‘MAD 6,000 for Visa Slot': Outcry Over Intermediary Exploitation
His video has reignited a long-standing public outcry, as many Moroccans continue to struggle with intermediaries who book all available appointments and then resell them at unreasonably high prices, leaving genuine visa-seekers unable to apply through official channels.
'This is not okay, we should not normalize such actions .. Why should I have to give someone MAD 4,000 just to book me a visa appointment?' Fraiha questioned.
'And on top of that, my application could easily be rejected, for no clear reason, and the MAD 4,000 would go to waste,' added the social media personality.
While Fraiha personally encountered intermediaries asking for MAD 4,000, he noted that some people have been asked to pay up to MAD 5,000 and MAD 6,000.
He called on authorities to intervene and put an end to these exploitations and brokers who manipulate the appointment system.
This troubling trend has persisted for years now, with Moroccan Schengen visa applicants, including students, professionals, and tourists, falling victim to these practices.
'Students who have already enrolled in European Union universities are currently the most affected, as they need to obtain a visa in order to be able to enter the country they will be pursuing their studies,' Schengen Visa Info said in a 2023 report.
According to reports, these intermediaries use automated bots to secure appointments as soon as they become available, leaving no choice for visa seekers but to pay the unreasonably high prices, sometimes reaching MAD 10,000. Tags: Moroccovisa applicationsvisa fees
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
3 hours ago
- Morocco World
Jet Contractors, SGTM Win $440 Million Marrakech, Agadir Expansion Airport Deals
Marrakech – The Moroccan Airports Authority (ONDA) has awarded contracts worth MAD 4.4 billion ($440 million) to two Moroccan construction giants for major airport expansions. Jet Contractors and SGTM will handle extensive renovations at Marrakech-Menara and Agadir-Al Massira airports, significantly increasing their passenger capacities. Jet Contractors secured the Marrakech-Menara project on August 18 with a bid of MAD 2.2 billion ($220 million). Their proposal was deemed 'more advantageous' than competing offers from the TGCC/Inter Tridim consortium and SGTM. The company will expand the passenger terminal to approximately 142,000 square meters. The project includes major exterior improvements to roadways, green spaces, and new fountains. These enhancements aim to increase the airport's annual capacity from 9 to 16 million passengers. SGTM won the contract for Agadir-Al Massira with an equivalent MAD 2.2 billion ($220 million) bid. Their offer was considered the lowest compared to the TGCC/Inter Tridim group after technical evaluation. The project will expand the passenger terminal to a total area of 75,000 square meters. The Agadir expansion includes 23,800 square meters of renovations to the existing terminal and 51,200 square meters of new construction. SGTM will also build road infrastructure, handle exterior landscaping, and extend access roads and vehicle parking. These improvements will increase the airport's annual capacity from 3 to 7 million passengers. These developments are part of ONDA's 'Airports 2030' strategy to modernize Morocco's airport infrastructure. Earlier this year in April, ONDA transformed the exterior zones and entrances at both airports to create more intuitive, fluid, and pleasant reception areas for travelers. The earlier renovations included redesigned circulation zones, drop-off points, modernized signage, and direct terminal access according to airlines. These changes were intended to streamline arrivals and departures while improving service quality. Last July, head of government Aziz Akhannouch signed a landmark MAD 38 billion ($3.8 billion) five-year investment plan with ONDA for nationwide airport upgrades, including new terminals and runways at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca. The expansions also support preparations for upcoming major sporting events, including the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2030 World Cup. ONDA, headed by Abdel El Fakir, continues to pursue its goal of elevating Moroccan airports to meet the highest international standards with improved passenger experience, enhanced connectivity, and modern facilities throughout the country's aviation network.
