Morocco Work Permit

Morocco requires foreign nationals to obtain a Work Permit before taking up employment or an assignment with a Moroccan entity. Work authorisation is the first step in the process; once the Work Permit has been granted, the foreign national must apply for a Residence Permit from within Morocco to regularise their stay.

Morocco does not differentiate between short-term and long-term work permits. All employment or assignments that involve working in Morocco require full Work Authorisation through one of the recognised routes: ANAPEC, Simplified, or Casablanca Finance City (CFC).

Work Permits are issued by the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs. Applications are first submitted online via the TAECHIR portal and then finalised with a hardcopy submission. The route used depends on whether the foreign national is being hired locally, assigned within the same group of companies, or employed by a company registered with Casablanca Finance City (CFC).

There are three main routes for Work Permit applications in Morocco:

• ANAPEC Route – used for direct local hires. The national employment agency (ANAPEC) checks whether a suitably qualified Moroccan national can fill the position before the Work Permit is processed.
• Simplified Route – used for intra-company assignments where the employee remains employed by the foreign parent or group company and is seconded to Morocco. ANAPEC approval is not required.
• CFC Route – used where the foreign national is assigned to a company registered with Casablanca Finance City. This route benefits from faster processing and reduced documentation.

Across all routes, the following principles apply:

• The employer must be properly registered and operating in Morocco.
• The employment contract or assignment letter must clearly state the role, duration, and net monthly salary.
• The position should correspond to the foreign national’s qualifications, experience, and skills.
• In certain cases, such as specific nationalities or spouses of Moroccan citizens, ANAPEC requirements may be relaxed or waived.

Work Permits issued under the Simplified and CFC routes are usually valid for up to three years, while Work Permits issued under the ANAPEC route are typically valid for up to five years. After Work Permit approval, the foreign national must apply in person for a Residence Permit at the local police station with jurisdiction over their place of residence in Morocco.

Last Updated: 24/11/2025

The documents required for a Morocco Work Permit depend on the application route: ANAPEC, Simplified, or Casablanca Finance City (CFC). Certain nationalities, such as Tunisians and Algerians, as well as spouses of Moroccan citizens, may benefit from reduced documentation or exemption from ANAPEC approval. All documentation must be complete, up to date, and translated into French or Arabic where required.

Required Documents – Employee (All Routes):

• Valid passport (copy of bio-data page and entry stamp if in Morocco).
• Copies of academic and professional qualifications matching the job role.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing professional experience.
• Reference letters from previous employers confirming relevant work experience.
• Intra-company or assignment letter (Simplified and CFC routes only).
• Passport-sized photographs.

Required Documents – Employer (All Routes):

• Work attestation or employment contract stating position, salary, and duration.
• Company registration documents (creation status, commercial registration, tax ID).
• Explanation letter describing the role, duration, purpose of assignment, and start date.
• Job description specifying duties and required qualifications.
• Organigramme (company organisational chart), if available.

Additional Documents – ANAPEC Route (Local Hires):

• ANAPEC certificate confirming no Moroccan national is able to fill the position.
• Documented recruitment attempt (in some cases).
• Foreign national must hold qualifications appropriate to the job role.
• Copy of the employment offer or signed local contract.

Additional Documents – Simplified Route (Intra-Company Assignments):

• Assignment or secondment letter confirming employment in the foreign parent company.
• Confirmation that the employee remains employed by the sending entity abroad.
• Explanation of the nature of the assignment and group relationship.

Additional Documents – CFC Route:

• Proof that the employer is registered with Casablanca Finance City (CFC).
• Assignment or intra-company letter (as with Simplified route).
• Supporting evidence of CFC status (registration certificate or membership ID).

Translation and Certification:

• Documents not in French or Arabic must be translated by a certified translator.
• Some documents, including signatures on permit forms, may require legalisation at a local commune, or apostille if provided from abroad.

Once the Work Permit application is approved, the foreign national can proceed to apply for a Residence Permit at the police station with jurisdiction over their place of residence.

The processing time for a Morocco Work Permit depends on the application route (ANAPEC, Simplified, or CFC), the completeness of the documentation, and the internal review requirements of the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs. Applications are first submitted online via the TAECHIR portal and then finalised through hardcopy submission.

ANAPEC Route (Local Hires):

• The ANAPEC labour market test typically takes 2 to 3 weeks.
• Once ANAPEC approval is granted, the Work Permit application is submitted to the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs.
• The Ministry’s processing time is generally 3 to 4 weeks, depending on case complexity.

