Morocco (MA)

Valid passport required for entry and all official processes in Morocco. Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay. Required for Carte de Séjour application, bank account opening, CNSS registration, school enrolment, and most bureaucratic interactions.

Annual residence permit for all foreigners staying in Morocco beyond 90 days. Issued by the local préfecture or arrondissement. Categories include: salarié (employee), étudiant (student), retraité (retiree), famille (family reunification), and commerçant (business owner). Apply within 90 days of arrival. Required for: long-term rental agreements, opening a CDC bank account, CNSS enrolment, work contracts, school enrolment for children, property ownership, and vehicle registration.

Proof of Moroccan residential address — required for almost all administrative procedures. Can be: your rental contract (contrat de bail), a utility bill in your name, or a letter from your landlord (attestation d'hébergement) certified by the moqaddem (neighbourhood authority). The moqaddem system is uniquely Moroccan — your local neighbourhood representative who can certify residency. Required for Carte de Séjour, bank accounts, vehicle registration, and school enrolment.

Criminal record certificate from your home country required for the Carte de Séjour application. Must be recent (typically less than 3 months old at time of application). If your home country is a Hague Apostille Convention member, apostille is required; if not, full consular/embassy legalisation is needed. Must be officially translated into French or Arabic by a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté). Allow 2–6 weeks to obtain from your home country.

Birth certificate required for family reunification residence permits, marriage, school enrolment for children, and some employment contracts. Must be an official copy (original or certified copy). If from a Hague Apostille Convention member country, apostille is required; if from a non-member country, full consular/embassy legalisation is needed. Must be officially translated into French or Arabic by a sworn translator.

Marriage certificate required for spouse/family residence permits and some banking procedures. If from a Hague Apostille Convention member country, apostille is required; if not, full consular/embassy legalisation is needed. Official translation into French or Arabic by a sworn translator required. Note: unmarried cohabiting couples may face difficulty with some administrative processes as Moroccan administration is based on marital status.

Formal rental contract (lease agreement) — typically in Arabic and French. Required for Carte de Séjour application and bank account opening. Must specify: duration of tenancy, monthly rent, deposit paid, included utilities, and landlord's identification details. Always get the contract stamped (légalisé) by a notaire or through the Tax Office (enregistrement) for legal validity. Avoid unwritten rental agreements.

Employment contract (CDI — Contrat à Durée Indéterminée or CDD — Contrat à Durée Déterminée). Required for salaried employee Carte de Séjour, CNSS registration by employer, and bank account applications. Must comply with Moroccan Code du Travail (Law 65-99). Should specify salary in MAD, working hours, leave entitlements, and notice period.

Medical certificate confirming good health — required for Carte de Séjour application. Must be issued by a Moroccan licensed doctor (médecin agréé) at a public health centre (centre de santé publique). The certificate typically involves a basic physical examination including chest X-ray. Cost: 50–150 MAD. Allow 1–3 days.

Morocco's land registry title deed issued by ANCFCC (Agence Nationale de la Conservation Foncière, du Cadastre et de la Cartographie). The Titre Foncier provides a state guarantee of ownership — once issued, ownership cannot be challenged. Distinct from informal Melkia titles (customary ownership proof) which have no state guarantee. Always verify Titre Foncier status before purchasing any property.

Social security number and card issued by CNSS (Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale). Issued by employer upon registration. Required for accessing CNSS healthcare benefits (AMO), claiming sickness benefits, and eventually pension rights. Verify with your employer that they have registered you — obtain your CNSS number and check contributions online at cnss.ma.

University degree or professional qualification from home country. May require equivalence recognition (homologation) from Morocco's Ministry of Higher Education (MESRSI) for certain professional roles or public sector employment. Process: 3–6 months. Must be apostilled and officially translated. Not required for private sector employment in most cases.

Morocco's national identity card for Moroccan citizens only — not available to foreign nationals. Foreigners are identified by passport + Carte de Séjour. If you become a Moroccan citizen (after 5 years residency + naturalisation process), you will be issued a CIN.

Health insurance certificate — required for Carte de Séjour application if not enrolled in CNSS AMO. International health insurance policies accepted; must be translated and certified. Also required for school enrolment (some international schools require proof of health insurance).