Visa, Work Permit & Immigration Support in Morocco

If your business objectives are related to hiring expatriate personnel in Morocco, there are some things you need to consider. Among them are:

the peculiarities of immigration procedure in the country;
documents required to get a work permit;
in-country employment and payroll for foreign citizens after the visa has been issued.

Given the fact that expats are often sent abroad for short-term projects, many companies often opt for no-entity hiring. This means companies look for simpler, more cost-effective options versus onboarding and paying ex-pats through their own local subsidiaries

Immigration Challenges for Employers Hiring Across Borders

The immigration challenges employers face when hiring across borders are deeply rooted in the intricacies of foreign regulations. Here’s a breakdown of some key hurdles:

Ever-Evolving Landscape: Immigration laws and visa requirements are constantly in flux, making it difficult for internal HR teams to stay up-to-date. Missing crucial updates can lead to non-compliant applications and delays.
Country-Specific Requirements: The specific documentation, processing times, and fees associated with visas and work permits vary dramatically by country, necessitating in-depth knowledge of each target market.
The Complexities of Application Process: Immigration applications often involve extensive paperwork and stringent requirements. Incomplete or inaccurate filings can lead to lengthy delays or rejection, causing frustration and lost time.
Legal Nuances: Lack of awareness regarding local legal nuances can create compliance issues. For example, seemingly minor work permit sponsorship documentation errors can have serious repercussions.

The Fallout of Immigration Challenges

These immigration challenges can have significant consequences for companies venturing into new markets:

Delayed Hiring Timelines: Navigating the complexities of immigration processes can significantly delay the hiring of qualified international talent, hindering business progress.
Strained Resources: Internal HR teams often lack the expertise and bandwidth to effectively manage international immigration processes, leading to burnout and inefficiencies.
Compliance Risks: Failure to comply with immigration regulations can expose businesses to penalties, reputational damage, and legal action.

The Global EOR Advantage: Streamlining Immigration for Seamless Expansion into Morocco

For companies hiring and paying ex-pats overseas, particularly in Morocco, a global PEO with work permit support as part of the service might be a viable alternative to incorporation in the country. A PEO service company will walk you and your expats through every step of the immigration procedure in Morocco. After receiving the work permit or visa, a PEO provider would officially onboard and payroll your ex-pats in a foreign country on your behalf. Acumen International has been hiring and payrolling our clients’ expatriates in Morocco for both short—and long-term periods. If you need to hire and pay the expatriates in Morocco legally, we can help you. Regardless of business objectives and timelines, Acumen International can arrange end-to-end work permit support for hiring your ex-pats in full legal compliance with local labour legislation after the permit documents have been issued. Acumen’s ‘work permit and hiring expats through a Global PEO’ solution is designed for:

employer companies like yourself that want to relocate the selected ex-pats to Morocco
individuals who have an employer that is ready to finance their immigration and foreign employment in the country
the service is mainly used by companies hiring highly skilled personnel that they send abroad to fill some top positions in Morocco.

Acumen International Global EOR acts as your trusted advisor and on-the-ground partner throughout the entire immigration process in Morocco. Their team of in-country seasoned professionals boasts a deep understanding of international regulations, ensuring compliance and minimizing the risk of delays or penalties.

Here’s how a Global EOR empowers you to overcome immigration hurdles:

Expertise in Country-Specific Regulations: The EOR leverages its knowledge of specific visa and work permit requirements in each target market, ensuring a smooth and compliant application process.
Streamlined Onboarding with Employer of Record Services: By serving as the legal employer of record for your international hires, the EOR eliminates the need to establish a local entity in each new market, allowing for faster onboarding.
Dedicated Immigration Specialists: The EOR’s team of experts handles the complexities of applications, ensuring all documentation is accurate and complete.
Reduced Compliance Risk and Cost: Outsourcing immigration to a Global Employer of Record company minimises the risk of non-compliance and associated penalties while saving on the costs of building internal expertise.

Note: Having a single provider that sponsors a work permit or visa on your behalf and then employs expats in Morocco minimizes the risks of visa rejection. In addition, it takes the hassle associated with immigration procedures off your head. Acumen International can provide extra benefits and work permits for further expat employment in Morocco. This includes medical insurance, housing, office rent, mobile phone and car provision to meet-and-greet, dependents relocation, etc.

Disclaimer: we are not an immigration service! We do not provide a work permit and immigration support as a standalone solution to individuals willing to find jobs overseas.

Work Permit in Morocco: Estimated Time for Securing

Typically, the work permit issuance procedure in Morocco takes 3 to 7 months until entry to Morocco and a further 5 to 6 months before the whole process is completed.

6 Steps to Get a Work Permit in Morocco

ANAPEC application
Work Authorisation Application
Work Visa Application
Entry to Morocco
Immigration Medical
Residence Permit (Titre de Séjour) Application

Work Permit Requirements in Morocco

Name	Notes	Copies
Copy of Passport Information Page		One clear copy
Certified copies of highest educational certificates		One clear and certified copy
Passport valid for six months minimum	With at least 2 blank, adjoining visa pages	One original
Certified copies of employer reference letters		Two clear and certified copies
Educational Certificate	Highest educational certificate, accompanied by a certified translation into French or Arabic. It may require legalization depending on the country of issuance – please check with a listed supplier.	One certified and translated copy; one original
Copy of passport valid for 6 months minimum	Copy of biodata and signature pages only.	One clear copy
2 Passport Photographs	Recent, identical, 3cm x 4cm, against a light background, face forward, eyes open, mouth closed.	Two originals
Application Form		One copy, one clear copy, one original
Visa fees	To be paid in cash or postal order and currently around 24 GBP for a 90-day double entry visa.	One original
Birth Certificate	Required for all applicants, issued within 90 days of the residence permit application and accompanied by translation into French or Arabic if applicable.	One certified and translated copy; one original
Employer Reference Letters	Letters attest to which prior companies the applicant has worked for, with basic details as to the position, responsibilities, and starting/ending dates of work, translated into French or Arabic if applicable.	One certified and translated copy; one original
Lease Agreement	A local lease agreement (in French or Arabic) should be valid for at least six months from the date of residence permit application. An amendment addendum with the date can be included.	One original
8 Passport Photographs	Recent, identical, 3cm x 3cm, in colour, against a light background, face forward, eyes open, mouth closed.	Eight originals
Certified copies of lease agreement	Two certified copies of the signed Moroccan lease agreement should not have an expiration date and should be valid for at least six months from the date of the residence permit application. An amendment addendum with these details can be included.	Two clear and certified copies
Police Clearance Certificate	Original police clearance certificate issued in country of residence. Translated into French or Arabic if applicable.	One certified and translated copy; one original
Moroccan Medical Certificates	An original medical certificate issued by a doctor in Morocco.	One original
Residence Permit Payment	100DHS to be paid in cash to the authorities.	One original
Certified copies of birth certificate	Two town hall certified copies of the unabridged certificate for each applicant.	Two clear and certified copies

Acumen Global Employer of Record Solution with Immigration Support in Morocco

If you need your international talent to legally work for you in Morocco without having to set up your own business entity for that, trust us to assist you with work permits and immigration support and then employ your expats locally on your behalf. Contact our team to let us handle your foreign employees’ immigration matters. We will relieve you of the responsibility of getting a work permit by working with our local partners to organise and obtain all the necessary permits. We will also provide you with a detailed update on the progress of the process. Contact us for more details about how you can get a work permit for your expatriate staff and employ them through Acumen International in Morocco.