Staying in Morocco past 90 days

Last checked October 2026.

Most people who come to Tamraght to work stay a few weeks. Once a month becomes a season, the 90-day clock matters. Below is what the UK, German, Norwegian and US governments and Morocco’s own immigration law say, with the official sources listed at the end of the page. Where something is common practice but not an official rule, we say so.

The 90-day visa-free rule

Morocco’s immigration law (Law 02-03, article 9) exempts foreigners staying up to 90 days on a valid travel document from needing a residence card. Which passports get visa-free entry is a separate question, and it depends on your nationality. UK, German, Norwegian and US citizens all get up to 90 days, according to their own governments. The UK describes this as a stay for tourism, and Germany as tourism or business. Check the rule for your own passport with your foreign ministry or a Moroccan consulate.

Two details catch people out:

• Passport validity. Guidance differs by government. The UK says your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you arrive. Germany tells its citizens at least 6 months from entry. Six months covers both.
• The entry stamp. The UK notes that border officials should stamp your passport on arrival, and that some travellers without an entry stamp have had trouble leaving. Check the stamp before you leave the arrivals desk at Agadir.

Asking for an extension of stay

The UK says that to stay longer than 90 days you must request an extension at a Moroccan police station. Germany adds two points: the request has to be made before the visa-free period runs out, and the foreigners’ police decide. It is not automatic. The Norwegian embassy advises going to the nearest police station well before your time runs out and explaining why you want to stay.

Germany says a complete application is usually needed: proof that you can support yourself, a current police certificate, a reason for the longer stay and, where relevant, a Moroccan work contract. Requirements vary by office, so go early, ask what it needs, and bring your passport and proof of where you live. Your rental contract and recent bank statements are the obvious candidates.

The residence permit route

For longer stays, the formal route is a residence permit. In the law it is the carte d’immatriculation, valid for 1 to 10 years and renewable, depending on the reason you give for your stay (article 10). People usually call it the carte de séjour. After applying you get a receipt, the récépissé, which stands in for the card while it is processed (article 8).

Where you apply depends on where you live. In cities it is the Bureau des Étrangers at the police prefecture or central police station. In small towns and villages it is the local gendarmerie. If you live in Tamraght, ask the police or gendarmerie which office covers your address before you start.

Documents vary by category and by office. The UK and US governments list these as typical:

Document	Notes
Passport and copies	Copies legalised at the local district office (muqata’a)
Passport photos	The UK says 10
Criminal record certificate	From your home country for a first application
Medical certificate	From a local doctor
Bank statements	From a Moroccan bank (attestation de banque), showing you can support yourself

The UK says to provide 2 legalised copies of the documents, and the Norwegian embassy says documents should be in French or Arabic. Expect to pay a fee at the office.

What about remote work?

Morocco has no dedicated digital nomad visa; we found no official source describing one as of October 2026. The law sets out cards by reason for stay (article 13): “visiteur” for people who live on their own resources and commit to no professional activity in Morocco that requires authorisation, “étudiant” for students, and a card for an authorised professional activity. The UK adds that to work in Morocco you need a work visa, which requires a job offer and authorisation to work. None of these sources says how working remotely for a foreign employer or your own foreign company is treated. Which category fits you is a question for the Bureau des Étrangers or a Moroccan lawyer, not for a forum.

Border runs: what people do

Some long-stayers leave Morocco shortly before day 90, for example a short trip abroad, and come back in for a fresh entry. It is common in practice. No official source we checked describes it as a way to reset your 90 days, and none says it is guaranteed to work. Entry is always at the border officer’s discretion, and repeated back-to-back stays may draw questions. If Morocco is where you actually live, the residence permit is the route the rules describe.

What happens if you overstay

This is the part to take seriously.

• It is an offence. Law 02-03 (article 42) sets a fine of 2,000 to 20,000 MAD and/or one to six months in prison for staying beyond the authorised period, unless there is force majeure or an accepted excuse. Article 43 sets 5,000 to 30,000 MAD and/or one month to one year in prison for residing without a residence card.
• It can stop you leaving. Germany warns that people who overstay are prevented from leaving and that a longer stay is prosecuted.

If you are close to day 90 and have not sorted it, go to the police before the deadline, not after.

Tax and the rest of your setup

Staying longer can also change your tax position. Check your tax position with a qualified adviser before you stay longer.

For the rest of the working setup, see run your business from Tamraght, the digital nomad guide to Tamraght, the cost of living in Tamraght and where to stay in Tamraght.

Official sources

• UK FCDO, Morocco entry requirements: www.gov.uk
• UK Government, Living in Morocco (updated 20 Feb 2026): www.gov.uk
• Auswärtiges Amt, Marokko Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Stand 10.10.2026): www.auswaertiges-amt.de
• Royal Norwegian Embassy in Rabat, Moroccan residence permit: www.norway.no
• US Embassy and Consulate in Morocco, Residency requirements for foreigners: ma.usembassy.gov
• Moroccan Law 02-03 (Dahir 1-03-196) on the entry and stay of foreigners, official text: adala.justice.gov.ma

Common questions

Does everyone get 90 days visa-free in Morocco?

Many nationalities, including UK, German, Norwegian and US citizens, get up to 90 days visa-free. It depends on your passport, so check with your foreign ministry or a Moroccan consulate before you travel.

Can I extend my 90 days in Morocco?

You can ask. The request goes to the police before the 90 days run out, and the foreigners’ police decide; it is not automatic. Go well before the deadline and explain why you want to stay.

Which residence card fits a remote worker in Morocco?

No. We found no official source describing a dedicated digital nomad visa as of October 2026. Residence cards are issued by reason for stay, so ask the Bureau des Étrangers or a Moroccan lawyer which category fits your situation.

Does a border run reset my 90 days?

Leaving and re-entering is common in practice, but no official source we checked describes it as a reset or guarantees it. Entry is at the border officer’s discretion. If you live in Morocco, the residence permit is the route the rules describe.

What is the penalty for overstaying in Morocco?

Moroccan law sets a fine of 2,000 to 20,000 MAD and/or one to six months in prison for staying beyond the authorised period. The German Foreign Office warns that overstayers are stopped when they try to leave and are prosecuted.

Where do I apply for a residence permit if I live in Tamraght?

In cities you apply at the Bureau des Étrangers of the police; in small towns and villages, at the local gendarmerie. Ask the police or gendarmerie which office covers your Tamraght address before you start.

This page contains no paid links and nobody pays to be listed. It is general information, not legal advice; last checked October 2026.