Northern Africa · UN member
Morocco: Travel Guide & Requirements
Kingdom of Morocco · المملكة المغربية · ⵜⴰⴳⵍⴷⵉⵜ ⵏ ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ
Morocco is a country in Northern Africa with its capital in Rabat. It has a population of 38.4 million (#41 in the world) and covers 716,550 km². The official languages are Arabic and Berber. The currency is the Moroccan dirham (MAD, د.م.).
Where is Morocco? Map of Morocco
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Mauritania.
- Region
- Northern Africa
- Coordinates
- 32° N, 5° W
- Neighbours
- 4 — see list
- Coastline
- 2,945 km
- Morocco
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Morocco showing Rabat (capital) and the largest cities: Casablanca, Fes, Tangier, Marrakesh, Agadir, Meknes, Oujda and Al Hoceïma.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Morocco
- Passport
The UK Foreign Office says your passport must have an expiry date at least 3 months after the date you arrive in Morocco, and that the Moroccan authorities have refused entry to some travellers with damaged passports.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 76 need no visa, 4 need an eTA, 10 need an eVisa, 108 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Morocco entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
The eVisa portal's terms say eVisa holders must be able to show a return ticket at the border on arrival.
- Proof of funds
The eVisa portal's terms say eVisa holders must be able to show means of support on arrival: an international bank card, or more than EUR 70 in cash per person per day of the stay.
- Travel insurance
The eVisa portal's terms say eVisa holders must be able to show, on arrival, hospital and medical repatriation insurance covering their stay.
- Vaccinations
The UK Foreign Office says that if you arrive from a polio-affected country, you must have a certificate proving you have had a polio vaccine.
- Customs allowance
Moroccan Customs tolerates bringing in, or taking out, at most 2,000 MAD.
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Morocco
- Safety: Morocco is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Morocco Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: May to October — when daytime highs in Rabat are around 23–28°C.
- Money: the Moroccan dirham (MAD) — 1 US dollar is about 9.8370 MAD.
- Plugs: type C and E, 220 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 19, Ambulance 15, Fire 15.
- Language: Arabic and Berber are official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 60 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC+1 in Rabat.
- Capital: Rabat; the largest city is Casablanca. About 38.4 million people live in Morocco.
- Outdoors: 11 national parks and 3 ski areas.
Key facts
Morocco at a glance
Languages spoken: Arabic (official), Tamazight languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit), French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy)
Geography & history
About Morocco
In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, a series of Muslim dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad al-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. The Alaouite Dynasty, to which the current Moroccan royal family belongs, dates from the 17th century. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half-century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier…
Read the full history
In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, a series of Muslim dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad al-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. The Alaouite Dynasty, to which the current Moroccan royal family belongs, dates from the 17th century. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half-century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Sultan MOHAMMED V, the current monarch's grandfather, organized the new state as a constitutional monarchy and in 1957 assumed the title of king. Since Spain's 1976 withdrawal from Western Sahara, Morocco has extended its de facto administrative control to roughly 75% of this territory; however, the UN does not recognize Morocco as the administering power for Western Sahara. The UN since 1991 has monitored a cease-fire, which broke down in late 2020, between Morocco and the Polisario Front -- an organization advocating the territory’s independence -- and restarted negotiations over the status of the territory in 2018. In 2020, the US recognized Morocco's sovereignty over all of Western Sahara. In 2011, King MOHAMMED VI responded to the spread of pro-democracy protests in the North Africa region by implementing a reform program that included a new constitution, passed by popular referendum, under which some new powers were extended to parliament and the prime minister, but ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch. Later that year, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) -- a moderate Islamist democratic party -- won the largest number of seats in parliamentary elections, becoming the first Islamist party to lead the Moroccan Government. In 2015, Morocco held its first direct elections for regional councils, which was one of the reforms included in the 2011 constitution. The PJD again won the largest number of seats in nationwide parliamentary elections in 2016, but it lost its plurality to the probusiness National Rally of Independents (RNI) in 2021. In 2020, Morocco signed a normalization agreement with Israel, similar to those that Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Sudan had concluded with Israel earlier that year.
