Living in Morocco
Information about moving to, living or retiring in Morocco – including visas, working, healthcare and driving.
Getting help with living in Morocco
Help from the Moroccan government
For any questions about moving to or living in Morocco, you may be able to get help from the:
The UK government and the British Embassy in Rabat cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in Morocco.
Professional help in Morocco
You can also get help from English-speaking professionals in Morocco, including:
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lawyers
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translators
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notaries
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funeral directors
Help from the UK government
Read the travel advice for Morocco to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit Morocco. This includes the latest information on:
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visas and entry requirements
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laws and cultural differences
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safety and security
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.
Get help from the UK government abroad, including in an emergency.
Visas, residency and citizenship
Make sure you meet the entry requirements for Morocco before you travel.
Residence permits
British nationals can stay in Morocco without a visa for up to 90 days. After this, you must register with the police and apply for a residence permit (‘Carte d’Immatriculation’).
You can get a residence permit to:
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work
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study
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retire
For information before you travel about applying for residency in Morocco, contact the Moroccan Embassy in London.
To apply for your residence permit, go to:
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the Foreigners’ Office (Bureau des Étrangers) of your local Police Headquarters (‘Préfecture de Police’ or ‘Commissariat Central’), in major cities
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your local police station (‘gendarmerie’), in small towns and villages
There you’ll need to fill out the relevant application forms (‘formulaires à prendre auprès service séjour’).
Along with your application, you must provide 10 passport-sized photos and 2 legalised copies of the required documents. You should get your documents legalised at the nearest local district office (‘Muqata’a’) to your address in Morocco.
These documents may include:
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a medical certificate from a local doctor in Morocco
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a statement from your Moroccan bank (‘attestation de banque’) showing your local current account balance
You may also find it helpful to take:
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a pen
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a copy of your CV
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contact details of your family in the UK
When you submit your application, you must pay a fee to the officer who receives it. The officer will give you a receipt and tell you when to return to get your temporary residence card (‘récépissé’). This is valid for 3 months, while the authorities prepare your residence permit.
Extending your residence permit
You can apply to extend your residence permit at your local Foreigners’ Office or police station.
Before your appointment, you’ll need to get:
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a Moroccan criminal record check (‘casier judiciaire’) from the Ministry of Justice – you can apply online through the official Portal of Morocco if you hold a residence permit
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an anthropometric record (‘fiche anthropométrique’) from the police
At your appointment, you must also provide a copy of your:
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birth certificate, which shows both parents’ names
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passport
You may need to get these documents legalised. Check with your local Foreigners’ Office or police station.
Your application may not be processed on the same day, so you may need to return to collect your new residence permit.
Registering as a resident
Once you arrive, if you plan to stay in Morocco for more than 90 days, you need to register with the Police or Gendarmerie before you apply for a residence permit.
If you have any problems or questions about registering your residency, contact an English-speaking lawyer in Morocco
Permanent residency
You may be able to apply for a long-term residence permit (‘Carte de Résidence’) in Morocco if:
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you have lived there legally and continuously for several years
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you have strong family links to a Moroccan national
To find out if you’re eligible and how to apply, check with your local Police Prefecture.
Citizenship
Morocco recognises dual citizenship. This means that you do not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become a Moroccan citizen.
To find out if you’re eligible for Moroccan citizenship, contact:
Help with visa, residency and citizenship applications
The British Embassy in Rabat cannot help with Moroccan visa, residency or citizenship applications.
For any questions or issues, contact:
Passports and travel
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:
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apply for a British passport from abroad
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travel urgently without your British passport
Dual citizens travelling to the UK
When travelling to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. Read guidance on dual citizenship.
Resident children travelling without a parent or legal guardian
Children aged 17 and under must carry a letter of parental consent if they’re travelling out of Morocco without one or both parents or legal guardian.
Contact the Moroccan Embassy in the UK or the Moroccan immigration department for more information.
Healthcare in Morocco
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:
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plan your healthcare
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take medicine abroad
Morocco does not have a reciprocal health agreement with the UK.
Make sure you have appropriate health insurance to cover any healthcare costs. You can get insurance from Moroccan or international providers. If you work in Morocco, you may get private health insurance through your employer.
You may also be enrolled in the mandatory health insurance scheme (‘Assurance Maladie Obligatoire’ or ‘AMO’) in Morocco. This offers access to subsidised public healthcare.
To find out how to get medical treatment:
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contact your insurance provider
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read guidance on health in Morocco
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find English-speaking medical facilities and doctors for British Nationals in Morocco
Working in Morocco
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.
To work in Morocco, you need a work visa. To apply for your work visa, you must have a job offer and authorisation to work in Morocco. Your employer will arrange the authorisation for you. To apply for a work visa, contact the Moroccan Embassy in London.
Once you arrive in Morocco, you must also apply for a residence permit. Read the section on visas, residency and citizenship in this guidance.
Recognition of qualifications
If you want to work in a regulated profession in Morocco, you may need to get your foreign qualifications recognised.
Driving in Morocco
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:
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drive abroad legally
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take your UK vehicle abroad
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get driving licence letters
Read about road travel in Morocco, in safety and security in the travel advice for Morocco. This includes information on driving in Morocco, including driving licence rules.
