Basic guide: what documentation do I need to travel to Morocco from Europe?

Travelling to Morocco from European territory means diving into a world of exotic contrasts, ancient culture and unmatched hospitality, all just a few hours’ flight from the main capitals of our continent. However, planning a trip outside Europe’s borders often creates certain doubts and uncertainties for the less experienced traveller. The big question we constantly receive from our international community of guests is this: what documentation do I need to travel to Morocco from Europe without having problems at the border? The overall and reassuring answer is very simple: Moroccan bureaucracy makes entry very easy for European tourists, requiring only a valid passport for the vast majority of nationalities, including, of course, citizens of Spain, France and the United Kingdom.

Morocco is a sovereign country that is fully aware of the vital importance of tourism to its economy, which is why it has designed very friendly and accessible customs policies for its northern neighbours. Although Europe has different internal regulations in place (especially after recent events such as Brexit), the Maghreb kingdom keeps its doors wide open with minimal procedures.

At Ona Hotels & Apartments, through the excellent Be Live brand in Morocco, we want to become your host of complete trust. Our main goal is to break down any mental or bureaucratic barrier that might hold back your desire to discover the world. That is why we have prepared this complete guide, designed specifically to help you step by step. We want to make sure you begin your great adventure with complete peace of mind, knowing that the European comfort and total security of our wonderful hotels and resorts will be waiting for you when you arrive at your destination.

The universal rule for European travellers: a valid passport

Before looking at the specific regulations of each European country, it is essential to highlight the most important and fundamental rule that applies to any international traveller wishing to cross the Moroccan border. Because we are so used to travelling freely within the Schengen Area and much of Europe, many tourists make the serious mistake of arriving at the airport carrying only their national identity document. You need to keep this firmly in mind while planning your trip: neither the Spanish DNI, nor the French carte d'identité, nor British identity cards are valid documents for entering Moroccan territory.

The only official, legal and internationally recognised document that will allow you to pass border control successfully is your physical passport. But simply having a passport is not the only requirement to keep in mind, as the authorities are extremely strict about expiry dates. The law requires that your passport must have a minimum validity of three months from the exact date of your arrival in the country. For example, if you are due to land in Marrakech on the first of August, your passport must legally remain valid until at least the first of November of that same year. At Ona Hotels & Apartments, we always recommend travelling with a six-month safety margin, in order to avoid any unexpected setback that might delay your return flight home.

In addition to validity, the physical condition of your travel document is vital. Border officers have full authority to refuse you entry if they believe your passport is excessively damaged. Before leaving home, always make sure that the cover is firmly attached, that the personal data page does not show severe folds or moisture damage, and that the electronic chip is not damaged. Finally, check carefully that you have at least one or two completely blank pages inside the document. The customs officer will need to physically stamp the mandatory entry stamp and the future exit stamp. If you do not have enough blank space for these official stamps, you will automatically be refused entry into the country.

Specific requirements by country: Spain, France and the United Kingdom

To make organising your next trip as easy as possible and answer the most common questions from our international guests, we have broken down the bureaucratic details and major privileges enjoyed by tourists from three of the most important European markets.

Citizens of Spain: visa exemption and proximity

The close geographical and historical relationship between Spain and Morocco results in extremely simple bureaucracy for Spanish tourists. If you travel with a Spanish passport, you benefit from full visa exemption for any journey that is purely for tourism purposes. You will not need to fill in long online forms or pay any fee in advance. The free stamp placed in your passport at border control on arrival automatically gives you the legal right to remain in the neighbouring country for an uninterrupted period of ninety days. It is the perfect bureaucratic scenario for enjoying Morocco’s immense culture without the slightest logistical stress.

Citizens of France: the advantage of language and bureaucracy

Citizens travelling with a French passport enjoy exactly the same legal privileges as Spanish travellers when crossing the Moroccan border. They benefit from the same tourist visa exemption and the generous ninety-day permission to stay. However, French travellers have one immense cultural and practical advantage when arriving in the country: the language. French is unofficially considered Morocco’s second language and is widely used in administration, commerce and, of course, the tourism sector. All airport signage, customs forms and interactions with border police can be handled smoothly in French, which gives French tourists enormous peace of mind when dealing with any small bureaucratic question on arrival.

Citizens of the United Kingdom: travelling from outside the Schengen Area

Brexit and the United Kingdom’s subsequent departure from the European Union have created many documentation questions among British tourists wanting to travel to North Africa. Fortunately, we have excellent news for our guests from the other side of the English Channel. Despite the recent political changes in Europe, citizens holding a valid British passport continue to enjoy all their travel privileges for tourism in Morocco. They are not required to apply for any visa in advance at the embassy for leisure trips. As with French and Spanish travellers, a British passport allows smooth and free entry through customs, granting a maximum stay of ninety days for a holiday under the African sun.

