Russia: no visa exemption for Morocco

The Moscow press had claimed that Morocco was one of the 11 African countries benefiting from visa-free travel agreements with Russia. But the information has not been verified. "Russia currently has a visa-free regime with 11 African countries: Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia, South Africa, Cape Verde, Mauritius, Angola, Botswana, Malawi, the Seychelles and Sao Tome and Principe," clarified Tatyana Dovgalenko, Director of the Department of African Partnership at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a publication of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (PNP) on November 21.

Speaking at a roundtable on the development of Russian tourism, the official indicated that "we have visa exemption rules for mutual travel of our citizens with these countries," specifying that "the introduction of visa-free travel with the majority of African countries could help develop tourism." The competent services are studying the possibility of signing new visa-free travel agreements with other countries. "We are doing additional work with other countries and hope that this list will expand soon," she added.

Due to direct flights to Russia, Morocco is in an advantageous position among African destinations. As of January 2026, direct Casablanca-Moscow flights will increase to seven per week, while the Moroccan airline Royal Air Maroc will launch a new route to St. Petersburg. In North Africa, Morocco and Tunisia are at the forefront of destinations attracting the most Russian visitors. As for Egypt, it welcomed 1.5 million Russian tourists in 2024, generating 15% of the local tourism industry’s revenue.

On the other hand, Russian tourists visit sub-Saharan African countries less, creating what Tatyana Dovgalenko calls a geographical imbalance that urgently needs viable solutions. Moreover, countries like Egypt, Tanzania and Ethiopia could be included in electronic visa programs, which would strengthen tourism flows between Russia and the African continent.