Entry Requirements

Passports

For an up-to-date, country-by-country listing of passport requirements around the world, go to the "International Travel" Web page of the U.S. State Department at http://travel.state.gov. For entry into Morocco, children traveling on their parents' passports must have a recent photograph affixed to the passport. If this isn't done, the whole family is at risk of being denied entry.

Visas

Most visitors to Morocco don't need a visa, including citizens from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, including Ireland. Currently, the most notable exceptions are Israeli, South African, and Zimbabwean citizens, who need to apply at a Moroccan embassy or consulate for a 90-day single-entry (around $30/£15) or double-entry (around $50/£25) visa. Visit the Moroccan Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation website (www.maec.gov.ma) for its current list of visa-exempt countries and a visa application form (in French).

Moroccan embassies abroad include: In the U.S.: 1601 21st St. NW, Washington, DC 20009 (tel. 202/462-7979 or 202/457-0012; www.themoroccanembassy.com). There's also a consulate at 10 E. 40th St., 24th floor, New York, NY 10016 (tel. 212/758-2625; www.moroccanconsulate.com).

In Canada: 38 Range Rd., Ottawa, KIN 8J4 (tel. 613/236-7391; www.ambamaroc.ca). There's also a consulate at 2192 bd. René-Lévesque West, Montréal H3H 1R6 (tel. 514/288-8750 or 514/288-6951; www.consulatdumaroc.ca).

In the U.K.: 49 Queen's Gate Gardens, London SW75NE (tel. 020/7581-5001). The consulate is at Diamond House, 97-99 Praed St., Paddington, W21NT (tel. 020/7724-0719 or 020/7724-0624).

In Ireland: 39 Raglan Rd., Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 (tel. 31/66-09449 or 31/66-09319).

In Australia: 17 Terrigal Crescent, O'Malley, Canberra (tel. 02/62-900755 or 02/62-900766).

In South Africa: 799 Schoemann St. (corner of Farenden), Arcadia, Pretoria (tel. 012/343-0230).

There's no Moroccan embassy or consulate in New Zealand.

Every visitor requires a current passport, valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry and with a minimum of two blank pages. All visitors are given a 90-day entry upon arrival. Extensions are possible, but time-consuming. You must visit the nearest Préfecture de Police (police headquarters) with your passport, four passport-size photos, and a letter from your embassy requesting a visa extension on your behalf. The process can take hours or even days, and usually involves an indefinite amount of bureaucracy depending on the whim of the police involved. It may prove easier to simply cross over to the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta or Melilla in Morocco's north or across the Straits to mainland Spain, and re-enter Morocco after a day or two.

Note: An occupation of "journalist" or "writer" entered on your arrival form can potentially lead to extended questioning as to your intentions while in Morocco. Choosing an occupation less threatening is advised. It's always best to carry around your passport -- or at least a copy of the most relevant pages -- while in Morocco. Police checks are numerous throughout the country, and usually the only thing they want to do is look at your passport, ask where you're from, and welcome you to Morocco.