Heading to Morocco? The tourism outlook


Heading to Morocco? The tourism outlook
Sunset at Oasis village in South Morocco (Tafilalet region).

When it comes to tourist hotspots, Morocco is one of the big hitters. Just a few hours’ flight away from Europe’s major cities, it plays a strong hand to city-breakers, and adventure- and sun-seekers alike. At nine million foreign visitors a year, it’s second only to Egypt as a North African holiday destination.
But Morocco isn’t immune to international events, and as North Africa and the Middle East experience the turmoil of the Arab Spring, many would-be visitors to Morocco are giving pause to wonder whether a holiday is still safe, feasible or appropriate. Admittedly, Morocco hasn’t seen the same upheavals that Tunisia or Egypt have experienced, let alone the violence in Libya,  but confidence in tourism did take a knock with a bombing in a Marrakesh café in May, which was ascribed to Islamist militants, the first such attack in the country since 2003.
Tourism accounts for around 10% of Morocco’s GDP, but taken together, the bombing and headlines from the wider region look like making 2011 a quiet year for the Moroccan tourist industry. That said, none of this should necessarily have you reaching for your guidebooks to France or Italy instead. Morocco remains a safe holiday destination, and no governmental travel warnings currently advise against travel. The flipside of dropping visitor numbers means those heading to Morocco can find themselves some great guesthouse and hotel deals.
Let’s go!
Well-served by both budget and scheduled airlines, the main entry points to Morocco are Marrakesh, Casablanca, Fès and Tangier – the latter also being an important ferry point for visitors from Spain. In the summer, head for the cooling sea breezes of Essaouira and Asilah. The latter holds a three-week art festival in July, overlapping with Marrakesh’s Festival of Popular Arts.
Best time to go
If you’re free with your travel dates, you might want to consider avoiding visiting Morocco in August. Not only is this the hottest time of the year (Marrakesh is particularly scorching), but this year it coincides with Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. Restaurants catering to tourists aren’t affected, but it’s hot work on the tourist trail when you can’t just pop into the first café you see for a refreshing drink.
With autumn, Morocco is once again prime travelling territory. Accommodation prices rise, but everyone’s in high spirits after Ramadan. The beaches empty and even the desert benefits from gentle breezes. Now is the time to dive into the winding streets of the Fès medina (which celebrates its founder in a huge moussem or religious festival in September) or even snag yourself a wife at Imilchil’s Berber Marriage festival.
What to see
The warm days and cool nights of autumn are also ideal for seeing the best of natural Morocco. The High Atlas Mountains are the most popular destination for trekking – most notably for those wanting to tackle Jebel Toubkal, north Africa’s highest mountain, but there are plenty of lesser known areas, such as the gorgeous Ameln Valley in the Anti-Atlas. The more heavily wooded Rif Mountains in the north also offer good hiking opportunities, and an excuse to base yourself in the blue-washed town of Chefchaouen.
Tourism in Morocco might be taking a slight knock at the current moment, but there’s still plenty on offer for those ready to make the trip.
Further reading: Get these essential tips to Morocco or explore its magnificent cuisine. Got the kids in tow? We’ve got tips for tackling Marrakesh with children.





morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco

Applying for a UK visa in Morocco


How to apply for a UK visa in Morocco
The UK Border Agency processes all visa applications to the United Kingdom.. You can find out whether you need a visa and how to apply through the UK Border Agency website.

How to apply?
Find out where and how to apply for  UK visa in Morocco

Latest news and updates:

Telephone Calls to the Visa Section: Please note that for operational reasons our Visa Section is not be able to take telephone calls. Please e-mail any enquiries to: rabat.visa@fco.gov.uk or visit our websites for visa information: www.visainfoservices.com for rules and procedures and www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk for online application forms and appointments.

Improvements to the UK Border Agency IT infrastructure in Morocco
From 13 February 2012 over a period of several weeks, the UK Border Agency will be carrying out improvements to its IT infrastructure in Morocco.
Customers should not notice any changes to the application process and during this time we expect to continue to be able to meet our published customer service standards .

Customers are reminded that they should always submit their visa applications in good time, applications can be made up to three months in advance of proposed travel dates.



morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco

Visa Application


Visa Application

Get A Visa Application.


Please note that Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to enter the Kingdom of Morocco and may stay up to 90 days.
Algeria - Andorra - Argentina - Australia - Austria - Bahrain - Belgium - Brazil - Bulgaria - Canada - Chile - Republic of Congo - Croatia - Cyprus - Czech Republic - Denmark - Estonia - Finland - France - Germany - Great Britain - Greece - Guinea (Conakry) - Hong Kong - Hungary - Iceland - Indonesia - Ireland - Italy - Ivory Coast - Japan - Kuwait - Latvia - Libya - Liechtenstein - Lithuania - Luxemburg - Mali - Malta - Mexico - Monaco - Netherlands - New Zealand - Niger - Norway - Oman - Peru - Philippines -Poland – Portugal - Puerto Rico - Qatar - Romania - Russian Federation - Saudi Arabia - Senegal - Singapore (Singaporean nationals may stay up to one month without visa) - Slovakia - Slovenia - South Korea - Spain - Sweden - Switzerland - Tunisia - Turkey - United Arab Emirates - United States of America - Venezuela.

