Morocco Unveils Plan to Streamline Services for Expatriates

The head of Moroccan diplomacy worked on Monday before the House of Representatives, where he answered five questions concerning the qualitative improvement and upgrading of consular services for the benefit of Moroccans residing abroad. The deputies raised the problems faced by Moroccans residing abroad (MREs), including the traditional modalities of reception and assistance, the lack of human resources in these bodies.

They also asked the diplomatic and consular representations to facilitate all the consular and administrative procedures required by Moroccan citizens and foreigners wishing to visit Morocco, and to respond effectively to their requests and expectations. Not to mention the need to urgently resort to the digitization of consular services and to facilitate users’ access to the various consular services, including the birth certificate.

In response to the concerns of the elected representatives, Nasser Bourita said that Morocco has 56 consulates around the world, three of which have been opened recently, in Naples, Norcia and Toronto. "The ministry has also proceeded to purchase six new buildings. Nine others have been changed and three consular services have been renovated, in Denmark, Egypt and Saudi Arabia," he detailed, stating that 5.3 million people are registered with the consular services.

Regarding the improvement of consular services, the minister stressed the need to review the consular map in the Paris suburbs, in Galicia (Spain), in northern Italy and in the Gulf countries and Africa, in order to bring the services closer to the MREs. This project focuses on four areas: improving reception conditions, digitization and improving consular efficiency, services and local social actions.