Obtaining Residency (Carte de Séjour) in Marocco: The Basics for UK/EU Retirees and Digital Nomads
Aside from the recent announcement by the government that Bitcoin will be legalized in this northwest African country, there are many reasons why foreigners may wish to obtain residency permits in Morocco. Besides a lower cost of living and real estate than in neighboring Spain, Morocco offers decades of political stability, excellent Maghrebi cuisine, and for the most active, sandy beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and winter skiing in the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. As in other Francophone Maghrebi countries Tunisia and Algeria, non-Arabic speaking French pensioners will be able to communicate with the locals. That said, English is widely spoken in the most tourist-frequented cities such as Casablanca, Tangiers and Marrakesh.
See also: In Late 2024 Morocco Joined the MENA Digital Asset Trend, Announcing It Plans to Legalize Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies
Obtaining a residency permit is crucial initial step for foreigners, and the first of many paperwork filings in order to stay in Morocco long-term. With the proper legal assistance, any foreigner can easily understand the basics of obtaining Moroccan residency permits.
First, while Morocco is a visa-free country for citizens of the UK, EU and USA, a foreigner who wishes to stay in Morocco for more than 90 days must apply for a residency permit. This residency permit is valid for students, retirees, employees, entrepreneurs, and relatives of Moroccan citizens who have not applied for or obtained Moroccan nationality. Note that as of January 2025, there is no specific type of visa for digital nomads, but obtaining residency here is not difficult for pensioners who want to make their monthly pounds and euros stretch further.
Types of Residency Permits:
The type of Carte de Séjour or Certificat d'Immatriculation you need depends on the purpose of your stay:
Work Permit: For those employed by a Moroccan company.
Business Permit: For entrepreneurs and investors.
Student Permit: For individuals enrolled in Moroccan educational institutions.
Family Reunification: For spouses and dependents of Moroccan citizens or residents.
If you have relatives with Moroccan passports, they are able to travel visa-free or with visa-issuance on arrival in 2025 to (source) the following countries (not a comprehensive list):
Azerbaijan
Angola
Barbados
Belize
Brazil
Colombia
Cook Islands (New Zealand overseas territory)
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Grenada
Haiti
Hong Kong SAR, China
Turkey
The Moroccan passport is currently ranked 68th in the passport rankings published annually by Henley & Partners, the world's largest investment migration firm.
Retiree Permit: For retirees with proof of sufficient income. This one is becoming more important as some retirees living on fixed income in southern Spain consider Morocco, particularly the coastal cities of Tangier or Casablanca as options.
Required Documents
While the exact requirements may vary by region, the following documents are commonly requested:
Application Form: Obtainable from local police stations.
Passport: Valid for at least six months, along with photocopies.
Lease Agreement or Proof of Address: A notarized rental contract or a utility bill in your name.
Employment Contract or Proof of Income: If applying for work or retiree permits.
Criminal Background Check: Issued by your home country and translated into French or Arabic.
Medical Certificate: Verifying your health status.
Tax Registration Certificate: For business owners.
Marriage or Birth Certificates: For family reunification cases.
Photos: Passport-sized photographs (number varies).
The Application Process
Gather Documents: Compile all required documents, ensuring they are translated into French or Arabic and officially certified.
Submit Application: Apply at the local police station in the city where you reside. Ensure you have multiple copies of each document.
Receipt of Application: After submission, you will receive a receipt (“reçu”), which acts as a temporary permit until your Carte de Séjour is issued.
Follow-Up: Processing times vary but generally range from one to three months. Stay in touch with the police station for updates.
Issuance: Once approved, you will be notified to collect your Carte de Séjour.
Keep in mind that you could run into some unexpected issues when submitting your paperwork, such as late processing times and incorrectly translated documents.
Residency permits in Morocco can be renewed annually during the initial years of your stay, before you can become eligible for a long-term permit.
We recommend that you start the process well before the 90 day visa expiration, that you already have photocopies of all your documents, and to learn basic French (alongside your English) to ease communication. We also strongly recommend seeking out the advice of an attorney or an immigration specialist.
It's important to note that your residency permit is valid from one to ten years depending on certain circumstances. But this validity will be nullified if you leave and stay outside Morocco for more than six months.