This guide explains how and where you can renew your 90-day travel visa for Morocco.
Morocco is a beautiful and safe country full of exotic places to see and things to do.
When I traveled to this country, I fell in love with it and knew I wanted to stay there longer. But as a Canadian citizen, I was only allowed to remain in the country for 90 days upon entry.
Holders of UK, EU, US, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passports and citizens of the following countries can enter Morocco visa-free and are allowed to stay there for up to 90 days.
However, three months just didn’t satisfy me as I felt there was still so much more to see and do, so I looked online and made tons of research to find out if it was possible to extend my travel visa for Morocco.
After finding a lot of contradictory information online, I started asking expats who had been living in Morocco for years how they were able to renew their Morocco visa for so long.
They told me that it’s possible to extend your stay in Morocco by leaving the country for a few days and coming back thus getting a brand new 90 days in the country.
Border runs to renew your 90-day visa in Morocco are not officially permitted, but it is certainly not frowned upon and to this day people do this without any problem.
In this article, I’ll explain how and where to cross the border to renew your 90-day tourist visa for Morocco.
There are to my knowledge three different and easy ways to leave Morocco to extend your visa. I will explain the advantages and disadvantages of each one.
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Morocco Travel Planner
Planning a (road) trip in Morocco? These are the tools I personally use to make it smooth and flexible:
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1. Take a ferry to Spain to renew your Morocco visa
Taking a ferry to Spain to renew your Morocco visa is the first and most obvious option if you are in the north of the country.
It would be possible to take a ferry to France and Italy as well, but the proximity of Spain means you won’t have to go too far and spend days at sea simply to renew your visa.
The Tangier to Tarifa ferry route currently connects Spain with Morocco and is operated by 2 different ferry companies: The FRS service and the Inter Shipping service.
The FRS service runs up to 8 times per day with a sailing duration of around 1 hour while the Inter Shipping service runs up to 6 times per day with a sailing duration of 2 hours.
I’ve taken the ferry a few times to renew my visa and I was able to return on the same day. However, it might be better to spend at least one day out of Morocco before you return.
The border officials only asked me where I was staying but that was it. So if you want to extend your travels in Morocco, you can easily take the ferry and renew your Morocco visa!
2. Cross the border in Ceuta or Melilla
Ceuta and Melilla are two cities within the Moroccan territory that belongs to Spain. It is possible to cross the border to these two cities to extend your Morocco visa but I wouldn’t totally recommend it for various reasons.
First of all, there is a constant influx of people trying to enter the two Spanish enclaves illegally. This means that the whole area surrounding the border itself can be quite chaotic and is often very busy.
There are also reports of pickpockets preying on unwary travelers around these two borders, making the crossing a bit of a stressful experience.
Once you’re in Spanish territory, meaning in the cities Ceuta and Melilla, Moroccan authorities may also insist that you stay out of the country for more than a couple of days, possibly a week or more.
The prices in these two cities are very expensive compared to Morocco, so be prepared to dig into your travel budget.
3. Fly out of Morocco for a quick getaway
If you have the time and a good budget, why not fly out of Casablanca, Marrakesh or Tangier to a nearby destination in Europe such as Portugal or Spain?
You could stay there for one week, return all refreshed and you’d have added a new destination to your inventory.
I renewed my visa 3 times within one year by taking the ferry to Spain twice and crossing the border in Ceuta once.
Even though it’s not officially permitted, I never had any problems and the border officials never made a comment about it.
I know some people who have already been in Morocco for a couple of years by renewing their Morocco visa every 3 months.
So if you want to stay longer than just 90 days in Morocco, this is the way to easily renew your Morocco visa!
Related Posts
Best eSIM for Morocco? My Honest Experience Using Simify During a Morocco Road Trip
Renting a Car in Morocco: Complete Guide with Driving Tips (2026)
Morocco Itinerary 2026: 3 Best Routes for a Morocco trip Through Imperial Cities, Atlas Mountains & Sahara
19 Very Useful Things to Know for Backpacking in Morocco in 2026 – The Complete Travel Guide to Morocco
The 17 Best Places to visit in Morocco in pictures
The Honest Guide to Meknes Morocco and Volubilis – 9 best things to do and what to skip
More MOROCCO TRAVEL Resources:
- What you need to know before you go: 23 Travel Tips for Morocco
- Is Morocco Safe? Safety Guide to Morocco
- How to avoid the 12 most common scams in Morocco
- See the best of Morocco by following these 3 great travel itineraries
- Visit these beautiful 17 places in Morocco
- Tips for traveling to Morocco during Ramadan
- Morocco City Guides: Fez, Tangier, Essaouira, Chefchaouen, Rabat, Meknes, Marrakech, Casablanca, Agadir
- The best daytrips from Marrakech
- Fun things to do in the Sahara: how to plan a desert trip to Merzouga
- The Complete Guide to Imlil and Hiking Mount Toubkal
- Everything you need to know about visiting the Ouzoud Waterfalls
- Rock climbing and other fun things to do in the Todra Gorges and Tinerhir
- How to get to the Akchour Waterfalls from Chefchaouen
- A guide to visiting the Ouzoud Waterfalls
- Surfing in Morocco – The best surfing spots in Morocco
- How to visit Paradise Valley in Agadir
- What to wear in Morocco: Complete packing list for Morocco
- Morocco photography tips: How to take portraits of people in Morocco
- Extend your stay in Morocco using one of these 3 ways to renew your Morocco visa
- Useful tips on how to take the ferry from Tangier to Spain
- Books about Morocco: 10 Great Novels set in Morocco
I am in Morocco and my visa was for a tourist which has expired. I am looking for legitimate work opportunities and need help renewing my visa.
