To prevent the spread of the corona virus, Moroccan authorities have decided to close all borders, including for road, air and sea traffic. The closure was implemented on March 16 and will last for new regulations. This means that it is currently not possible to enter or leave Morocco in the usual way. The authorities also introduced a sanitary emergency on 20 March, which has been extended to 20 May. The state of emergency involves severe restrictions on movement in public spaces, including traffic between cities. For more information about coronavirus, see the section Health.
Safety
There is a certain risk of terrorist attacks in Morocco. Norwegians traveling to Morocco, or residing in the country, are required to register at http://www.reiseregistrering.no/ and follow on local media.
Terrorism: The Moroccan authorities generally have high terror preparedness. The authorities are constantly working towards radicalized environments and the number of arrests linked to suspected terror cells has increased recently. It is considered likely that terrorists will try to carry out attacks on the government apparatus and tourist destinations. A Norwegian and Danish citizen was killed in Morocco in December 2018 by individuals who had expressed support for IS. In 2011, 11 people were killed, several by Westerners, in a terrorist attack at a cafe in Marrakech. Travelers are asked to follow the media, listen to local authorities, and otherwise be vigilant, especially in places with many people, and avoid deserted places.
Public gatherings: Demonstrations and public gatherings take place at regular intervals throughout the country and especially in the big cities. Most of these are peaceful. Travelers are asked to take the necessary precautions and avoid crowds.
Road safety: At all times, great caution should be exercised in traffic. The standard of the motorways is good, but the roads are poorly lit and driving after dark is not recommended. Caution is needed as cars often stop along the roadside, people cross the roadway, including on the highway, and traffic police line up on the roadway.
Trekking: Tourists walking in mountain and desert areas of Morocco should use authorized guides with local knowledge and not go alone.
Crime: Morocco has a low crime rate, but should be aware of the risk of pickpockets and other criminals. Avoid traveling with expensive jewelry, watches and other valuables that may attract unwanted attention. Keep your mobile phone, wallet and passport in a safe place. It is illegal to take pictures of police/security forces in Morocco.
Citizens with Norwegian-Moroccan (dual) citizenship are advised that when staying in Morocco, they are considered Moroccan citizens by the country’s authorities. This limits the amount of consular assistance the embassy and consulate can provide Norwegian-Moroccans in criminal and other litigation.
Women’s security: Morocco is a Muslim country, albeit somewhat more “Western” than many other Muslim countries. Only shoulders, short skirts and shorts are not common outside the tourist area of Agadir and partly in the city center of Casablanca. It is advisable to cover your knees and shoulders to avoid unwanted attention.
Religion: The fasting month of Ramadan is strictly observed. There are then more restrictions than usual on the sale of alcohol and many restaurants are closed. Non-marital sexual intercourse is punishable, including cohabitation. Gay practices are also penalized. It is forbidden to carry the Bible in Arabic, as well as to spread non-Muslim/evangelical literature.
Western Sahara: Morocco considers Western Sahara as Moroccan territory. However, this is not recognized by the international community. Western Sahara is acc. The UN Charter stipulates a “Non-Self-Governing Territory”. When traveling in Western Sahara, one must generally be aware of mining hazards and avoid driving off the roads. It should be noted that the Norwegian Embassy has very limited opportunity to assist Norwegian citizens in Western Sahara.
Entry
Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.
Valid passport: For Norwegian citizens traveling to Morocco, the Moroccan authorities require that the passport is valid for six months from entry. Travelers must also take into account that flights from Morocco to Norway very often entail a stopover in Europe, where the Schengen countries may have other rules on the validity of passports.
Visa: Norwegian citizens are not required to enter Morocco for tourist stays for up to 90 days. If you are to stay in Morocco for more than 90 days, you should contact the Moroccan police no later than 15 days after entering to apply for a residence permit. Foreign nationals, refugees with Norwegian travel visas, etc. must investigate whether there is a visa requirement at the Moroccan embassy in Oslo well in advance of departure.
