Morocco Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)
There's no single universal answer, but it's good news for most travelers: as of 2026, Morocco's visa-free list runs well past the usual Western names. The US, Canada, UK, EU/Schengen, Australia and New Zealand get 90 days visa-free — and so do China, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. South Africa is a notable exception and does need a visa. Passport must be valid 6+ months; always verify your specific passport before booking.
Morocco is one of the more visa-friendly destinations on this site — a genuinely generous 90-day exemption for most Western nationalities, no forms, no fee. Here's the breakdown by passport, plus the handful of border basics worth knowing.
Visa-free stay by nationality (as of 2026)
| Passport | Visa-free stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States, Canada | Up to 90 days | No pre-application, no fee. Just a passport stamp at the airport or land border. |
| United Kingdom | Up to 90 days | Same terms as US/Canada. |
| EU / Schengen countries | Up to 90 days | All 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are visa-exempt. |
| Australia, New Zealand | Up to 90 days | Same terms as above. |
| China (incl. Hong Kong, Macao passports) | Up to 90 days | Morocco is one of the few countries worldwide that lets Chinese passport holders in visa-free — same 90-day terms as Western nationalities, no advance paperwork. |
| Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain) | Up to 90 days | Full GCC visa-free access, reflecting Morocco's close ties with the Gulf. Same terms as everyone else on this list. |
| Brazil & most of Latin America (Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Mexico) | Up to 90 days | Brazil and its regional neighbors are visa-exempt too — a detail a lot of Latin American travelers don't expect. |
| Southeast Asia (Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia) | Up to 90 days | All three are on the exemption list — a more generous policy than most of these travelers will find elsewhere in North Africa. |
| South Africa | Visa required | South Africa isn't on Morocco's exemption list. An e-visa is possible if you already hold a valid US, UK, Schengen, Canadian, Australian, or similar residency/visa; otherwise apply at a Moroccan consulate in advance. |
| Other nationalities | Varies | Not everyone is covered above — check Morocco's current visa-exemption list for your specific passport. A genuinely large (and growing) share of the world qualifies for the 90-day exemption, so it's worth checking before assuming you need a visa. |
Morocco's 90-day exemption is notably longer and simpler than many popular destinations that require an online arrival form or e-visa — there's no Moroccan equivalent of a mandatory pre-arrival digital form for the eligible nationalities above. That said, exemption lists do get revised, so a quick check within a week or two of booking (not months ahead) is still worth the five minutes.
Getting there — from major hubs
| From | Typical flight time | Approx. price (round-trip) |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (New York) | 7-8h direct (Royal Air Maroc, United) | $450-900 |
| US West Coast | 11-14h with one stop | $700-1,200 |
| UK / Western Europe | 3-4h direct (budget carriers common) | $60-250 |
| Australia / New Zealand | 20h+ via a European or Gulf hub | $1,400-2,200 |
Passport and entry basics
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry into Morocco.
- Border officials occasionally ask for proof of onward travel or accommodation (a hotel/riad booking confirmation) — have a digital copy ready, just in case.
- Land border crossings (notably with the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla) can involve longer queues and more paperwork than the airports — budget extra time if that's part of your route.
What if you need a visa?
Nationalities not on the visa-exemption list generally need to apply in advance at a Moroccan consulate or embassy — there is no widely available Morocco e-visa system as of 2026. Check your nearest Moroccan consulate's requirements directly rather than relying on a third-party 'visa service' site, several of which charge unnecessary fees for straightforward applications.
Overstaying
Overstaying your visa-exempt period is taken seriously — expect fines, and in more serious or repeated cases, deportation or a multi-year entry ban. If your trip might run long, look into an extension at a local police station (préfecture) well before your 90 days are up, rather than risking it at the airport on the way out.