Visitors intending to stay in Morocco longer than 90 days, however, should request a permission to extend the duration of their stay, at the nearest Police Precinct to their place of residence in Morocco. Citizens from countries not listed above do need a visa and the requirements are as follows:

Visa requirements for diplomats and officials of international organizations:

Visa application form duly filled out in capital letters and signed
Original passport (valid for over 6 months at the entry date)
Copy of the original passport (Pages 1-3)
Two passport size color photos with a white background
A verbal note
Visa processing fees will be waived for diplomats and officials of international organizations
Transit Visas:

A visa application form duly signed and filled out in capital letters
Original passport (valid for over 6 months at the entry date)
Copy of the original passport (Pages 1-3)
Two passport size color photos with a white background
Copy of the applicant's legal status in the US: Green card, F1 Visa, H1B-Visa, etc.
In case the applicant is a US visa holder, a copy of the I-94 (the I-94 is a document stapled to the passport) is required
Copy of the plane tickets or of the confirmed reservation
Transit visa fees:

1 day stay period (one entry): $26
2 days stay period (one entry): $26
1 day or 2 days stay period (two entries): $39
Tourist visa:

A visa application form duly signed and filled out in capital letters
Original passport (valid for over 6 months at the entry date)
Copy of the original passport (Pages 1-3)
Two passport size color photos with a white background
Copy of the applicant's legal status in the US: Green card, F1 Visa, H1B-Visa, etc.
In case the applicant is a US visa holder, a copy of the I-94 (the I-94 is a document stapled to the passport) is required
Copy of the round trip plane tickets or of the confirmed reservation
Hotel reservation or notarized Letter of Invitation from your host in Morocco
For applicant married to Moroccan citizen, a copy of the marriage certificate and a copy of the Moroccan passport or national ID of the Moroccan spouse, can be a substitute for the invitation letter or for the hotel reservation
Tourist Visa fees:

3 to 90 days stay period (one entry): $26
3 to 90 days stay period (two entries): $39
Student visa:

A visa application form duly filled out in capital letters and signed
Original passport (valid for over 6 months at the entry date)
Copy of the original passport (Pages 1-3)
Two passport size color photos with white background
Copy of the applicant's legal status in the US: Green card, F1 Visa, H1B-Visa, etc.
In case the applicant is a US visa holder, a copy of the I-94 (the I-94 is a document stapled to the passport) is required
Copy of the admission letter or class registration issued by the school in Morocco
Copy of the plane tickets or of the confirmed reservation
Student Visa fees:

3 to 90 days stay period (one entry): $26
3 to 90 days stay period (two entries): $39
Business visa:

A visa application form duly filled out in capital letters and signed
Original passport (valid for over 6 months at the entry date)
Copy of the original passport (Pages 1-3)
Two passport size color photos with white background
Copy of the applicant's legal status in the US: Green card, F1 Visa, H1B-Visa, etc.
In case the applicant is a US visa holder, a copy of the I-94 (the I-94 is a document stapled to the passport) is required
Copy of the invitation letter issued by the company you are planning to visit in Morocco
Copy of the plane tickets or of the confirmed reservation
Business Visa fees:

3 to 90 days stay period (one entry): $26
3 to 90 days stay period (two entries): $39
Visa application for a minor

A minor who is not travelling with his/her parents, needs to provide a notarized letter signed by both parents authorizing the child to travel with designated adult. The parent authorization should submitted with the application.

Foreigners residing in Morocco

The formality of the return Visa for foreigners residing in Morocco has been waived as of January 1, 2005. Foreigners residing in Morocco, who have been subjected in the past to the formality of the return Visa, can enter and exit freely, with their residence card, their registration card, or the receipt of their residence card application.

Submitting your application

The visa application may be sent by mail or submitted either in person or by messenger. If you have to mail your passport, please do not use regular mail. Please include a prepaid self-addressed Express Mail envelope (Express-mail from the United States Postal Service is the only mailing form accepted for applicants residing in the USA) and keep your tracking number. Please note that completed visa applications should be mailed to the following address:

Visa Department
Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco
10 E 40 Street 23 Floor
New York, NY 10016
Method of payment:

Please be advised that this Consulate General does not accept personal checks. Only money orders, company checks, or cash (if applying in person) are accepted. Please do not send cash in the mail.

All payments should be made payable to the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco.

Processing time:

Your application will be processed only if you provide all the requirements listed in the above guidelines. The processing time is no less than three business days.

Applicants who do not reside in the USA:

Residents of countries other than the USA must contact the nearest Moroccan Consulate or Embassy.

Refugee passports and travel documents:

Visa applications of refugees and nationals of some countries need to be approved in Morocco, which may take approximately six weeks, so please contact the visa officer at 1 (212) 758 2625, ext. 314 or at visa@moroccanconsulate.com to follow up on your application.

Tourist Information:

For tourist brochures, you may contact the Moroccan National Tourist Office at: Moroccan National Tourist Office 104 West 40th Street, Suite 1820 New York, NY 10018 Tel: 1 (212) 221 1583/84 Fax: 1 (212) 221-1887 e-mail: info@mnto-usa.org.

Important Information:

The decision to grant a visa will be at the sole discretion of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco.
The fact that a visa has been granted to an applicant does not mean that he/she will be entitled entry to the Moroccan territory. The prerequisites for entry will be checked again by the immigration services at the airport in Morocco.
More useful information concerning visiting Morocco can be found on the following link: www.visitmorocco.com
For further assistance or to follow-up on your application, you may contact the Visa Department by phone at (212) 758 2625 Ext. 314 or by e-mail at visa@moroccanconsulate.com


morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco