COVID-19 Information
Last Updated: December 9, 2020
Country Specific Information:
- The Government of Morocco has extended the country’s “Health State of Emergency” until January 10, 2021.
- Air travel to and from Morocco remains restricted to specific categories of travelers. Citizens and residents of Morocco, as well as foreign nationals of visa-exempt countries (which includes U.S. citizens) with reservations with Moroccan hotels or travel agencies and business persons invited by Moroccan companies, are allowed to enter and depart. Special operations flights serving these passengers, including a direct flight on Royal Air Maroc (RAM) between Casablanca (CMN) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), as well as CMN and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), will continue to operate under the Health State of Emergency. U.S. citizens wishing to return to the United States should book directly with the airlines. U.S. citizens seeking to fly from Morocco to a destination other than the United States are required to obtain an exceptional authorization from local authorities.
- Travelers entering Morocco by air must present negative test results from a PCR test carried out less than 72 hours before boarding. Children under the age of 11 are exempt from this requirement. A serology test is no longer required. The Moroccan government does not require those departing from the country to submit PCR test results, but airlines may require a test depending upon the requirements of the countries where you will be traveling. For additional information please see the Entry and Exit Requirement section below.
- Special operation ferries are operating to/from Morocco and Sète, France and Genoa, Italy.
- The borders with Ceuta and Melilla remain closed.
- Regional or local authorities may put into place (sometimes with little notice) travel or other restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19.
- Individuals entering or departing from the Casablanca city limits must have a letter of permission issued by Moroccan authorities. In Casablanca, there is an evening curfew between the hours of 9:00 pm and 6:00 am. Those who circulate within Casablanca during these hours must have proper authorization from local authorities.
- Masks are mandatory in all public spaces.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
- Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? It depends
- Air travel to and from Morocco remains restricted to specific categories of travelers. Citizens and residents of Morocco and, as of September 6, foreign nationals of visa-exempt countries (which includes U.S. citizens) with reservations with Moroccan hotels or travel agencies and business people invited by Moroccan companies are allowed to enter and depart. Special operation flights serving these passengers, including a direct flight on Royal Air Maroc between Casablanca (CMN) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), will continue to operate under the Health State of Emergency. U.S. citizens wishing to return to the United States should book directly with the airlines.
- Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes
- The Government of Morocco (GOM) has established pre-arrival COVID-19 testing requirements for all travelers entering Morocco. Travelers entering Morocco must complete a PCR test within 72 hours of travel, with printed results to present on request at check-in and to GOM officials on arrival. Children under 11 years of age are exempt from this requirement. A serology test is no longer required.
- Although the Moroccan government does not require COVID-19 testing for those departing from Morocco, airlines may require COVID-19 test results based upon travel destination restrictions. Travelers should check entry and exit requirements in place in the countries and states where they plan to travel.
- Passengers transiting through France must present negative results from a PCR test carried out less than 72 hours before boarding. Passengers must also complete an attestation form. For additional please review the website of the U.S. Embassy in France and the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes
- The Government of Morocco will conduct a health screening on travelers entering the country.
- On March 17, 2020, the Ministry of Interior announced that foreigners who recently entered Morocco and were unable to depart the country within 90 days due to the closure of borders and airspace will be permitted to exit without a fine (when the borders and airspace reopen), even if they are not in possession of an extension to reside in the county beyond 90 days. Similarly, the Government of Morocco will continue to honor the residency cards of foreigners that expire during this period. The Government of Morocco has not announced whether foreign citizens will be able to continue to depart without a fine after the end of the Health State of Emergency.
Movement Restrictions:
- Is a curfew in place? There is a curfew in Casablanca between the hours of 9:00 pm and 6:00 am.
- Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? Yes
- U.S. citizens should be familiar with local requirements prior to travel between regions and should remember to follow the instructions of local authorities.
Quarantine Information:
- Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? No
- The Government of Morocco is not imposing a mandatory quarantine on foreign citizens entering the country.
COVID-19 Testing:
- If you are exhibiting signs or symptoms of COVID-19, please contact the Moroccan Ministry of Health’s hotline at +212 (0)8-0100-4747. Assistance is available in English, French or Arabic.
Transportation Options:
- Are commercial flights operating? Some limited services
- All regularly scheduled commercial flights to/from Morocco remain suspended, as do ferries to/from Spain. Special operation flights to/from Morocco are taking place on Royal Air Maroc (RAM), Air Arabia, and Air France. RAM is operating a direct flight from Casablanca to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and a direct flight from Casablanca to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
- Is public transportation operating? Yes
- To travel between cities on public transportation, travelers must obtain authorization from the local authorities. Masks are required on all public transportation.
- Can U.S. citizens travel to Europe from Morocco? It depends
- Travelers with questions about European entry rules should contact the embassies or the border control authorities of the European country they wish to visit and/or review information on U.S. embassy webpages in the transit countries.
Fines for Non-Compliance:
- You may be fined for non-compliance with measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Consular Operations:
- U.S. Citizen Services – To make an appointment for passport renewal services, please click here. For a notarial services appointment, including the Affidavit of Nationality and Eligibility to Marry, please click here.
- To schedule an appointment for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, please click here. Emergency assistance is available to U.S. citizens with an urgent need for assistance outside of regular business hours.
- If you are a U.S. citizen who needs an emergency passport for imminent travel, please send an email message to ACSCasablanca@state.gov.
- The United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.
- For other emergencies, please call 05-22-64-20-99 (dialing from Morocco) or +212-522-64-20-99 (dialing from outside Morocco) during regular business hours and 06-61-13-19-39 (dialing from Morocco) or +212-661-13-19-39 (dialing from outside Morocco) on evenings and weekends.
- Nonimmigrant Visa Appointments: The availability of appointments for nonimmigrant visas is currently limited. To schedule a nonimmigrant visa appointment, please click here. If you have an urgent need to travel, you may request an emergency appointment. In some instances, it is possible to renew a B1/B2 or C1/D visa without an interview. This option may be available to persons who meet the following requirements:
- Your visa is either unexpired or expired less than one year ago;
- You are applying for another visa of the same type as your previous visa issued from Morocco;
- You were not refused a visa at your last interview.
For additional information, please see the Applying for a Visa Renewal webpage. Please note that your visa may still be valid even if the passport it is in has expired. You can travel to the United States with your old passport containing a valid visa and your new, valid passport.
- For any U.S. visa-related questions, please contact our Visa Support Center: 05-20-48-50-13 (in Morocco); 1-703-520-2245 (from the U.S.); support-morocco@ustraveldocs.com. The American Citizen Services Unit is unable to answer questions about visa applications.
Permanent Resident Status:
- U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) are free to travel outside the United States and temporary or brief travel usually does not affect their permanent resident status. Residents who return to the United States within a year are generally considered to be in status. LPRs that have been outside of the United States for more than a year (365 days) will need to apply for a returning resident visa (SB-1) when the Consulate resumes routine visa services. There are no special exceptions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. For additional information regarding your lawful permanent resident status, contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at uscis.gov or by calling +1-212-620-3418 (from overseas).
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