Morocco
About
| As you relax in your hammam (steam bath), tuck into your tagine (stew), bargain in the souks or slide into your comfortable caftan you may be surprised how easily you slip into another culture and another century. In these small signature moments of pleasure, Morocco warps all sense of time and place Bargain your best for handicrafts at the souk (market) in the historic medina of Fes, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Head boldly into the Sahara Desert as part of a camel caravan. Camel treks (méharrées) can be arranged throughout the Sahara region in southwestern Morocco. Camp under the stars and enjoy a traditional Moroccan way of life. Get into the summer groove at May's TanJazz in Tangier, or June's Gnaoua and World Music Festival in Essaouira. July sees the Marrakech Festival of Popular Arts and the Festival of World Sacred Music in Fes. Swim, surf, windsurf and splash around in the Atlantic. Choose from the sheltered, sandy coves of Agadir and Oualidia and the one-time Portuguese pirate ports of El Jadida and Essaouira Follow desert oases and rugged terrain trails in the Anti-Atlas and Drâa Valley. Enjoy nature without the environmental damage to the fragile local ecosystem caused by dune buggies and 4-wheel drives. |
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| Capital: | Rabat (RBA) |
| Native Name of Morocco: | Al Maghrib |
| Currency: | Moroccan Dirham (MAD) |
| Language: | Arabic & French. English is generally understood in the main tourist regions) |
| Dialling code from SA: | + 212 |
| Time Zones: | No UTC/GMT offset (2 hours behind South Africa) |
| Daylight Savings Time: | From last Sunday of March - last Sunday of October: UTC / GMT +1 (1 hour behind South Africa) |
| Side of the Road: | Right |
| Best Time to go: | October to April |
| Plugs: | 127/220 volts AC, 50Hz, depending on age and location of building. Plugs usually have two round pins. |
| Drinking Water: | Mains water in hotels and towns is safe to drink. Outside of the main towns, water may be contaminated. Bottled water is available. Milk is unpasteurised. |
| Health: | There are medical facilities in all towns, however some public hospitals do lack in facilities and medications. It is advisable to have medical insurance. |
| Customs: | As a predominately Islamic country, dress should always be conservative: men should wear long pants, and women should keep their arms and leg covered. Respect to religious customs should also be shown during the month of Ramadan. Swimwear should be reserved for the beach. |
| Local Offences / Laws: | Homosexuality is a criminal offence. Sexual relations outside marriage are punishable by law but this is rarely enforced. |
| Travel Tips / Warnings: | The beaches around Casablanca are polluted and considered unsafe for swimming. Check the local political situation before finalising travel plans. Women may find it difficult to travel alone. |
| Duty Free: | The following goods may be imported into Morocco without incurring customs duty: • 200g of tobacco products. • 1 bottle of spirits and 1 bottle of wine. • 150ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette. • Gifts to the value of Dh2,000. |
| Prohibited Imports: | Firearms and ammunition, narcotics, absinthe, immoral publications, and plants and plant products considered a threat to national flora. |
| Prohibited Exports: | You must obtain permission to export cultural artefacts. |
Issuing Authorities
Embassy of Morocco in South Africa
799 Francis Baard St, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0083
Tel: +27 (0)12 343 0230
Email: embassy.morocco.pretoria@gmail.com
Web: www.moroccoembassy.co.za
Hours: 09:00-16:00
Visa Applications: Mon-Thurs: 09:00 - 11:00
Collections: 13:30-15:30 (during Ramadan:13:00-14:00)
Public Holidays 2025: Jan 1, 11, 14; Mar 31; Apr 1; May 1; Jun 6-7, 27; Jul 30; Aug 14, 20-21; Sep 5-6; Nov 18
Public Holidays 2026: Jan 1, 11, 14; Mar 20-21; May 1, 27-28; Jun 17; Jul 30; Aug 14, 20-21, 26-27; Nov 6, 18
Visa Requirements
Visas are required by SA passport holders.
Visas are to be applied for through the Moroccan Embassy. Applicants living outside of Gauteng can apply for a visa with an affidavit (courier service and/or a designated person).
Tourism and business visas may also be applied for online (ordinary passports only).
REQUIREMENTS:
- 1 Completed application form. Please use block letters.
- Passport valid for 6 months after the date of return
- A photocopy of the passport (pages indicating identity and validity);
- Two recent color passport photos on a white/light blue background (3.5 x 4.5 cm) clearly showing facial features
- Identity card or residence permit or any document in lieu thereof
- 1 copy of the last three months Bank statement
- 1 copy of flight itinerary (reservation not booking)
- In the event of a family visit, an invitation letter legalized by the inviting party with his/her Moroccan ID included
- Travel Insurance
- A hotel reservation or presentation of a “Voucher”
- Employment letter (signed by Employer) / School Letter for students
- Minors under 18 travelling alone: consent from both parents plus a copy of birth certificate
- Non-South Africans living in South Africa: a copy of South African Residence Permit valid for 3 months after your last day of stay in Morocco
- Visa Fee (Visa fee payment will be required when the visa is issued)
- Applicants may be requested to submit additional documents or attend an interview.
For other visa types, please refer to the embassy.
E-VISA REQUIREMENTS:
Note: If travelling as a group, applications may be grouped together. Uploaded documents must be in jpg, jpeg or pdf and not exceeding 1MB. The Embassy of Morocco does not operate this service. For queries regarding the process, please refer to the contact form on the e-visa website.
- Application form filled in online: www.acces-maroc.ma
- Upload a colour photo (35 x 45 mm) taken within the last 6 months, clearly showing facial features
- Upload a clear colour copy of your valid ordinary passport (pages indicating identity and validity).
- Business Visa: Upload a copy of the document justifying the purpose of your trip
Visa Processing Time
Embassy: Minimum of 10 working days.
E-visa: 1 working day (express) / 3 working days (standard).
Visa Validity
Electronic Visa: valid for 180 days from date of issue. Allows traveller for a single entry for a stay not exceeding 30 days.
Visa Cost
Please contact the embassy directly for visa costs.
SA Representative
South African Embassy
34 Rue des Saadiens, Rabat
Tel: +21 253 768 9159 / +21 253 770 0874
E-mail: safricamissionrabat@gmail.com
Travel Health
| Compulsory: | None |
| Recommended Travel Vaccines: | Hepatitis A & B, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio |
