France Eases Visa Restrictions for Moroccans as Diplomatic Ties Improve

France’s clear support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara has led to a calming of tensions with Morocco. Relations between the two countries had been strained in recent years, notably due to this sensitive issue. During this period of crisis, France had decided in 2022 to reduce the number of visas granted to Moroccans and Algerians by 50%, and to Tunisians by 30%.

Paris had justified this controversial decision by the lack of cooperation from Morocco in the return of its nationals in an irregular situation. An unjustified reason, according to the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, who had assured of the frank collaboration of the kingdom in this matter.

After its recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara, France has decided to ease this measure and facilitate visa application procedures for Moroccans. In a promotional video posted on its social networks, the French embassy in Morocco indicated that it receives nearly 1,200 visa applications per day, specifying that 90% of these applications are accepted. Statistics that confirm the change in French policy towards Morocco on visa matters.

From more than 342,000 in 2019, the number of French visas granted to Moroccans plummeted to 97,572 visas in 2020 due to the Covid-19 health crisis and travel restrictions. Despite the reopening of borders in 2021, the number of visas issued did not exceed 69,408.