Moroccan Lawmaker Challenges Foreign Minister on Schengen Visa Hurdles for Citizens

"Citizens are facing difficulties in obtaining a Schengen visa, particularly through certain recognized accredited agencies responsible for managing and processing visa applications," said Deputy Rachid Hamouni in a written question addressed to the head of Moroccan diplomacy. To support his remarks, he mentioned the difficulty in obtaining an appointment. "Obtaining an appointment to submit applications has become difficult and expensive for most concerned citizens, and the wait can extend over many weeks without a response, depriving some of the right to travel for various important reasons such as studies, work and medical care," he explained.

Noting that "obtaining an appointment is now tainted by dishonest and illegal practices on the part of some in the form of commissions," the PPS MP calls for "the protection of Moroccan citizens against delegated management companies operating in the processing of visa applications and the opening of a dialogue with countries with diplomatic representations to ensure efficient, transparent and accessible management that allows obtaining an appointment for the visa application and a procedure to obtain it, or at least to obtain a response within a reasonable time."

Today, appointments to submit applications have completely disappeared from the websites of specialized agencies for their reception, some citizens have stated. According to them, this is due to the actions of intermediaries responsible for taking appointments for Schengen visa applications. They are accused of trading appointments for exorbitant prices exceeding 2,000 dirhams and sometimes reaching 5,000 and more. The initiatives of some European consulates in Morocco to implement new digital measures have failed due to the proliferation of these intermediaries and "appointment booking offices."