Travel documents, insurance and health

For Morocco you need a passport, and with an EU, UK or US passport you don't need a visa as long as you stay no longer than 90 days. There are no mandatory vaccinations and the forms are simple. Do arrange good travel insurance with medical coverage in Morocco. It makes the difference between an unpleasant incident and a disaster.

Passport and visa

EU, UK and US passport holders don't need a visa for a stay of up to 90 days. You get a stamp in your passport on arrival. Keep that passport safe, because you need the stamp when you leave. A national ID card is not enough. If you hold another passport, check the rules for your nationality before you book.

Officially your passport has to be valid for the duration of your stay. We recommend that it is valid for at least six months on arrival. Airlines and border officers sometimes apply that rule strictly, and you don't want to find out at the gate that you can't board.

On arrival you fill in a short entry form, on paper or digitally through the Moroccan government website. You can do it beforehand and it saves time in line. You need the address of your first night's stay.

Traveling with children without the other parent? Bring a letter of consent and a copy of the other parent's passport.

Copies

Make a copy or photo of your passport, your flight details and your insurance policy. Keep them separate from the originals: in your suitcase, in the cloud and with someone at home. In case of loss or theft, report it to the police (call 19 or go to the nearest station) and contact your embassy in Rabat for an emergency passport. With a copy and a passport photo this goes much faster.

If your foreign ministry has a registration service for travelers, sign up before you go. Then your embassy knows where you are if something happens.

Travel insurance

The European Health Insurance Card is not valid in Morocco. So you need travel insurance that covers medical costs there. When you take out a policy, check for:

• Medical costs abroad, including repatriation
• Coverage for the activities you do: camel rides and hiking in the Atlas are usually part of standard coverage, quad bikes and climbing not always
• Luggage and theft, with a reasonable deductible
• Cancellation, especially for a trip you book far in advance

Save your insurer's emergency number in your phone and keep the policy number with your documents. For a hospital visit, call the emergency assistance line first. They arrange payment and tell you which clinic to go to.

Health

There are no mandatory vaccinations for Morocco. The usual advice is to have your routine vaccinations (diphtheria, tetanus, polio) up to date and to consider hepatitis A. For longer trips or stays in the countryside, hepatitis B and typhoid are sometimes added. Discuss it with a travel clinic or your doctor well before you leave.

In practice:

• Drink bottled water, not tap water. More in food and drink.
• The sun is strong, in winter too. Use sunscreen, wear a hat and drink plenty of water.
• Stomach trouble happens. Bring oral rehydration salts and something for diarrhea, and let it pass calmly. If it lasts longer than two days or you get a fever, see a doctor.
• Mosquitoes are mainly found on the coast and in oases; there is no malaria in Morocco.
• Bring your own medication in the original packaging. For larger quantities or opioids you need a doctor's note.

The packing list has a complete travel pharmacy.

Medical care in Morocco

You find pharmacies (pharmacie) in every city and in most villages. You recognize them by a green cross. They are well stocked and the pharmacists speak French, often English too. Many medicines that need a prescription at home are sold here without one. Outside opening hours there is always a pharmacy on duty (pharmacie de garde); the list is posted on the door.

Marrakesh, Casablanca, Rabat and Fes have good private clinics with doctors who speak French and English. Your riad or hotel knows which ones. For minor complaints you can also see a general practitioner (médecin généraliste). A consultation costs a few hundred dirham. You pay cash and claim it from your insurance afterward.

Emergency numbers

• Police: 19
• Ambulance: 15
• Gendarmerie (outside the cities): 177
• Your embassy in Rabat: save the number before you leave

On the road with Soukayna

If you travel with us, there is always someone with you who speaks the language, knows the way to the nearest pharmacy or clinic and can make a call when needed. If you travel alone, that is a good reason to look at a tailor-made trip. How we work is explained in the frequently asked questions. Also read the guide on safety for women.