Israeli citizens have emerged as the leading beneficiaries of Morocco’s electronic visa system, according to official data released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans living abroad.
The eVisa program was introduced a year ago to boost the country’s tourism sector and streamline visa procedures for foreign nationals.
In a recent communiqué issued by the ministry, first year of the eVisa’s implementation yielded positive results, providing greater flexibility and ease of visa processing for eligible applicants. Over the course of the year, more than 160,000 visa requests were received by foreign authorities, with approximately 150,000 of them being successfully processed.
The demand for the electronic visa witnessed a significant upsurge since its launch in July 2022. The number of processed requests saw a steady increase, with around 6,000 requests in July 2022, escalating to over 15,000 requests in November 2022, and reaching a peak in May 2023, with approximately 18,000 requests.
Among the recipients of the electronic visas, Israelis topped the list, accounting for about 55 percent of the total visas granted. Other prominent beneficiaries included citizens from India (10 percent), Nigeria (4.44 percent), Egypt (4.41 percent), Pakistan (3.5 percent), and Jordan (2.7 percent).
The overwhelming majority of the electronic visas, 96.6 percent, were issued for tourism purposes, while the remaining 3.4 percent were granted for business-related travel.
The eVisa program has extended its reach to citizens of 110 different nationalities from across the globe, thanks to simplified application procedures. The electronic visa permits a single person’s entry to Moroccan soil for a short stay, with a maximum duration of 30 days, and its validity extends up to 180 days from the date of issuance.
Three categories of foreign nationals are eligible for the electronic visa: citizens of specific countries listed by Moroccan authorities (currently including Thailand and Israel as a first stage), foreign nationals possessing a valid residence permit or temporary residence of at least 180 days at the time of application, and residents of select European Union countries, the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Norway, New Zealand, and Switzerland.
Additionally, the eVisa service accommodates foreigners holding non-electronic visas from Schengen countries, the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and New Zealand, with multiple entries and a validity of at least 90 days from the date of application.
Applicants seeking tourist or business visas can conveniently apply online through the www.acces-maroc.ma platform. The processing times for these visas are swift, with “Express” visas being processed within 24 hours and “Unified Visa” applications within 72 hours.
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