Sorry, I’m afraid I can’t help you with this.
I am spanish and my mom moroccan, i live between Spain and Morocco and i think it’s great things to provide Info to people who ignore some interesting Details 🙂
You can also count on me anytime)
Hello,
thank you for sharing this precious article.
I am about to renew my Tourist Visa and I want to visit Ceuta from Tanger.
Do you know I can make it in the same day? Or better sleep at Ceuta one night in order to get the renewal?
Hi Marcello, I’d recommend staying in Ceuta for a night and return the day after. This is always better than returning the same day 🙂 Good luck!
Thanks Cynthia,
I am bit concerned because I have also read that 90 days are issued in a time frame of 180 days (more o less like Schengen rules).
Hi cynthia,
Was reading comments up to November 2022, any idea if anything’s changed from the guidance provided.
Am on an AU passport and want to extend my time in this awesome country. Looking at ferry run staying in Spain for 3 nights then return have you heard any issues posed.
The comments seem to indicate all
Is well
Thanks so much for the blog, as I was researching and found several contradictory statements and the 90 days doesn’t indicate clearly the rules.
Hi Belinda, I think that it won’t be an issue, especially as you’re staying a few days out of the country. Let us know how it went!
Hey Marcello,
How did you go, no problems?
Looking at a
Couple nights in Spain after a ferry crossing to return.
Be great to hear how you went
I am an US citizen I found this blog helpful. Just wanted to share my recent experience with renewing 90 entry visa. I decided to take the ferry(frs) to Spain round trip tickets $750 Moroccan dirhams ($75). I purchased 2pm depart and 5pm return. I literally got off the ferry in Spain went through arrival visa counter, exited then went into the departure door and got back on the same ferry. While on the ferry back to Morocco there was a entry visa counter inside the ferry people lined up to get there entry visas on the ferry. Provided you fill out 1.entry form and 2. Public health form (Covid). No proof PCR or Vaccination was asked of me. I just filled out the Health form accordingly and gave to man collecting forms. When I got off the Ferry there were two police officers checking passengers entry stamp before they exited.
Thank you for this update!
I am indian national and I cannot enter Morocco without visa so I have gotten a 90 days visa, and I want to stay more, so will it work if I go to turkey for a week and apply from there for another 90 days visitor visa of Morocco? or they only give 90 days visa per year?
Hi Mahadev, I don’t know how it works when you have to apply for a visa. I’d recommend you contact your embassy to get accurate information on this topic. Best wishes
thank you for response will do that!
So I followed your advice and went ahead and took a quick trip to Seville from Fez and just returned later that day in Oujda (Ryanair for the win). Then my husband and I returned to his hometown via the train. 4 Days later the police knocked on his door asking who I was and why I was here and why I left for only one day.
My husband explained I wanted to stay a little bit longer after my 90 day tourist visa, and that I would be leaving in about 1 month (I had bought a one way ticket so we could travel Europe which ended up not happening) and the prices were too expensive to head home at the end of my 90 days so we figured a quick renewal and all would be well. The police asked basic questions and then eventually said everything was fine. Gave me a partial heart attack but everything was fine they said and would call my husband if there are any issues.
They said that if I left more then one day they would not have come to the house to check on me. So that being said if you plan on leaving and coming back for a 90 day tourist visa I highly recommend to stay out of the country at least one day. Then there would be no issues.
Hi Tori, thanks for your update! I’ll add to the post that it’s best to stay out of the country for a couple of days. I’m glad you were able to renew your visa.
How many times with in one year can you renew your visa by border runs?