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Mauritania
Climate
Mediterranean in the north, becoming more extreme in the interior; in the south, hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Terrain
mountainous northern coast (Rif Mountains) and interior (Atlas Mountains) bordered by large plateaus with intermontane valleys, and fertile coastal plains; the south is mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces
Highest point
Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
Natural resources
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Natural hazards
in the north, the mountains are geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts; windstorms; flash floods; landslides; in the south, a hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exi…
National symbols
pentacle symbol, lion
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Morocco
The default speed limits in Morocco are 60 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h outside built-up areas. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.2‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 6060 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and citiesWHO data (2017)
- 100100 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWHO data (2017)
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 Vienna, 1949 Geneva, 1926 ParisCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.2‰ blood alcohol (0.02% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsNo national child-restraint law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)18.6 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0) and WHO. Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Morocco safe to visit?
Morocco is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Morocco Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: This travel advice has been reviewed for accuracy with updates made throughout, including new information about passports, using dating applications, outdoor activities and adventure tourism, using electronic scooters and bikes, quad biking, hot air balloons and beaches and wildfires; information ab
Updated 19 Aug 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Morocco
The best time to visit Morocco is May to October, when daytime highs in Rabat are around 23–28°C. August is the warmest month (28°C by day), January the coldest (11°C at night), and November the wettest with about 98 mm of rain.
- Jan17°C11°C
- Feb17°C11°C
- Mar19°C12°C
- Apr20°C14°C
- May23°C16°C
- Jun26°C18°C
- Jul27°C20°C
- Aug28°C21°C
- Sep27°C20°C
- Oct24°C18°C
- Nov20°C14°C
- Dec18°C12°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Morocco
Plugs & sockets
220 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ski resorts
3 ski resorts in Morocco
- 12 km of slopes
- 4 lifts
- up to 3,240 m
Biggest: Oukaimden ski resort · Habri ski resort · Michlifen ski resort
National parks
11 national parks in Morocco
- 26,920 km² protected
- oldest from 1942
Largest: national parc of Dakhla · Khenifra National Park · Khenifiss National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Moroccan dirham exchange rates today
Morocco uses the Moroccan dirham (MAD, د.م.). One US dollar buys 9.8370 MAD; over the last 30 days the MAD has lost 2.3% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in MAD
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Morocco ranks
How Morocco compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Morocco
38 airports and airfields — 12 large, 7 medium and 17 small, plus 2 heliports. 17 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Morocco borders 4 countries along 3,524 km of land borders. Coastline: 2,945 km.
Military
Moroccan armed forces
Morocco ranks #61 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $6.3 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Casablanca (3.9 million), Rabat (2.0 million), Fes (1.3 million), Tangier (1.3 million), Marrakech (1.1 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
automotive parts, phosphate mining and processing, aerospace, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism
Export partners
Spain 20%, France 17%, Germany 6%, UK 5%, Italy 4% (2023)
Top exports
fertilizers, cars, garments, insulated wire, tomatoes (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Morocco
Next public holiday
Unity Day — Saturday, 31 October 2026. Then Green March (6 Nov).
Moroccan passport
Ranked #127: 38 countries visa-free, 30 with visa on arrival, 3 with an eTA and 39 with an eVisa.
Moroccan passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Morocco's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Morocco
Dial +212 before the local number. Internet domain .ma.
Climate footprint
69.1 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 1.81 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Morocco: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Morocco
Moroccans Won the Most Italian Residence Permits in 2025, Data Shows
Italy issued 44,549 first residence permits to Moroccan nationals in 2025, the highest of any non-EU nationality, according to ISTAT. Moroccans also …
Travellers to Spain: ID checks with Italy end after 3-month Ceuta suspension
Italy and Spain have agreed to lift the border controls they imposed on each other's citizens, ending a three-month suspension of Schengen free movem…
Spain and Italy to drop airport and port border checks on 23 October
Spain and Italy have agreed to end their mutual border checks at airports and ports from 23 October 2026. The checks were brought in after the July m…
Frequently asked questions about Morocco
What do I need to travel to Morocco?
How long must my passport be valid for Morocco?
Where is Morocco?
What is Morocco known for?
What is the capital of Morocco?
What language is spoken in Morocco?
What currency does Morocco use?
What is the calling code of Morocco?
Which countries border Morocco?
How strong is the Moroccan passport?
What is the speed limit in Morocco?
Is Morocco safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Morocco?
What plug type does Morocco use?
How many airports does Morocco have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.