Simplified Route (Intra-Company Assignments):

• No ANAPEC approval is required.
• Work Permit processing at the Ministry of Employment usually takes around 3 weeks, provided all documents are correct.

CFC Route:

• Applications from companies registered with Casablanca Finance City benefit from faster review.
• Processing time is typically 72 hours to 1 week, depending on documentation completeness.

Residence Permit Processing After Work Permit:

• Once the Work Permit is issued, the foreign national applies in person at the local police station.
• A temporary receipt (récépissé) is issued, valid for up to 3 months.
• The final Residence Card is typically issued within 4 to 6 weeks after submission of the full application.

Delays may occur if documentation is incomplete, if translations or certifications are not accepted, or if additional verification is required. There is no formal expedited processing option outside of the CFC route.

The costs involved in obtaining a Morocco Work Permit depend on the application route (ANAPEC, Simplified or CFC), translation and legalisation requirements, and whether additional consular fees are incurred for document authentication. There are no publicly fixed government fee schedules, as fees may vary based on the applicant’s nationality, sector, and issuing authority.

Typical Direct Costs:

• Government fee for Work Permit application – payable to the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs. Amount varies depending on the nature of employment and duration.
• TAECHIR portal submission and handling fees, if applicable.
• Legalisation or certification of documents at the local commune or by apostille, if submitted from abroad.
• Translation fees for documents not in French or Arabic (diplomas, reference letters, company documents).

Additional Costs (Case Dependent):

• Document courier or consular charges for international submission.
• Authentication of certain corporate documents by Moroccan consulates (if required).
• Passport photographs, printing, and administrative preparation costs.

Residence Permit Costs (Post-Approval):

• Government fee for Residence Permit issuance, payable at the police station.
• Stamp duty or card production fee for the final Residence Card.
• Renewal fees, if applying for extension or renewal.

There is no fixed fee for Work and Residence Permits publicly listed by the Moroccan authorities. Applicants should confirm the applicable fees with the Ministry of Employment, the responsible police station, or their employer’s administrative office at the time of submission.

All fees are non-refundable, even if the application is delayed, withdrawn, or declined.

The application process for a Morocco Work Permit consists of an online submission via the TAECHIR portal, followed by a hardcopy submission to the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs. The process differs slightly depending on whether the route is ANAPEC, Simplified, or CFC, but the core steps remain the same.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility and Select the Appropriate Route

Determine whether the applicant will be hired locally (ANAPEC), assigned within the same corporate group (Simplified), or employed by a company registered with Casablanca Finance City (CFC). This will determine the required documentation and whether ANAPEC approval is needed.

Step 2: Prepare the Required Documents

Gather all supporting documents from the employer and employee. These typically include the employment contract or assignment letter, company registration documents, qualifications, CV, and reference letters. In the ANAPEC route, the employer must also apply for ANAPEC approval confirming that no local Moroccan candidate can fill the position.

Step 3: Submit the Application Online via the TAECHIR Portal

Upload scanned copies of all documents to the TAECHIR online platform. Ensure accurate completion of all fields, including job title, salary, duration, and company information. The portal generates the forms required for the hardcopy submission.

Step 4: File the Hardcopy Application

Print and sign all forms generated by the TAECHIR portal. Submit the full hardcopy application, including original documents and supporting evidence, to the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs in Rabat. In CFC cases, submission may be handled through Casablanca Finance City.

Step 5: Await Assessment and Notification

The Ministry reviews the application, verifies documentation, and determines whether the role qualifies for employment by a foreign national. In ANAPEC cases, this assessment includes consideration of local labour market availability. Approval is issued in writing if successful.

Step 6: Apply for the Residence Permit

Once the Work Permit is granted, the foreign national must apply in person for a Residence Permit at the police station with jurisdiction over their place of residence in Morocco. A temporary receipt (récépissé) is issued while the Residence Card is being processed.

The Work Permit alone does not authorise residence in Morocco. The Residence Permit is compulsory for living and working in the country beyond initial entry.

Disclaimer

At IBN Immigration Solutions, we follow Google’s standards for transparency. As a private immigration firm, we comply with the laws and procedures set out in the Moroccan Labour Code and the regulations governing the entry and stay of foreign nationals. We are not affiliated with the Moroccan Government. Our clients pay for our expertise in managing applications for short-stay entry, work authorisation, residence permits, and family reunification.