Niko stayed for a full year so he renewed it 4 times
I’m doing the math and if he stayed a full year he would have had to renew only 3 times …
He stayed a full year, left for a year and returned for another 6 months
Hello,
Does anyone know the procedures if you do not decide to leave the country? I read that going to the nearest police station is one way… .I am here with my wife and 6-month old child so just crossing the border to Spain is a bit of a hassle.. we have a month left before we have to renew… if any of you know the procedures please let us know..
I am eagerly awaiting your response. Thanks in advance.
with the current Covid 19 pandemic will I be able to return to Morocco after exceeding a 90 day visit?
That will depend if Morocco has opened its borders to citizens of the country of your passport
Hello Cynthia, about the tourist visa, does the 90 day T Visa reset everytime you leave or does an initial entry establish a 90 day duration that has to expire while out of the country. I am thinking it is the former from the posts and your answers but would like to verify
Thanks in advance
Galen
Hi Galen, the 90-day duration resets every time you reenter the country.
We just heard that if you come in with a car, then it’s a 6 month VISA. Anybody else hear this/have this experience?
I need to renew my visa i am at 77days , i am in fes morocco and i am canadian. I want to know how long i need to be out of the country when taking the ferry. Can i take it and get to spain then take the next ferry back out ( maybe have a coffee in spain while i wait).
Hi Melissa, in the past it hasn’t been a problem for me to take a ferry to Spain and come back to Morocco just an hour later. Just take a ferry to Spain and hop back on the next one to Morocco.
Hello! I am so glad I found your website! The information you guys have provided is very helpful and sincerely appreciated! I was wondering if you guys are still in Morocco, and if so, how you are dealing with the current entry restrictions/requirements while renewing your 90-day visas? I’m a US citizen currently in Morocco, planning my trip to renew my visa. I’m just curious about your experience in regards to the Covid PCR testing and the hotel reservation requirements upon entry. If I take the PCR test here in Morocco, and I take a ferry to Spain and return the same day (or if I fly out of the country and return within the 72 hour expiration window), will that same PCR test be accepted? Thank you soo much! I look forward to hearing back from you!
Hi Angelina! I’m very happy you like my website!!
I’m not in Morocco anymore so I don’t really know. It would make sense that you could use the same test, as it’s been taken within 72 hours, however, as you’ve been in another country, it’s very likely you’ll have to test there again before being able to return… Maybe you could inquire at one of the ferry agencies?
We just PCR tested in Morocco on the way out – so that it was still valid when we came back in again 🙂
Good to know 🙂
Hi Niko,
I used to have Moroccan ID card as I’m a student here but it is expiring soon and I can’t renew it anymore because my studies duration has ended. So, I went to the police station today to seek for informations on how to solve this problem. They advised me to leave the country before my card expires and hand the ID card to the immigration.
I was searching for solutions on how i can enter back to Morocco because I still have things to settle with the University.
Hence, I’m trying to enter as a tourist after i handed my ID card. Thank you very much as your post really helps me.
Hi Shahira,
We’re glad the post could help you. Morocco is a gorgeous country and a great place to study. We hope you’re able to re-enter the country easily.
Hello shahira,
Can yu give us an update about your situation?
Did you re enter again after your id expire and considering as tourist status ?and if you did , did you exit Morocco before the id expiration and enter after the expiration date or before?
Hi Nomads!
On the subject of Moroccan visa renewal, do you know if an overland visit to Western Sahara (on my bicycle) would give me an extra 90 days on my return to Morocco?
Cheers,
Steven
Hi Steven, as soon as you have left Morocco and you return the same or a few days later, you’ll get a new travel visa, meaning you can stay in Morocco again for 90 days.
So if you’re going to Mauritania or Algeria and you want to return to Morocco, you should be able to!
Have a great trip!!
Hi!. Thank you for your very helpful post!.. Im an American in Marrakech. Im taking a bus to Tangier and from Tangier a ferry to Tarifa, was hoping a day trip!.. Your post has been super informative..any other advice or tips as i am leaving tonight!
Thanks,
Pamela
Enjoy the ferry trip Pamela. Just a few more tips: Bring some snacks for the boat ride as the food on the ferry is super expensive. On your way back, get in line to get your re-entry stamp as soon as you get on the ferry so you won’t have to wait on the boat when it reaches the Moroccan shore.
Thamks..will do!.. I will be buying my ticket there at the port in Tangier. Should i get return ticket at same time?.. Thoughts!.. I should be arriving in Tangier by 8 am.
Thanks,
Pamela
Hi Pamela,
Yes, you can get your return ticket at the same time. Enjoy the ferry crossing!
I am from Morocco and your tips are very helpful for foreigners who are not sure about what’s appropriate and what’s not, I will definitely share this with any travelers who wants to visit morocco.
That is so great to hear! Thanks so much! 🙂
We hope it can help more and more people renew their Moroccan visa and stay longer in your beautiful country 🙂