Morocco

Scope

Moroccan ports are governed by Port Police Law No. 71-18 and individual port regulations; customs matters are handled by the Administration of Customs and Indirect Taxes (ADII). Customs Circular No. 96034 of 2025 establishes temporary admission for qualifying privately used yachts: an owner who usually resides abroad and plans to berth the yacht in a Moroccan marina may qualify for temporary admission of up to 18 months. This period has eligibility conditions and should not be applied to commercial yachts or other berthing circumstances. Confirm the application with local customs.

Ports of entry and departure

Private vessels must enter through an authorized Moroccan port of entry. Confirm port by port whether it receives foreign yachts and can process customs and border formalities. ANP administers ports, but no complete official list explicitly identifying ports authorized to clear foreign private yachts was found. Third-party port reports such as Noonsite may be useful leads only; port availability is reported, not verified.

Pre-arrival notification

Articles 8–9 of Port Police Law No. 71-18 require vessels planning to enter port to notify the harbour master and operator under the relevant port regulations and report the ETA as required by that port. The law does not set a nationwide number of hours for advance notice. Casablanca has its own operating regulations; do not apply them automatically to other ports. Confirm ETA channel, deadline and any prior-authorization requirement with the destination port.

Crew and passenger entry

Crew must check visa-free, visa and e-visa eligibility according to passport nationality, purpose of stay and current rules. Eligible travellers may apply for an eVisa through the official Accès Maroc platform; the permitted visa/stay period is determined by the person's approved category and border decision. This is general entry information and does not establish that yacht crew can obtain visas at a seaport or are automatically allowed ashore. Confirm entry-by-sea formalities with the border authorities at the destination port before sailing.

Vessel customs

ADII Circular No. 96034/2025 provides for temporary admission of a privately used yacht when its owner usually resides abroad and intends to berth the yacht in a Moroccan marina. The customs office at that marina may grant temporary admission for up to 18 months. Vessels not berthed in a marina and other watercraft generally follow a different period, listed in the circular as six months. At the end of the period, the vessel must be exported or formally cleared and applicable duties paid as required. Do not extend this arrangement to commercial operations. Confirm flag, ownership, intended use and application documents with local customs.

Morocco's National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) says imports of animals, plants, food and feed are subject to sanitary and phytosanitary controls. Health or phytosanitary documents issued by the authority in the country of origin may be required, with border inspection. Dogs and cats require current ONSSA health certificates according to origin. These are general import rules; official pages do not explain the handling of pets, food retained aboard or vessel waste on foreign private yachts, or list ports offering yacht quarantine services. Before arrival, confirm with ONSSA and the destination port whether onboard stores must be declared, landed or inspected.

Restricted items

ADII circulars list permit or certificate requirements for some regulated goods, including animals/animal products, plants, CITES-protected species, hunting firearms, drones/knives and personal medicines. The circular concerns imported goods and temporary admission; it is not a complete restricted-items list for stores aboard private yachts. Confirm separately with customs and the relevant authorities whether firearms may remain aboard, and how medicines, food, pets and plants may be declared or taken ashore.

Port procedures

Before arrival, notify the harbour master/operator under Port Police Law No. 71-18 and the destination port's rules, and confirm whether prior authorization is required. Casablanca's local regulations require yachts to report movements to VTS, submit an arrival notice and report final departure; these are Casablanca port requirements, not a national procedure. Some marinas allow reservations or arrival/departure requests through PortNet Smart Marina, but this does not complete customs, immigration or quarantine clearance. Procedures reported by cruisers at other ports are reported, not verified.

Fees and departure

ANP's Port Tariff Handbook 2026 lists yacht-berthing-facility charges by vessel length and stay: under 6 m, MAD 76.82 per day; 6 to under 10 m, MAD 130 per day; 10 to under 20 m, MAD 236.36 per day; 20 m and over, MAD 17.73 per metre per day. Taxes and other services are additional. These are port-facility charges, not a total for customs clearance, agents or all departure costs. Confirm the current rate and any adjustments with the intended port.