Morocco Reopens International Flights for Citizens Abroad Amid Improving COVID Situation

In a press release, the department of Nasser Bourita states that based on the positive indicators of the epidemiological situation in the Kingdom of Morocco and the decrease in the number of coronavirus infection cases, especially after the expansion of the vaccination campaign in our country, the Moroccan authorities have taken new gradual measures to ease travel restrictions for travelers wishing to access the national territory.

"These measures aim to facilitate the return of Moroccans residing abroad to the Homeland. In this context, it has been decided to resume flights to and from the Kingdom of Morocco as of Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Since the airspace of the Kingdom is still closed, these flights will be carried out within the framework of exceptional authorizations," indicates the same source, specifying that this operation will be carried out according to an approach that combines gradual opening - taking into account the evolution of the national and international epidemiological situation - and preservation of the achievements made by our country to curb the spread of the coronavirus. In this context, countries have been classified into two lists, in accordance with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, based on the official epidemiological data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) or by these countries themselves through their official websites, the press release continues. On the one hand, there is list ’A’ which includes all countries with positive indicators in terms of controlling the epidemiological situation, particularly the spread of virus variants.

"Thus, travelers from these countries - whether Moroccan nationals, foreign residents in Morocco, or citizens of these countries or foreigners residing there - can access the Moroccan territory if they have a vaccination certificate and/or a negative PCR test result of at least 48 hours prior to the date of entry into the national territory. Holders of foreign vaccination certificates will benefit from the same advantages granted by the Moroccan vaccination certificate to Moroccan citizens on the national territory."

"As for list B, it is a restrictive list of all countries not covered by the easing measures contained in list A, and which are experiencing the spread of variants or the absence of precise statistics on the epidemiological situation," specifies the ministry, adding that travelers from countries on this list must obtain exceptional authorizations before traveling, present a negative PCR test of less than 48 hours from the date of entry into the national territory, and then undergo a 10-day health isolation.

"Regarding the return of Moroccans residing abroad by sea, as part of the Marhaba 2021 operation, it will take place from the same maritime transit points as last year in accordance with the aforementioned health conditions, while specifying that in addition to the PCR test presented at boarding, travelers will undergo another test on board to ensure maximum health safety for them and their loved ones," informs Nasser Bourita’s department.

List A contains the Member States of the United Nations Organization that are not mentioned in the list B below, indicates the same source. List B includes Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Congo (DRC), Cuba, United Arab Emirates, Eswatini, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Uganda, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Central African Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North), Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Chad, Thailand, Togo, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.