, such as when a refugee is seeking protection or is going through a very difficult personal situation.
Necessary: The Moroccan government and sometimes the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) must work together.

Kids under 18

Children younger than 18 who live with foreigners with a legal Moroccan residency permit can also get a carte de séjour linked to their parents’ status. Getting their documents is a little easier but must be fully legalized.

Unique two-way agreements

Some countries, like some African or European ones, have agreements with Morocco that make it easier for their people to live there. These deals might make things easier, let people stay longer without becoming residents, or require less paperwork.

Very important business people and investors

If they meet certain requirements, professionals with many skills, business owners, or people who are investing a lot of money in Morocco may be able to get residency more quickly or more easily. This is especially true for people investing in Morocco’s economic growth.

Who might have to follow the rules?

Even though many people are eligible, some may have trouble getting a carte de séjour, such as:

People who have committed major crimes in the past.
Applicants who couldn’t show they were financially stable.
Overstaying their 90-day tourist visa without starting the process to become a permanent resident.
People from other countries work without proper permits.

The government can turn down an application if it thinks the applicant is a security risk or does not fit in with Moroccan culture enough.

Even if you meet the requirements, acceptance is not a given.
The Moroccan government can decide whether to accept or reject an application based on the documents sent in, the interview performance, and the credibility of the applicant’s case overall.

It’s essential to do all the paperwork, keep clear financial records, and follow the law to keep things simple.

Speed Up Your Residency in Morocco Approval in Morocco

There are some easy things you can do to speed up the approval of your Moroccan travel documents.

In Morocco, applying for a Carte de Séjour can be hard, but you can do things to make the process easier and go faster. The best ways to prevent common delays are listed below:

Get all of your papers ready ahead of time

Before you go to the Bureau des Étrangers (Office of Foreign Affairs), ensure you have all the necessary paperwork. Print out three copies of each page. Ensure every copy is legalized (approved) at the moukataa (local government office).

Use certified translators to translate documents

If your birth certificate, marriage license, or other important papers are not in Arabic or French, use a qualified translator in Morocco.
Unofficial versions are often turned down, which takes time.

Make sure that all of your documents are the same

Small changes in papers, like the spelling of an address, the format of a name, or the date of birth, can cause red flags and slow down your application.
Make sure that every paper has the same information twice.

Strong proof of being able to pay your bills

Financial proof is significant.
If you can, use Moroccan bank records.
Show that you have a steady monthly income or enough money saved to cover your living costs for at least a year.
Make professional bills and tax returns (if available) if you work from home or as a freelancer.

Be on time for appointments and dress formally

When you show up for your interview or turn in your paperwork:

Do not be late.
Be polite and neat when you dress (at least work casual).

When you show that you take the process seriously, the little things can make a big difference.

Make friends with the people who run your city or town

Being polite and patient can help a lot.
Being friendly and helpful to police officers and office workers can sometimes help your file move through the steps faster.

Carefully keep an eye on your paper receipt

You will be given a temporary ticket (récépissé) after you apply.
For safety’s sake!
Just in case you lose the original, make some copies.
If your card isn’t ready, renew the ticket before it runs out.
Losing this paper could lead to big problems, like starting the application repeatedly.

Always know what the rules are in your area

The steps may be slightly different in different cities. Get the most up-to-date paper list and rules from your local Police Prefecture.
Digital fingerprints or extra paperwork that wasn’t needed before are now required in some places.

How to Get Residency in Morocco