Health
Coronavirus (covid-19): Moroccan authorities have introduced state of emergency and strict measures to prevent the spread of infection, including closure of entry and exit to the country. All flights in and out of the country are canceled, schools, eateries and shops (except grocery stores and pharmacies) are closed. Trains and other public transport between cities are canceled. It is prohibited to use private and public transport to travel between cities. It is only possible to leave the residence to shop for food, medicines, go to the doctor or go to work (then confirmation from the employer is required).
All households must have received an authorization document which must be completed and used when leaving the home. The authorities can prosecute people who do not comply with the curfew and other exceptions with one to three months imprisonment and fined 300 to 1300 dirhams. The authorities have also mandated the use of face masks in public spaces. Norwegian travelers who are still in Morocco are asked to stay informed about what the state of emergency entails in local authorities and in local media.
Norway has organized several extraordinary flights to transport Norwegians back to Norway since the closure of the airspace. Nearly 200 Norwegians have been sent home. No more extraordinary flights are planned from Morocco to Norway or the Nordic countries at the moment. Norwegians traveling in Morocco must prepare to stay in the country for a period to come. It is important that those who do not return home to Norway contact their travel insurance company, follow information from the Norwegian authorities and information and advice from local authorities.
If you are a Norwegian traveler on a short-term stay in Morocco and would like to keep you informed about the possibilities of returning to Norway, our advice is as follows:
- Register at https://www.reiseregistrering.no/with the correct name, email and phone number. If you are already registered, make sure you are registered with the correct information. https://www.reiseregistrering.no/ is our most important channel for sending updated information to Norwegians in Morocco. It is therefore very important to check if the correct email and phone number are registered.
- Send the following information to the embassy’s email rabat@mfa.noas soon as possible:
- Surname and first name (as it appears in the passport)
- Date of birth (six digits)
- Passport number and validity date
- Country of birth
- Arrival date to Morocco and date of scheduled return, documented by ticket
- Information about where you are in Morocco
- Travel Insurance Information (Name, Validity)
- Information on the cause of return (need for medical follow-up in Norway, family reunification with children in Norway, working conditions). Information on the cause of return must be documented with medical certificates/certificates from the employer, etc.
- Phone number you can reach
Information requested in point two will be included in the embassy’s overview of Norwegians traveling while still in Morocco. In this way, we have all the information required by the Moroccan authorities to be able to secure the necessary permits for departure in case there are opportunities to leave. The embassy has no opportunity to trace people who are located in Morocco and we depend on you to actively contact us at emb.rabat@mfa.no.
Norwegians who also have Moroccan citizenship must be aware that the Moroccan authorities have imposed strict restrictions on departure for Moroccan citizens. Only in very extraordinary humanitarian cases, such as documented serious illness that cannot be treated in Morocco, family reunification with underage children, or documented loss of income and employment, the departure ban for those with dual citizenship is waived.
No extraordinary flights are planned for the Nordic countries, but a few European countries still organize extraordinary flights out of Morocco. There are very limited opportunities for other nationals to join these flights as they are reserved for people staying in individual countries. To the extent that the embassy is made aware that it is possible for Norwegians to get seats on a flight to another European country, we will inform those registered with the embassy with all information (point 2 above). Please note that information on these flights will be available shortly. The individual must find opportunities to travel further to Norway. Unfortunately, the embassy cannot guarantee that Norwegians will be cleared to travel on these flights.
Norwegians who are permanently resident in Morocco, ie who are not visiting Morocco, are also encouraged to register at https://www.reiseregistrering.no/, but are not covered by the request to send detailed information to the embassy.
If you need financial assistance as a result of being stranded in Morocco, Nav has the following information on the website. Your local Nav office will be able to assist further. To the extent that Nav needs information on the situation in Morocco, you can refer to travel information on Morocco.
Norwegian travelers who remain in Morocco and Norwegian citizens residing in the country are asked to follow the advice and directions of local authorities, that is, to stay as far as possible to help reduce the spread of infection. Travelers are also asked to keep an eye on upcoming flight connections to Europe and Norway to ensure the opportunity to return to Norway when flight connections are restored. Travelers are also asked to contact their travel insurance company for any questions regarding ticket exchange and reimbursement.