Crossing the border with minors: rules for European families

A large percentage of the guests who stay with us each year choose to travel as a family. Morocco is an absolutely fascinating destination for children, but international child protection rules require the authorities to be especially rigorous and strict with the documentation of European minors.

The most important rule to remember is that every minor, from a newborn baby to a teenager, must have their own valid individual passport. Family record books or birth certificates are not valid at all for crossing an international border. In addition, there is a very strict international regulation designed to prevent child abduction. If a European child travels to Morocco accompanied by only one parent, by grandparents or by any adult other than both parents, an additional legal document will be required at the border. This document is an express travel authorisation signed by the absent parents or legal guardians, which must be properly validated and stamped by a police station or public notary in the country of origin.

We know that arranging this paperwork requires extra effort from parents before travelling, but the reward upon arrival is truly worth it. As part of the Ona Hotels & Apartments portfolio, we have spectacular resorts designed for family enjoyment under the Be Live brand. Imagine clearing border control and arriving with your children at the fabulous Be Live Experience Marrakech Palmeraie, a huge oasis where children’s entertainment, all-inclusive board and large swimming pools make every effort worthwhile. If your dream is the Mediterranean Sea, the vast Be Live Collection Saïdia resort is a safe coastal paradise where children have their own fun guaranteed while adults relax in complete peace.

Be Live Experience Marrakech Palmeraie

Health peace of mind: medical insurance and our European commitment

Addressing the subject of health is essential in our commitment to offering you a completely safe and worry-free trip. It is very important that all European citizens understand that the healthcare agreements of their home countries do not apply in Moroccan territory. Neither the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) nor the British UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) has any legal validity or medical coverage in Morocco.

For this reason, the absolute recommendation from all relevant authorities and from our own team of experts is that you should always take out private international medical insurance before boarding your flight. This policy should offer wide financial cover, including possible emergency hospitalisation, outpatient medical care and medical repatriation in case of extreme need. It is a small extra expense that guarantees maximum peace of mind in the face of any unexpected issue.

At the same time, we fully understand that the biggest day-to-day concern for European travellers in Africa is the well-known “traveller’s diarrhoea”, caused by unsafe water or food. In this area, our commitment as a hotel group is firm and clear. In all our Be Live hotels in Morocco, we apply and audit strict European food hygiene standards. We use modern purified and filtered water systems for all culinary preparation, washing fresh vegetables and making the ice for your drinks. When you stay with us, your digestive health is fully protected, allowing you to enjoy rich local gastronomy in our buffets without fear or hesitation.

Your oasis in Morocco: the comfort of our hotels and resorts

Once you have properly completed all your passport formalities, taken out your insurance and passed through airport border control, the bureaucratic part of the journey is over and your true holiday rest begins. It is at this exact moment that the prestigious Ona Hotels & Apartments portfolio shows its full potential in caring for you. We understand that international travellers look for exotic experiences outside, but expect familiarity, comfort and excellent customer service when they arrive at their hotel room.

Under our exclusive and recognised Be Live brand, we offer you excellent accommodation options in Morocco so you can choose according to your travel plans. For couples and groups of friends looking for a sophisticated atmosphere, peaceful luxury and restorative quiet, the majestic Be Live Collection Marrakech Adults Only hotel is simply unmatched. Located in the peaceful Palmeraie, it is the perfect place to immerse yourself in a traditional steam bath and recover all your energy after your international journey. For tireless lovers of sunshine, pure sea breeze and the sea at its very best, the extensive Be Live Collection Saïdia resort offers a superior all-inclusive experience on the country’s warm and beautiful Mediterranean coast, ensuring constant enjoyment without any logistical effort.

Be Live Collection Saïdia

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about customs and flights to Morocco

To complete this guide and help you quickly resolve the most common last-minute doubts, we have prepared this list with the questions that most concern our valued European travellers.

Can I use my European driving licence as official identification at the border? 

No. A valid physical passport is the only legal, valid and internationally accepted document for crossing Moroccan customs. Your European driving licence will only be useful, naturally, if you wish to hire a motor vehicle to explore the country on your own once you have legally entered it.

Do I have to pay any entry fee if I travel from the United Kingdom, France or Spain? 

No. Entry for purely tourism purposes is completely free for citizens of these three European countries. No border officer will ask you to pay any extra fee when placing the official stamp in your passport.

Do I need any compulsory vaccinations when travelling from any point in Europe to Morocco? 

No. At present, the Moroccan Ministry of Health does not require any compulsory vaccination or international vaccination certificate to allow entry into the country for travellers arriving directly from European territory.