Visiting
A South African's Guide to Morocco
Jump to section
Photo by Den Harrson on Unsplash
| Visa | South African ordinary-passport holders require a visa for Morocco |
|---|---|
| eVisa by nationality | South Africa is not currently listed in Acces Maroc Category A |
| eVisa alternative | Some travellers qualify through an eligible residence permit or visa |
| Consular route | Moroccan Embassy in Pretoria |
| eVisa stay | If eligible, single entry and a stay of up to 30 days |
South African ordinary-passport holders require a visa for Morocco. South Africa’s DIRCO currently states that a visa is required for normal passport holders and points travellers to Morocco’s eVisa information and the Moroccan Embassy in Pretoria.
South Africa is not Category A
South Africa is not on the current Acces Maroc Category A nationality list.
Some South African travellers can nevertheless qualify for the eVisa through Category B or C.
Category B: qualifying residence permit
A visa-required traveller may qualify through a residence card or permit issued by the European Union, United States, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, Norway, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates or Switzerland, provided the document satisfies the official validity conditions.
Check the live eligibility test with the document you actually hold.
Category C: qualifying visa
The other document route uses a valid non-electronic, multiple-entry visa issued by a Schengen country, the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Canada, Norway or New Zealand.
The visa must meet Acces Maroc’s current validity conditions.
This is why describing South Africa simply as an “eVisa country” is misleading. The eVisa is not available on the South African passport alone under the current Category A list.
If you qualify for the eVisa
The eVisa is for one entry, is valid for up to 180 days from issue and permits a stay of up to 30 days.
The official processing target is 72 hours for standard processing and 24 hours for express, subject to the conditions for complete and accurate applications.
If you do not qualify
Use the consular route.
The South African government lists the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Pretoria and directs travellers there for visa information. Use the embassy’s current instructions for documents, fees and processing rather than an old third-party checklist.
Two embassies, two jobs
Before travel, the Moroccan Embassy in Pretoria deals with Moroccan visa matters.
Once you are in Morocco, South African consular assistance is a South African government matter. Keep those roles separate when looking for help.
Money and health
Check your own South African bank’s international card and foreign-exchange rules rather than assuming every card behaves the same way in Morocco.
For health, check your existing cover and arrange suitable travel medical insurance where needed. If your itinerary includes remote areas or mountain activities, make sure the policy matches those activities.
Practical Tips
- Check Acces Maroc eligibility before booking non-refundable travel.
- South Africa's DIRCO says visas are required for normal passport holders travelling to Morocco.
- If qualifying through another country's visa, note that Norway is on the current Category C list.
- Use the Moroccan Embassy in Pretoria for current consular requirements.
Related Guides
Accuracy note: eVisa and consular requirements can change. Confirm with Acces Maroc and the Moroccan Embassy in Pretoria before booking travel.