France Eases Visa Restrictions for Moroccan Travelers, Ambassador Announces

The ordeal of Moroccans wishing to obtain a visa for France is over. "From now on, there is no more limitation in terms of visa issuance by France. Any person who meets the required conditions to obtain a visa will get their visa," said Christophe Lecourtier, French ambassador to Morocco on Moroccan radio 2M, adding that a 80% increase in the number of visas issued in 2023 is planned. "Compared to the year 2022, the number of visas we are granting and will grant this year will increase by around 80%," the French diplomat assured, specifying that his country currently refuses one visa out of eight.

This announcement comes nearly a year after that of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna. On a visit to Rabat last December, she had announced that the visa crisis was over. "We have taken measures, with our Moroccan partners, to restore a normal consular relationship" in the migration field, the French diplomatic chief said at a joint press conference with her counterpart, Nasser Bourita, following their bilateral meeting.

In September 2021, Paris had decided to halve the entry permits granted to Moroccans. A decision justified by the reluctance of the kingdom to readmit its nationals in an irregular situation in France, but described as "unilateral" by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, Nasser Bourita. Today, Morocco is again issuing many consular laissez-passer, according to the entourage of the Minister of the Interior. The visa crisis has poisoned relations between Rabat and Paris. It remains to be seen whether the announcement of the French ambassador to Rabat will help ease tensions between the two countries to some extent. There are other sources of friction, including the Sahara.