If you want to go from Morocco to France to spend time there on holiday, or to study or live there, you must have a valid visa. The visa is a crucial document for any stay — it authorizes you to enter France for a fixed period and for a defined reason.
Are you a Moroccan citizen who wants to go to France? We explain all about visas and how to make a successful application for a visa for France from Morocco: which visa to choose, where and when to apply, what documents to send, etc.
What visas for France from Morocco are there?
France offers five types of visa from Morocco:
- The short-stay visa,
- The temporary long-stay visa,
- The long-stay visa valid as a residence permit,
- The long-stay visa leading to the submission of a residence card application,
- The student visa.
The conditions for obtaining one of these visas depend on your reason for entering the country and how long you will stay once you arrive (from three months to several years). The vast majority of visas for France from Morocco are short-stay visas, known as tourist visas.
Short-stay visa
The short-stay visa, known as a tourist visa, allows you to go to France from Morocco and spend a maximum of 90 days (3 months) there over a period of 180 days (6 months). It is a multiple-entry visa, meaning that you can enter French territory several times during your stay.
Temporary long-stay visa
The temporary long-stay visa (VLS-T) is valid for a maximum of one year and is non-renewable. To apply for this visa, you must be sure that your stay in France will be no longer than 12 months. This visa for France from Morocco is only issued for certain specific reasons for a stay:
- Carrying out an artistic activity;
- Studies;
- Supervised training or enrollment in a supervised internship;
- Plans for family reunification.
This visa for Moroccans in France does not require you to apply for a residence card or register with the OFII (Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration — French Office of Immigration and Integration).
Long-stay visa valid as a residence permit
The long-stay visa valid as a residence permit (VLS-TS) is valid between 4 and 12 months, and is only issued for the following reasons:
- Paid employment in France;
- Carrying out a commercial or independent activity;
- Studying or undertaking an internship in France;
- For a holder of a Talent Passport (also applies to a family member);
- Having a spouse who is a French national or already present in the territory, as part of family reunification.
Like the VLS-T visa, this visa for France from Morocco exempts you from applying for a residence card. However, once on French territory, you will have to register with the OFII and you must validate your visa online within two months.
This visa for Moroccans in France allows you to stay in France for longer after it expires. To do so, you must apply for a residence card at the prefecture during the final two months of the visa’s validity.
Long-stay visa leading to the submission of a residence card application
This long-stay visa, containing the text “carte de séjour à solliciter dans les 2 mois suivant l’arrivée” (residence card to be applied for within two months of arrival), is issued to Moroccans who cannot be granted a long-stay visa exempting them from obtaining a residence card. This will apply to Moroccans:
- Who are the parent of a French child residing in France;
- Who intend to obtain a multi-year residence permit, in particular recipients of the Talent Passport;
- Who intend to obtain a French resident card.
As the text on the visa indicates, once you arrive in France, you have two months to apply for your residence permit at the prefecture.
For all long-stay visas for France from Morocco, you will need to justify your reason with all the appropriate documentation (employment contract, certificate of training completion, etc.).
Student visas
There are three possible visas for Moroccans going to France to study, according to local consular authorities:
- The short-stay visa, for studies lasting less than three months;
- The VLS-T, which allows you to study in France for a maximum of one year;
- The VLS-TS, which enables you, in addition to working alongside studying, to receive housing allowances from the CAF and to extend your stay beyond the validity of the visa.
Moroccan students coming for competitive entrance exams or admission interviews in France will be able to obtain a short-stay visa that will include the text “étudiant concours” (student examination). If you are accepted for the exam or interview, this visa allows you to apply for a residence card at the prefecture without having to return to Morocco.
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When should I apply for my visa for France?
For a visa for France from Morocco, you must make your application:
- For a short-stay visa: No earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 days before your departure:
- For long-stay visas: No earlier than three months and no later than one month before.
Where do I need to make my application for a visa for France from Morocco?
For a visa for France from Morocco, you must apply on the France-visas forms webpage. You must then go to the France-Morocco TLScontact center in your place of residence to file your application (by appointment). There are seven TLS centers in Morocco: Agadir, Casablanca, Fez, Marrakesh, Oujda, Rabat and Tangier.
These TLScontact centers are providers mandated by French consular authorities, and are open from Monday to Friday. Opening hours vary depending on the center and the reason for your visit (submitting a file or collecting a passport).
Certain categories of applications for a visa for France from Morocco, as for applications for official passports, are received directly by the Consulates General of France in Morocco.