The Moroccan government provides information on driving in Morocco, including how to:
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register a vehicle in Morocco (in French) (you may not be able to access this website outside Morocco)
Disabled drivers
You may be able to apply for a Moroccan disabled parking permit.
If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Morocco, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.
Tax
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.
The UK has a double taxation agreement with Morocco so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.
Contact the Moroccan Tax Authority (‘Direction Générale des Impôts’) (in French) for any questions about double taxation relief.
Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in Morocco. To do this, find an English-speaking lawyer in Morocco.
You can also read the Moroccan Tax Authority’s guidance on income tax (in French).
Pensions
Claiming your UK pension
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:
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how to claim your UK State Pension
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where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension
Claiming a Moroccan pension
You may be eligible to claim a Moroccan pension if you have worked and paid social security contributions in Morocco. Contact the Moroccan National Social Security Fund (CNSS) to find out whether you are eligible to claim. You may not be able to access this website outside Morocco.
Benefits
Claiming UK benefits
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit.
Claiming Moroccan benefits
You may be entitled to some Moroccan benefits if you:
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have worked and paid social security contributions in Morocco
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hold Moroccan citizenship
Contact the Moroccan National Social Security Fund (CNSS) to find out whether you are eligible to claim. You may not be able to access this website outside Morocco.
Buying and renting property in Morocco
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad.
Generally, foreigners cannot own agricultural land in Morroco. Contact an English-speaking lawyer in Morocco if you’re considering buying property or land.
You’ll also need to appoint a notary in Morocco.
Voting in Morocco
UK elections
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:
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vote in UK elections from abroad
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register as an overseas voter
Moroccan elections
You cannot vote in Moroccan elections unless you hold Moroccan citizenship.
Studying in Morocco
If you plan to study in Morocco, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel.
Contact the Moroccan Embassy in London to find out how to apply for a student visa.
The Moroccan government provides information on public higher education (in French) and private higher education (in French) in Morocco (you may not be able to access these web pages outside Morocco).
For more information:
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read guidance on travel grants for students studying abroad or on placements (England)
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contact your higher education provider in the UK or Morocco
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contact the Moroccan Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation (in French or Arabic) (you may not be able to access this website outside Morocco)
Children
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:
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getting permission to take your child abroad
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claiming UK Child Benefit abroad
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child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad
Schools and education
The Ministry of National Education is responsible for the school system in Morocco.
All children aged 6 to 15 must attend school in Morocco.
The European Committee of the Regions provides information about education in Morocco. You may not be able to access this website inside Morocco.
Childcare
Most families use private nurseries or daycare centres or hire a nanny for childcare in Morocco.
Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships
Births
If your child is born in Morocco, register the birth with the Moroccan authorities. You must do this within 30 days of your child’s birth at your local Civil Status Office (‘Bureau de l’État Civil’).
You may need to provide:
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the birth notification
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proof of identity for both parents – for example, your passport and residence permit
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your marriage certificate
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proof of your address
For more information check the Ministry of the Interior ’Watiqa’ portal. You may not be able to access this portal outside Morocco.
If you are pregnant and not married, read our guidance on relationships outside marriage in the safety and security section of our travel advice for Morocco.
It is not illegal for foreign women who are not married to give birth in Morocco. But unmarried mothers can face problems with processes like registering the birth.
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:
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register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
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apply for your child’s first British passport
Deaths
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:
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what to do after someone dies abroad
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how to register the death with the UK authorities
If someone dies in Morocco, read guidance on:
Marriages and civil partnerships
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad.
Same sex marriages and civil partnerships are not legally recognised in Morocco. For information about LGBT+ rights in Morocco, read guidance on safety and security in the travel advice for Morocco.
Divorce and separation
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.
The Moroccan Ministry of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family offers guidance on divorce in Morocco (in French).
Consider taking legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Morocco.
Documents for British people in Morocco
Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers:
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legalising and certifying UK documents
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marriage and civil partnership documents
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affirmations and affidavits
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witnessing signatures
Change of address certificates and radiation letters
The British Embassy in Rabat and the Honorary Consulate in Marrakech no longer issue change of address certificates. This is because they are unable to confirm your previous and current address. Contact an English-speaking notary in Morocco, who may be able to issue the certificate.
The Embassy and Consulate also no longer issue radiation letters. Local authorities have been informed of this change.
Wills
Contact an English-speaking notary in Morocco or an English-speaking lawyer in Morocco for professional advice on wills in Morocco.
If you have made a will in the UK, a Moroccan Notary Public must apply to have it enforced by the Moroccan court. This will make sure the will is legally binding in Morocco.
If a British national dies in Morocco without having made a will, you must apply to the Moroccan courts to appoint one or more administrators.
Lawyers, translators and notaries
To find an English-speaking lawyer, translator or notary in Morocco, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad.
Pets
If you want to bring your pet with you to Morocco, read guidance on:
Returning to the UK
Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.
Disclaimer
We provide this information as a guide only. For definitive information, contact the Moroccan authorities.
Read our consular information disclaimer.
Updates to this page
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Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. Includes new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK ('Passports and travel' section).
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Added update to issuing of change of address certificates: the British Embassy in Rabat and the Honorary Consulate in Marrakech no longer issue change of address certificate.
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Coronavirus section added with a link to guidance on vaccines.
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Added two sections: "Car Registration in Morocco" and "Importing and Exporting Money"
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Information updated
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Update: driving in Morocco
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First published.