For questions related to the spread of coronary infection in Morocco, Norwegian travelers are asked to stay up to date on developments through local authorities – see the Ministry of Health’s website Maladie au nouveau coronavirus (in French) and local media. A separate emergency number has been created in connection with the corona virus which is +212 0801004747. The phone is operated in Arabic and French. Anyone with symptoms should contact this number.
You can find more information and guidance from Norwegian health authorities about covid-2019 on the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. See also UD’s answers to frequently asked questions about travel and coronavirus.
You can contact the embassy at emb.rabat@mfa.no or by phone 00212 00212 05 37 66 42 00/tel. 47 23 95 54 00 during working hours (09.00-15.00).
In emergencies outside working hours, you will be transferred to the UD’s 24-hour operating center on +47 23 95 00 00, e-mail: UDops@mfa.no.
It is important to provide travel insurance that covers sick transport to Norway and medical expenses. The traveler is advised to check with his/her own travel insurance on outbound transport in case the coronary infection will be covered..
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The health services are adequate in the larger cities, and primarily in private clinics. Proof of valid health insurance is required. Payment is often made in cash. Outside the big cities, it will be difficult to find adequate medical treatment. Tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, jaundice, meningitis and STD are prevalent among the people of Morocco. Blood transfer should be avoided.
Sanitary conditions are relatively good in the big cities and tourist areas. Visitors are advised to drink bottled water and preferably eat well-cooked meat.
One should stay away from alien cats and dogs because of. rabies risk. See also the Norwegian Institute of Public Health for updated information on vaccines.
Practical information
reiseregistrering.no: If you are going to Morocco, you are encouraged to register on reiseregistrering.no because it will make it easier for the Foreign Service to contact you in case something serious should happen where you are. In a crisis situation, the Foreign Service will try to contact you if you enter relevant information. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to help you in all situations. Registration is also recommended for anyone who is going to be abroad for a longer period (students and other residents).
Before Departure: Make sure you have a passport that is valid for at least six months after the scheduled departure time, return ticket, travel insurance covering sick transport to Norway and medical expenses, travel expenses including emergency situations, valid credit card and account funds in Norway, as well as required vaccines. Norwegian citizens do not need a visa for Morocco for tourist stays that last less than three months. For other types of stays or if one in the traveling party has another citizenship, contact the Moroccan Embassy in Oslo.
Precautions during the journey: Avoid any exposure to narcotics. Morocco has very severe penalties for such conditions. Be careful after dark and avoid criminally charged areas. Never bring packages or luggage for other people.
For stays of more than six months: Persons who move abroad to settle there or to stay there for at least six months must, before departure, report to the National Population Register in the municipality of residence. Notification is written on its own form, “Notification to the National Register of Relocation”, see the Tax Administration’s website. Norwegian citizens who reside abroad or stay there for a long time are welcome to inform the embassy, or send contact information, at the embassy’s email address emb.rabat@mfa.no.
Lost passport: If your passport has been stolen/lost, you must immediately report to the police at the place where the passport disappeared. The loss notification (confirmation from the local police of the loss notification) must contain detailed information on the circumstances under which the passport was lost. Then contact the embassy or the nearest Norwegian consulate. Norwegian citizenship and identity must be documented. Emergency passports issued at the embassy are only valid for one return journey, and then a new passport must be applied for at the registered office in Norway. Emergency passport costs the same as an ordinary passport.
Languages: Arabic and Berber (amazighe) are official languages. French is the first foreign language and is mastered by most of the larger cities. In the north, Spanish is often better spoken than French. English is less prevalent, but is prevalent in the tourist areas, especially Agadir. According to allcitycodes, Morocco area code is +212.
Local emergency numbers: Police 19 (cities) and 177 (outside cities). Fire/Accidents 15.
Emergency: Norwegian citizens in need or crisis are requested to contact the embassy in Rabat for assistance: e-mail: emb.rabat@mfa.no / tel. 47 23 95 54 00.
If it is urgent, contact UD’s 24-hour operating center on +47 23 95 00 00, e-mail: UDops @ mfa.no.