Moroccans Abroad: Guidelines for Bringing Personal Medications into the Country

The fundamental principle of this authorization is the strictly personal use of treatments. Any importation must serve exclusively the needs of the traveler themselves. Consequently, it is strictly forbidden:

• To intend medications for resale, donation, or any form of distribution, even free of charge to relatives.
• To import treatments on behalf of another person.
• To introduce prohibited substances or those subject to strict regulations without prior and specific authorization from the Ministry of Health.
• To attest to this personal use, travelers must present a complete medical file to customs services. The production of these supporting documents is a non-negotiable condition for the entry of products into the territory. The file must include:

• A medical prescription or a certificate from a treating physician. This document must clearly identify the patient, the dosage, as well as the nature and duration of the treatment.
• A French translation of these documents if they are written in a language other than Arabic or French, to facilitate their examination.
• A declaration of commitment, a form provided by the customs administration, in which the traveler certifies on their honor the personal nature of their treatment.
• The absence of these documents may result in the immediate confiscation of medications by the authorities.

In addition to documentary compliance, imported quantities are also controlled. These must be in line with the duration of treatment and the planned length of stay in Morocco. Generally, a supply covering one to three months of treatment is tolerated. However, increased vigilance is applied to quantities deemed excessive as well as to regulated substances such as psychotropics, opioids, or insulin. In case of doubt, customs officers have the ability to request the expertise of a pharmacist inspector or competent health administration services.

Finally, Moroccan regulations provide clear provisions regarding unused medications at the end of the stay. The principle is that of re-exportation: the traveler is required to leave with any surplus treatment. Failure to comply with this obligation is subject to customs penalties. Exceptionally, and only with the authorization of competent local authorities, these medications can be handed over to approved health structures.