Morocco World
a day ago
- Morocco World
ONCF Secures €202 Million from KfW to Modernize Casablanca Rail Network
Marrakech – Morocco's National Railway Office (ONCF) is securing €202 million in funding from German development bank KfW to modernize Greater Casablanca's railway network. This financing follows a $350 million loan approved by the World Bank in June, both supporting the 'Service Intra-métropolitain Rapproché' (SIR) program. The investments aim to improve access to employment and essential services by strengthening public transportation in Casablanca, while enhancing ONCF's railway capacity in the region. The funding will also contribute to climate protection and improve living conditions for local populations. Both financial packages align with Morocco's strategy to decarbonize urban mobility systems, with rail serving as a key lever for greening transportation. Greater Casablanca, the economic heart, has been placed at the center of the country's green mobility transition initiatives. According to World Bank data, Morocco is experiencing rapid urbanization, with 60% of its population currently living in urban areas, a figure expected to reach 70% by 2050. This growth is particularly pronounced in the Casablanca-Settat region, a key driver of the national economy, offering significant development opportunities. The SIR program aims to modernize railway services by renovating and constructing stations while increasing passenger train frequency. By June 2031, the program will improve access to sustainable transport for over 560,000 residents, increase workplace accessibility by 7%, and expand service access by 7.3%. This initiative will ensure access to key locations within 45 minutes, expanding opportunities for residents and businesses while improving connectivity and reducing environmental impact. The World Bank's financial support will help implement an electrified passenger rail service connecting the urban center to suburbs such as Zenata, Mohammedia, Nouaceur, and Bouskoura. The program will utilize a 73-kilometer railway corridor to increase track capacity and improve infrastructure, including electrical and signaling systems, with particular attention to climate resilience. The initiative also aims to decongest current lines and strengthen freight capacity to Casablanca port. It includes investments in maintenance and modernization of infrastructure in the Casablanca-Settat region. Fifteen multimodal railway stations will be built or redeveloped, integrating transit-oriented development principles and universal accessibility standards. The program will also improve Greater Casablanca's logistics facilities, focusing on rail logistics in Aïn Sebaâ and connectivity around a new logistics zone in Zenata. Morocco's railway revolution This development is part of Morocco's broader railway ambitions. The 2024-2030 period will see an investment program of MAD 96 billion ($9.6 billion), with 430 kilometers of additional high-speed lines planned, bringing the total to 630 kilometers before 2030. ONCF expects a record-breaking 2025, with revenue projected to exceed MAD 5 billion ($500 million), a 6% increase from 2024. Last year closed with exceptional growth, carrying more than 55 million passengers, a 4% increase from the previous year. Last April, King Mohammed VI launched construction work on the Kenitra-Marrakech High-Speed Rail Line at the Rabat-Agdal train station. The 430-kilometer project, budgeted at MAD 53 billion ($5.3 billion), excluding rolling stock, will drastically reduce travel times across the country, with journeys between Tangier and Marrakech taking just 2 hours 40 minutes. Looking ahead, ONCF has awarded three contracts worth MAD 29 billion ($2.9 billion) for the acquisition of 168 new-generation trains. These contracts have been distributed to international companies: Alstom for 18 high-speed trains, CAF for 40 intercity trains, and Hyundai Rotem for 110 RER (rapid transit) trains. The Moroccan railway ecosystem is also developing industrially. Through partnerships with international manufacturers such as Alstom, CAF, and Hyundai Rotem, Morocco aims to produce train components locally and ultimately assemble complete trains. A new factory in Benguerir will be established in partnership with Korean industrialists, with the goal of having a 'Made in Morocco' train by 2030.
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Morocco World
Tahar Benjelloun Calls Out Tourism Prices and Declining Standards in Morocco
Moroccan writer Tahar Benjelloun has voiced dismay at what he describes as the decline in Morocco's tourism standards, warning that many Moroccans abroad now feel unwelcome in their own country. In his article 'Très cher Maroc! (2)', published recently by Moroccan media Le360, Benjelloun drew on readers' testimonies that reflect anger over inflated costs and poor services. Still 'the most beautiful country in the world' One Moroccan living abroad wrote: 'The daily scams, the special MRE prices in July and August, the ferry crossing more expensive than the Channel, hotels that call themselves five stars but barely reach two or three. Theft and corruption are everywhere.' Benjelloun said this sentiment is widespread. He noted that rising ticket prices and the gap between cost and quality discourage many Moroccans abroad from visiting during the summer. 'The rising price of plane tickets in summer has dissuaded MREs (Moroccans residing abroad) from coming back to the most beautiful country in the world,' he wrote. Some, he added, chose Spain or Turkey instead. 'Their children will come less and less to Morocco' For him, the problem lies not only in the cost but in what people receive in return. 'Something is expensive when neither its quality nor its quantity corresponds to the price asked. You can see this every day in restaurants,' he argued. He warned that this pattern risks distancing future generations of the diaspora from Morocco altogether. 'They think their children will come less and less to Morocco and, worse, will stop sending money,' he said. Benjelloun urged authorities to intervene before the situation deepens. 'The competent authorities should do something against this drift, which does not seem to stop but instead spreads improperly,' he wrote. His remarks ignited a lively debate among Moroccans at home and abroad. For some, Benjelloun went too far by publicly exposing the country's shortcomings in the media. They described the renowned writer's move as damaging to Morocco's image on the international stage. And they argued that criticism of this kind should remain an internal matter, not aired in a way that could deter tourists and investors. Some also pointed out that Morocco, despite its flaws, is slowly but surely progressing, and that such progress risks being overshadowed by harsh portrayals. Others defended the writer, insisting that he only voiced what countless citizens and members of the diaspora have long endured in silence from overpriced services, declining quality, and the frustration of feeling taken for granted. To them, this column simply put words to a reality that authorities prefer to downplay. Tags: Moroccan diasporaMoroccoTahar BenjellounTourism
