Work permits and visas in Morocco: an employer’s guide

When employees relocate to foreign countries, they must take the necessary steps to be legally entitled to work there. For example, any employee relocating to Morocco must meet the necessary Morocco work visa requirements to ensure they can make money while staying in the country. 

While employees will need to file for certain visas and permits on their own, they and their employer assume liability if they are found non-compliant with any local tax or labor laws. For this reason, employers must conduct right-to-work assessments on all employees living in Morocco or any other foreign country to which they relocate. 

Morocco's work visa requirements and work permits are unique to the country and may present specific challenges that employees are unprepared for, even if they've navigated previous immigration processes. 

If employers don't ensure compliance with right-to-work allowances, they may inadvertently be non-compliant with certain local labor or taxation laws, which could have significant consequences. Partnering with an employer of record (EOR) like Remote ensures employers remain compliant with local legislation and can move forward with hiring employees in foreign countries. 

This guide will illustrate how employers can stay compliant with various aspects of international employment, including:

• Hiring a candidate living in Morocco without an owned entity in the country

• Relocating existing employees living anywhere outside of Morocco to the country

• Hiring a candidate in Morocco who is not a citizen of the country 

• Ensuring digital nomad employees are legally entitled to work in Morocco

The importance of immigration compliance in Morocco

  Relocating employees to Morocco can be a confusing and time-consuming process. The first step employers will need to take to ensure employees are legally entitled to work in the country is performing right-to-work assessments to verify employees possess the necessary Morocco work permits. 

It can be challenging to comply with local tax and labor laws when partnering with employees working in foreign countries, especially if employees are scattered around the globe or an employee lives in multiple countries for shorter periods.

Because every country has unique immigration laws, employees wishing to obtain a Morocco work visa will need to research the specific requirements for getting visas in this country. This includes not only possessing a working permit but also a residency visa. Some countries combine these two permits into a single visa, while others do not, which is part of what makes navigating immigration so complicated. 

Most countries do not allow individuals entering the country on a tourist visa to work and make money while they're there. Although this is less commonly a problem for employees looking to stay in a country long-term, it can pose risks for the employer if they stay in Morocco for a brief period. This has become particularly true lately, as many countries have begun more strictly enforcing visa legislation, ensuring that people do not misuse their tourist visas. 

Which workers need a right-to-work check in Morocco?

Nearly all workers who are not Moroccan citizens will require a right-to-work check when employees hire or relocate them. A right-to-work check is an assessment performed by an employer (or the EOR they've partnered with) verifying that an employee has the right to work legally in their country of residence. 

Right-to-work assessments are essential for employers to perform because it protects them from paying for mistakes that employees make. In addition, when employers leave all aspects of immigration and permitting up to the employee, they place complete trust in their employee to navigate the process. 

While you may feel comfortable doing so, and your employee may be a highly competent individual, international hiring and immigration is an extremely complex process, and it typically requires localized expertise to ensure it is smooth and compliant.

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Do non-citizens need a work visa or work permit in Morocco?

Typically, non-citizens of any country will be required to obtain the necessary residence and work visas to live and work there. Although residents of certain countries can enter Morocco without a tourist visa for up to 90 days, all non-citizens will be required to obtain work permits to make money during their stay in Morocco. 

Although employees have multiple options for their residency duration and ability to make a living, not all will meet the eligibility requirements.

What are the eligibility requirements for a work visa in Morocco?

To be eligible to work in Morocco, employees will need to meet the following requirements:

• Have an employment contract that has been approved by the Moroccan Ministry of Education

• Hold a valid passport with recent photos

• Have return flight tickets indicating when their stay in Morocco will end

• Have bank statements proving they can afford to live in Morocco 

• Have travel insurance and a bill of clean health

• Have proof of a clean criminal background check from their local government 

What are the long-stay visa types in Morocco?

Only one type of visa allows individuals to stay in Morocco long-term: the residency card or Certificat d'Immatriculation. Individuals who have lived in Morocco for three years are eligible to apply for the residency card, which entitles the permit holder to stay in the country for an additional period between five and ten years. 

How do you get a work visa for Morocco?

To obtain a work visa in Morocco, employees must provide the required documentation to the Moroccan Department of Labor.

The process of approving visas in Morocco typically takes roughly ten business days (two full weeks), but unforeseen complications may arise that could push this timeline back. 

What is the process for employee work visa sponsorship in Morocco?

Employees who relocate to Morocco will need an official job offer letter and employment contract from an employer in Morocco for their work visa application to be approved. This means that employers will need to either have an established local entity in Morocco before the employee applies for their work permit or partner with an EOR with a local entity in Morocco.

What are the visa requirements for digital nomads in Morocco?

Morocco does not currently have a digital nomad visa. This means that if employees plan to stay in Morocco for less than 90 days, they can only do so with a tourist visa and cannot legally work with this visa. 

If an employee wishes to reside in Morocco for more than 90 days, they will have to go through the traditional methods of obtaining a residence visa and work permit. 

How Remote makes compliance in Morocco so much easier

Hiring candidates living in foreign countries and relocating existing employees can lead to potential financial and legal risks for the employer. This is why ensuring employees possess the correct right-to-work entitlements is essential. 

Relocation includes complicated topics like immigration, visa requirements, work permits, and more. Employers should educate themselves on local immigration and tax laws, and the work permit process before they hire or relocate an employee abroad. 

If you’re looking for a reliable employer of record to kickstart your journey in Morocco, Remote is your best bet. Apart from relocation advice, Remote can help you navigate compliance, immigration laws, and more. From accurately paying and withholding international taxes for your team members to avoiding permanent establishment risks — Remote can help you remain compliant with local and international employment laws. Remote can also help manage aspects of international employment like onboarding processes, benefits administration, and payroll. 

For insights on how to manage relocating employees to foreign countries, download our Relocation Guide. For more information about employee relocation, contact our Mobility experts for guidance today!

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