US Citizens in Morocco Gain Passport, Notary Access on Consulate Tour

The US Consulate General in Casablanca is taking passport and notarial services directly to American citizens in four Moroccan cities, including Laayoune for the first time. Its American Citizen Services (ACS) unit announced a four-city outreach tour that opens in October and runs through December.

Key facts

• October: Marrakech (first stop)
• November: Laayoune and Ouarzazate
• December: Oujda (final stop)
• Services offered: passport and notarial (notary) services for US citizens
• Book by email to [email protected]; fees paid online through Pay.gov

What is happening?

The consulate's American Citizen Services unit will run mobile outreach events in Marrakech, Laayoune, Ouarzazate and Oujda. The published timetable puts Marrakech first in October, followed by Laayoune and Ouarzazate in November, with Oujda closing the tour in December.

For Laayoune, the visit is a first: it is the first time the US mission will deliver consular services inside a major city of Morocco's Western Sahara. The mobile consulate is scheduled to begin its Laayoune operations in November, according to the published timetable.

Who can use the service and what is on offer?

The outreach is aimed at American citizens seeking passport or notarial services. Only these two service types are listed: passport and notary.

How do I get an appointment?

Americans seeking an appointment must email [email protected] with the subject line “[City Name] – Appointment Request”. The message must include the full name of each applicant, the names of anyone accompanying them, and the type of service requested — passport or notary.

The consulate will reply to confirm the date and location. Applicants must pay their fees online through Pay.gov before the appointment and bring a printed receipt to the event. The consulate cannot accept incomplete applications.

Why is this happening now?

The outreach follows a year of expanding US engagement across Western Sahara. Washington extended its diplomatic, economic and military activity in the territory during 2026, building on the recognition it first issued in December 2020, when then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced during Donald Trump's first administration that the US had begun establishing a consulate there.

A virtual presence post was inaugurated at the same time, with a working physical consulate promised to follow. In January 2021, Assistant Secretary of State David Schenker, US Ambassador David Fischer and Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita visited the premises designated for that future mission in Dakhla, the first inspection of the site. The consulate has still not opened. During Trump's second administration, Massad Boulos, the president's senior adviser for African affairs, told Asharq News in October 2025 that Washington intended to open it during the current term, though he gave no date.

What this means for travellers

US citizens in or near Marrakech, Laayoune, Ouarzazate or Oujda who need a passport or notarial service can request an outreach appointment by email instead of travelling to Casablanca. Requests should specify the city in the subject line, list every applicant and companion by full name, and state which service is needed.

Applicants should complete their paperwork before attending, pay the fees online through Pay.gov ahead of the appointment, and bring the printed receipt — the consulate cannot accept incomplete applications.

No exact dates within each month have been published; the consulate confirms the date and location when it replies to the appointment request.