Our quick reference guides have vital information on pay, benefits, tax and visas - everything you need to work and live in Morocco:
Since July 2004, the minimum salary has been 9.66 DH per hour, with a working week of up to 44 hours. The average salary for engineers or executives is between 6,600 and 11,000 DH a month. There are 13 public holidays in Morocco. On top of that, you are eligible for 24 days holidays after one year of work.
Regardless of nationality or activity, anyone who regularly resides in Morocco is subject to personal income tax. There are no concessions for foreign nationals working in Morocco, but the cost of home travel is exempt from tax every two years. The tax is based on your income group. If you earn between 45,001 to 60,000 DH per year you will have to pay a 35 % tax. Employers are agents of the tax authority by deducting taxes from salaries.
Dependent on your situation, several visas are available. For a short business visit, you should get a business visa. Residents of certain countries do not require visas for short stays, but be sure to check your status. If you wish to work in Morocco, you can ask for an employment visa. To stay permanently in the country, apply for a permanent residence visa.
Apply for a visa at the nearest Moroccan embassy. Your application may be processed in as few as four days, but in some cases you will need two months.
Try an entirely different culture, just three hours flight from Europe. With warm-hearted people and dramatic landscapes, the colours of life seem more intense here.
Even though people do work long hours, leisure time is important here. Commutes are short, domestic staff are affordable and because of the beautiful climate, outdoor living is popular. Leisure activities include hiking, tennis, picnicking, skiing and biking. Beaches and mountains are close by.
Foreign schools are of a very high standard here.
You need medical insurance for Morocco. For emergency services, call 15. Police can be reached at number 19 (landline phone) and 112 (mobile phone). You will easily find the address of the nearest hospital when you arrive in Morocco. There are no particular health problems in the country. However, it is strongly advisable to get a hepatitis A, typhoid and hepatitis B vaccine. There are many clinics in big cities. Chemists' have a wide range of drugs. A medical consultation will cost you 100 to 300 DH.
Morocco's currency is the dirham (DH). You should carry travellers' cheques with you. Foreign currencies and travellers' cheques can be exchanged at official “bureaux de change” or foreign exchange offices only (easily recognisable by the golden sign).
Important: You could be offered the opportunity to change money on the street. Be aware that this is illegal.
If you are staying for a relatively long period under an employment or resident visa, it should not be difficult to open a bank account; yet transferring money may take up to a month. You can withdraw dirham from ATMs, but you need to get an international credit card from your home bank. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in Morocco.
Accommodation possibilities are quite different for each city. You should ask a real estate agent for help in finding a place to stay. Rents vary depending on the districts and the city. In Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech, renting an apartment could cost between 2,500 and 6,000 DH. In Meknès, Fès, Oujda and Tangier, prices are slightly lower. You may need three or four weeks to find an apartment, so it is advisable to call a real estate agency before leaving your country. Owners and landlords will require a three-year contract, which you should get translated before signing. You will probably also be required to pay a bond, usually the same amount as one month's rent.
In Morocco you can travel by air, train, car and bus. Casablanca is around one hour and thirty minutes from Rabat and four hours from Marrakech by car. The road network is quite adequate. Vehicle documents must be carried at all times. You should get an international driving licence and bring your own national driving licence. To rent a small car will cost around 300 DH/day.
Buses are a very common way to travel in Morocco. The two main companies are CTM and Supratours.
You should ask for prices before buying and always be prepared to bargain; offering half price is a good starting point.
