Since replacing the paper visa with its electronic counterpart, Morocco has received 129,000 e-visa applications, including 124,000 for leisure tourism and 5,000 for business. According to Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor, 77 percent of tourism requests come from five countries, including Israel, which accounts for more than half of the requests, followed by India, Nigeria, Egypt, and Pakistan.
Launched in July 2022 to the benefit of 49 countries, the e-visa services in Morocco respond to a growing demand.
According to experts, e-visa applications doubled between July 2022 and April 2023. With 124,000 applications for electronic visas, tourism accounted for 95% of overall applications against 5%, or 5,000 applications, for business people traveling to Morocco.
During these nine months, the Minister of Tourism noted a growing adoption of the e-visa services, especially in some emerging markets. For example, applications from India increased by 347%, those from Nigeria by 308%, and finally, 77% from Israel.
Top 5 Source Countries Applying for Moroccan E-visas
While long-haul countries such as India and Nigeria stood out with increasing digital visa applications at the end of April, Israel dominated the ranking with 71,043 applications, or 57% of the 124,000 tourist visa applications, far ahead of India, which ranks 2nd.
Indeed, travelers from India submitted 10,366 requests or 8% of the overall number. Nigeria follows it with 4,969 applications (4%), Egypt with 4,724 applications (4%), and finally, Pakistan with 4,409 (4%).
According to experts, the e-visa services launch has led to a significant increase in visa applications from five countries, which make up 77% of all applications. It suggests a positive impact on these source markets.
The Israeli Market Still Has Untapped Potential
Ever since the introduction of the electronic visa for Israeli travelers, there has been a significant increase in the number of flights between Morocco and Israel. As a result, there has been a substantial rise in the number of visitors arriving in Morocco, which is expected to continue growing in the long term. It is estimated that the number of visitors from Israel could reach several hundred thousand or even a million.
The Jewish market is a valuable resource for Moroccan tourism that has yet to be fully utilized. Tourists from Israel travel to Morocco for various reasons, including visiting their ancestral land or reuniting with family. With a rich history of coexistence, Israel is expected to become as significant for Morocco as countries in Europe.
The Conditions for Obtaining an Electronic Visa
The electronic visa is valid for 180 days maximum. It allows access to Moroccan territory for a stay of 30 days, with the possibility of an extension to 6 months and multiple entries. It is intended for three categories of foreign nationals, namely:
- Nationals subject to visa to enter Morocco, residents of the European Union, United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Japan. Residence in one of these countries must be at least 180 days.
- Foreigners from the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, or New Zealand, holding a Schengen visa, with a minimum validity of 90 days.
- Individuals from third countries, such as Thailand and Israel, who hold entry permits for the United States and the Schengen area, are eligible to enter.