Do you need a transit visa for Morocco?
Usually not, if you never enter Morocco. Passengers connecting through Casablanca (CMN), Marrakech (RAK), or Rabat who stay inside the international transit area and fly out within 24 hours on the same booking can use transit without visa (TWOV).
The distinction that matters is airside versus landside. Airside means you never see a passport officer. Landside means you are stamped into Morocco, and at that point border police treat you as a visitor. You then need either an eVisa through Accès Maroc (single-entry, 180-day validity, stay up to 30 days) or a 72-hour transit visa from a consulate.
Do not cross passport control by accident
Follow "Correspondances / Transit" signs, not "Sortie / Baggage Claim." Collecting checked bags or changing terminals landside in Casablanca usually means clearing immigration first.
Airside vs landside: what each situation needs
Match your connection to the right row before you fly:
| Connection Type | Status | What You Need |
|---|---|---|
| Same ticket, airside, departure within 24h | TWOV — No Visa | Stay in the transit zone with onward boarding pass. No Accès Maroc application needed. |
| Separate tickets or bag recheck landside | Entry Required | You must clear immigration. Carry an approved eVisa or 72-hour transit visa plus proof of funds around €70 per day and insurance. |
| Overnight layover, leaving the airport alone | Entry Required | Booked hotel outside the airport counts as entry. Eligible nationalities should use the eVisa; ordinary passport holders need 90+ days passport validity and 180+ days residence if applying from abroad. |
| Nigerian passport, any transit | Visa Always Required | Nigeria is excluded from Moroccan TWOV. Even an airside connection needs a prior visa. Do not board without one. |
| Transit over 24h or stopover over 72h | Full eVisa Required | The 72-hour consular transit visa does not stretch. Apply for the standard single-entry eVisa for stays up to 30 days. |
Nigeria exception: airline staff in Lagos, Accra, and Dakar are briefed to deny boarding to Nigerian citizens transiting Morocco without a visa. Other restricted nationalities with separate airside bans should confirm with the airline before booking.
Royal Air Maroc 8–24 hour hotel permit
Royal Air Maroc sells many Africa–Europe connections with a long night in Casablanca. For layovers of about 8 to 24 hours, the airline can move you landside under escort to a partner hotel and handle the transit permit with airport police.
- How it works: report to the RAM transit desk after landing. Staff collect passports, issue a stamped transit slip, and bus the group to the hotel. You get the passport back at departure transfer.
- Conditions: you must arrive and depart on Royal Air Maroc on one ticket, hold a confirmed onward seat, and stay with the group. Independent city trips are not part of this scheme.
- Limits: the permit covers the hotel night only, not a multi-day stopover. If you want free time in Casablanca or a stay beyond 24 hours, get your own eVisa instead.
- Documents to carry anyway: ordinary passport valid 90+ days beyond entry, onward boarding pass, hotel voucher from the airline, travel insurance, and evidence of roughly €70 per day.
Practical tip: meal and hotel provision depends on fare class and scheduled connection time. Confirm with Royal Air Maroc before travel that your layover qualifies, and keep screenshots of that confirmation.
When to get an eVisa instead of transiting
A transit arrangement is narrow. Get the standard electronic authorization through Accès Maroc when any of these apply:
You want to step out of the airport on your own
Private hotel nights, day tours to Casablanca or Rabat, or meeting friends all count as entry. The eVisa gives a single entry for up to 30 days, far simpler than a 72-hour consular transit visa.
Your stopover exceeds 72 hours
Consular transit visas cap at about 72 hours and are single-purpose. The eVisa covers longer stopovers and lets you keep Morocco as part of the trip rather than a technical connection.
You hold separate tickets or need to recheck bags
Low-cost combinations through Morocco often force a landside bag reclaim. Apply on Accès Maroc at least several working days ahead with passport scan, photo, flight and hotel bookings, and bank evidence.
Check document specifics in our requirements guide → and the eVisa overview →.
Common questions about Morocco transit
01 Can I transit through Casablanca airport without a visa?
Yes, if you stay airside on the same ticket and depart within 24 hours without passing passport control. Most nationalities qualify for transit without visa (TWOV) under these conditions.
02 Do I need a visa if I want to leave the airport during a layover?
Yes. Once you pass through Moroccan passport control to enter the country, even for a few hours, normal entry rules apply. Eligible travellers need an eVisa via Accès Maroc; others need a 72-hour transit visa or consular visa.
03 What is the Royal Air Maroc hotel permit for 8-24 hour layovers?
Royal Air Maroc can arrange a landside hotel stay and transit permit for connecting passengers with layovers of roughly 8 to 24 hours in Casablanca. The airline handles the police paperwork, but you must hold a confirmed onward ticket and stay with the arranged transfer.
04 Why do Nigerian passport holders face stricter transit rules?
Nigerian nationals are specifically excluded from airside TWOV in Morocco and must hold a valid visa even for same-plane connections. If you travel on a Nigerian passport, secure an eVisa or consular visa before flying via Morocco.
05 When should I get a full eVisa instead of a transit visa?
If your layover involves leaving the airport independently, staying over 72 hours, or starting a short visit, apply for the standard eVisa. It gives a stay of up to 30 days within a 180-day window and covers tourism and short business.
Connecting through Morocco?
Confirm whether your layover stays airside. If you plan to leave the airport, secure entry clearance before you fly.
Apply for Morocco eVisa ↗