How do I make my application for a visa from Morocco?
To apply for a Moroccan visa for France, you must:
- Register or log in on the france-visa.fr website,
- Fill out and complete your visa application,
- Print out and sign the completed form, and add it to your application file,
- Ensure that the file contains all the supporting documents required for your application,
- Make an appointment at the approved TLScontact center to submit your file,
- Arrive at the appointment on time with a printed copy of the appointment confirmation letter, your passport and the completed file,
- Pay the visa fees and service fees,
- Collect your passport from the TLScontact center once your visa is issued.
To have the best chance of obtaining your visa for France from Morocco, make sure to:
- Check that your file is complete, with all the required supporting documents,
Not make any mistakes when filling out the application forms,
- Arrive on time for your visa application appointment.
What documents are required to obtain a visa for France from Morocco?
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When applying for a visa for France from Morocco, you need to submit a file containing a number of mandatory documents, which vary depending on the type of visa being applied for (short-stay or long-stay) and the applicant’s profile.
The necessary supporting documents (originals and copies) will be specified on the registration receipt for the visa application. As a guide, for a short-stay visa you must provide:
- A passport issued less than ten years ago, with an expiration date more than three months after the date on which you intend to leave theSchengen Area and which contains two blank pages,
- Proof of legal residence in Morocco, if you are not a Moroccan national,
- Proof of settlement in Morocco, which will vary depending on your status (employee, student, retired, etc.) and will be specified when applying for a visa online,
- The completed and signed visa application form,
- The visa application registration receipt,
- Two recent ID photos that are compliant with European Union standards,
- Proof of the purpose of the trip: a pre-booked round-trip plane, bus or boat ticket, or a booking confirmation for an organized trip,
- Proof of accommodation in France for the duration of the stay: hotel reservation, hosting certificate,
- Proof of financial resources showing that you will be solvent for the duration of your stay (original copies of bank statements for the last three months or your last three paychecks, proof of pension, etc.)
- Certificate of travel medical insurance (mandatory).
If you have documents required for the application that are not in English or French, they must be translated into French in order to be accepted.
An incomplete file may result in your application to obtain a Moroccan visa for France being refused. If your file is incomplete, you can decide not to submit it and to make a new appointment. You can also submit your incomplete file, indicating which parts are missing in a signed document. Finally, submitting a complete application does not guarantee that the visa will be issued.
What are special cases for the visa for France from Morocco?
There are certain special cases for visa applications for France from Morocco, which exempt the need for a visa or require other supporting documents to be provided. For example:
- Holders of official passports (diplomatic passports or Moroccan service passports) are exempt from needing short-stay visas, and visas issued in relation to their duties are free of charge;
- People affected by Kafala (transfer of parental authority) must provide additional supporting documents, such as a full copy of the minor child’s birth certificate or the adult’s motivation letter.
How much does a French visa from Morocco cost?
The price of a visa for France from Morocco is €80 (870 MAD) for a short-stay visa, and €99 (1070 MAD) for a long-stay visa. These visa fees must always be paid in Moroccan dirham and are not refunded if the visa is refused.
These fees may be reduced depending on the applicant:
- The short-stay visa costs €40 (433 MAD) for children aged 6 to 12,
- The short-stay visa is free for children under six and for spouses and family members of French nationals,
- The long-stay visa costs €50 (540 MAD) for Moroccan students.
In addition to the visa fee, there is a TLScontact center service fee of 330 MAD (approximately €30) per file submitted. These fees correspond to the standard visa application processing service (information, booking an appointment, collecting the application, data entry, etc.). These fees may be reimbursed if the applicant does not file the application and their biometric fingerprints have not been taken.
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When will I know if my visa for France has been accepted?
The minimum processing time for a short-stay visa is 7 to 10 days, and up to 3 weeks at peak times (summer and school holidays). The processing time for a long-stay visa can be between 3 weeks and 3 months. If your visa has been accepted, you will receive a notification (email, SMS) via your personal space to collect your passport.
FAQs
Is it difficult to get a visa for France from Morocco?
It will depend on the visa requested and the reason for the application. Moroccan tourist visas for France are often accepted. Long-stay visas may be more difficult to get, as the conditions for getting them are more restrictive.
How can I send money to Morocco?
With Western Union, easily send money to Morocco from France:
- Online in a few clicks via our website,
- With our mobile app,
- In person, by going to an agent location.
Your receiver can get the money in cash, in their account (via their Moroccan IBAN) or in their mobile wallet.
