Bourita: Morocco's Visa Policy Based on Reciprocity, National Interest

Morocco World

04-06-2025

Doha – Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita outlined Morocco's visa policy principles during a session at the Chamber of Counselors on Tuesday, emphasizing that the country adopts a sovereign approach based on political, historical, economic, and social considerations.
Speaking during the weekly oral questions session, Bourita explained that Morocco's visa policy rests on three fundamental principles: reciprocity, protection of economic and political interests, and flexibility adapted to specific contexts.
'Each country is free to establish its own rules,' Bourita stated as he addressed questions about Morocco's e-visa system. He noted that the cost and security features of the Moroccan e-visa have evolved in line with international standards.
The minister mentioned that visa prices increased last month, with e-visa platforms charging additional fees for expedited processing, such as obtaining an e-visa within 24 hours.
Regarding Schengen visas, Bourita provided specific figures, reporting that European Union countries issued approximately 610,000 visas to Moroccan citizens in 2024, with a rejection rate of about 20%.
France alone granted 283,000 visas to Moroccans, representing a 17% increase compared to the previous year. According to the minister, this represents the highest number of visas France has issued to any non-OECD country.
Recent data shows Morocco now ranks fourth globally for Schengen visa applications in 2024, following only China, India, and Turkey. According to SchengenVisaInfo, 11,716,723 Schengen visa applications were submitted to EU countries in 2024, marking a 13.5% increase compared to the previous year, though still below pre-pandemic levels of nearly 17 million in 2019.
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Bourita acknowledged challenges Moroccan citizens face when applying for Schengen visas, warning against certain practices by diplomatic representations or intermediaries that 'undermine the dignity of Moroccan citizens.' He affirmed that the country cannot tolerate such behaviors and reserves the right to respond accordingly.
The black market for visa appointments has become a serious issue for Moroccan applicants. Intermediaries have been exploiting online appointment systems, using advanced software to snatch slots and resell them at prices reaching up to MAD 10,000 (around $1,000).
The minister also addressed complaints handling, revealing that 1,345 requests and complaints were processed in 2024 through the national complaints portal 'chikaya.ma.' These were categorized into four main types: consular matters, civil status requests, criminal issues, and social concerns.
Bourita explained that complaints falling within the ministry's direct jurisdiction are handled internally, while others are forwarded to relevant departments or the Hassan II Foundation for Moroccans Residing Abroad. Close coordination with the Mediator institution ensures proper follow-up of cases.
Visa injustice and diaspora potential dominate policy talks
The discussion of Morocco's visa policy comes amid growing parliamentary pressure to implement reciprocal measures against European countries.
In March, parliamentarians Khalid Es-Satte and Loubna Alaoui requested that the Foreign Ministry consider imposing visa requirements on European citizens entering Morocco, arguing that European countries generate significant revenue from fees charged to Moroccans while Europeans can enter the country without restrictions.
This proposal emerged amid frustration over difficulties Moroccans face when applying for Schengen visas. In 2023, Moroccans lost MAD 118 million ($11.8 million) due to rejected Schengen visa applications, with a total of 136,367 refusals. More than half were processed by Spanish and French embassies and consulates.
Hanane Atarguine, a deputy from the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), has advocated for reimbursing fees to applicants whose visas are denied, pointing to the financial and psychological burden the current process places on many Moroccans.
In contrast to potential reciprocal measures against European countries, Morocco has demonstrated restraint regarding Algeria's unilateral decision to reimpose visa requirements on Moroccan citizens in September 2024.
Algeria claimed the decision was necessary to combat 'organized crime networks, drug and human trafficking, illegal immigration, and espionage,' allegedly conducted by Morocco—accusations made without supporting evidence.
When Morocco imposed visas on Algerians in 1994 following a hotel bombing in Marrakech, Algeria reciprocated. Morocco unilaterally lifted the requirement for Algerians in 2004, with Algeria following suit for Moroccans in 2005. Despite Algeria's recent reimposition of visa requirements on Moroccans, Morocco has chosen not to respond in kind for Algerian citizens.
As the visa policy debate continues, Bourita stressed the need to better leverage the potential of Moroccan expatriates, particularly through creating a dedicated database of Moroccan talents abroad.
He noted that investments from the Moroccan diaspora, estimated at 6 million people across more than 100 countries (with 80% concentrated in six European countries), represent only about 10% of their remittances. This figure must be increased to make these competencies a true driver of national development, Bourita concluded. Tags: Nasser BouritaVisas