S’installer au Maroc: residency, housing, school, and health

Information and sources reviewed on 19 October 2026

A return to the country and a first-time installation do not require the same procedures. Start by specifying your nationality, your current country of residence, your activity and the people accompanying you. This guide brings together the points to check with the competent organizations; the list at the end of the page is used to prepare your discussions and keep track of what remains to be done.

Conditions depend on nationality, residency status, family and professional situation. Have your file and rights confirmed before any long-term commitment.

Start from your personal situation

Moroccan law on the stay of foreigners concerns persons who do not have Moroccan nationality. A Moroccan returning to live in the country therefore does not follow the residence permit procedure of a foreigner. In a family of different nationalities, examine each member's situation separately.

To organize your file, prepare a personal directory: identity, civil status, planned address, activity or pension, schooling, and health coverage. Ask each organization which originals, translations, or supporting documents it accepts. This classification is a preparation method; it does not replace its official list of documents.

SGG · law 02-03 on foreign nationals’ residence (PDF)

Foreigner: prepare the residence permit in time

For adult foreign nationals wishing to settle, the implementing decree provides for an application to the national security or royal gendarmerie competent for their place of residence, before the visa expires or, in the event of a visa exemption, before the end of the 90 days following entry. Anticipate this appointment and request the list corresponding to the reason for the stay.

Registration card and residence card are two distinct titles. The law provides for a receipt while reviewing an application for a registration card or renewal. The requested title and authorized activity must correspond to your situation: a work project also requires checking the necessary professional authorizations.

SGG · law 02-03 on foreign nationals’ residence (PDF)SGG · implementing decree 2-09-607 (PDF)

Choose the account and document the transfers

The Foreign Exchange Office authorizes foreign currency or convertible dirham accounts for resident or non-resident foreigners and for Moroccans living abroad. Explain your real situation to the bank. During a definitive return, have the effect of the change of residence on your accounts and operations clarified before moving your savings.

The opening of an account must be formalized by a written agreement of which you receive a copy. Also ask for the pricing of services, the conditions for transfers and withdrawals, and the expected supporting documents. Keep proof of origin and transfer of funds for your discussions with the bank.

Office des Changes · foreign currency and convertible dirham accounts Bank Al-Maghrib · banking law, article 151 (PDF)

Check the housing arrangements before committing

For residential leases of more than thirty days within its scope, law 67.12 requires a written contract with a fixed date. Have the landlord or their representative identified and specify the accommodation, rent, and charges. Ask for an explanation of any clauses you do not understand before signing.

During the visit, note the condition of the equipment, the meters, the noise and the access to the neighborhood. Ask that the sums paid, the deposit conditions and the breakdown of expenses be put in writing. Keep proof of payment and a shared statement of the condition of the accommodation. These practical checks will help you compare offers without assuming they all have the same conditions.

Ministry of Justice · Law 67.12 on rental (Arabic PDF)

Confirm each child's school and grade level

The Ministry of National Education presents the various cycles of the Moroccan system. For an arrival or a return, contact the intended establishment or the provincial Directorate to clarify the assignment, the level and the required documents. Prepare report cards and information on the child's previous path to facilitate this exchange.

For a French curriculum, the AEFE directory allows you to search for an establishment in Morocco and its approved levels. Check your child's exact level, then directly request the admission procedures, available places, and fees for the year in question. Listing in the directory does not guarantee an available place.

Ministry of National Education · school cycles AEFE · directory of establishments in Morocco

Check affiliation and healthcare coverage

The coverage scheme depends notably on your activity and affiliation. In the private sector, the CNSS intervenes for employees and self-employed workers; the opening of rights remains subject to the conditions of the scheme. Have the competent organization, your registration, dependents, and effective coverage date confirmed. Relocation alone does not constitute a certificate of rights.

If you leave France to work in Morocco as an expatriate, the Cleiss explains the transition to Moroccan legislation, which is distinct from secondment. Depending on your situation and the scope of the convention, the SE 350-02 form may allow French insurance periods to be taken into account. Check with your fund before departure and report your change in situation to the relevant organizations.

Cleiss · social security system in Morocco Cleiss · working in Morocco as an expatriate CNSS · compulsory health insurance

Retirement and health: examine rights before departure

For certain French pension recipients, the Franco-Moroccan convention provides coverage in Morocco if they do not have rights under the Moroccan scheme and meet the applicable conditions. The French fund can issue the SE 350-07 form for registration with the CNSS. Have your nationality, pensions, and dependents' situation reviewed before relying on this arrangement.

For continuity of care, prepare your medical reports and list of treatments with your doctor. Ask the organization or insurer what is covered upon arrival, which costs must be paid upfront, and what procedures precede hospitalization. Assess your spouse's and children's coverage separately.

Cleiss · retirement in Morocco and health coverage

Connect the procedures to your city of settlement

Before selecting a neighborhood, compare the actual route to school, work, and healthcare. The site's city fact sheets provide starting points for your research; then check the contact details and procedures of the chosen service directly. Note down the right contact person, the required documents, and the next action for each step.

Prepare your budget with quotes and your own expenses: housing, entrance fees, services, school, travel and health. Distinguish one-off expenses from regular expenses and keep a margin suited to your household. Do not take an advertisement price as a local average or an estimate as a coverage agreement. The list below allows you to follow this preparation.

Frequently asked questions

Must a returning Moroccan apply for a foreign residence permit?

The procedure provided for foreigners does not apply to a person of Moroccan nationality. Check separately the procedures for a spouse or children who do not have Moroccan nationality.

SGG · law 02-03 on foreign nationals’ residence (PDF)

When should I start the residence application for a foreigner?

Anticipate with the competent service for your place of residence: the request must precede the expiration of the visa or, if you are exempt, the end of the 90-day period from entry.

SGG · implementing decree 2-09-607 (PDF)

Which bank account should you choose for your installation?

Ask the bank for the account corresponding to your residence and operations, as well as its agreement and fees. Permanent return must be reported to clarify applicable conditions.

Office des Changes · foreign currency and convertible dirham accounts Bank Al-Maghrib · banking law, article 151 (PDF)

Does the guide give a standard rent or security deposit?

No. Compare the total amount and the written conditions of each offer. For a lease governed by Law 67.12, check the written contract with a fixed date.

Ministry of Justice · Law 67.12 on rental (Arabic PDF)

Does an AEFE curriculum school guarantee admission?

The directory is used to identify the establishment and homologated levels. Only an exchange with the establishment allows confirmation of admission procedures and a place for your child.

AEFE · directory of establishments in Morocco

Is a French pension enough to automatically open health rights in Morocco?

No. The competent fund must examine the conditions of the convention and the personal situation. If the scheme applies, form SE 350-07 is used for registration with the CNSS.