Sending €30,000 to Morocco? The type of bank account can determine how easily you get it back in France
A Moroccan living in Europe can reclaim funds deposited in a Moroccan bank and transfer them abroad. But the rules vary considerably depending on whether the money is held in a euro account, a convertible dirham account or an ordinary account.
Consider the case of an MRE who sent 30,000 euros from France to their Moroccan bank. A few years later, they want to move those savings back to their French account. The answer depends first on how the funds were held.
If the money is in a foreign-currency account denominated in euros, the account holder can make a transfer abroad under the conditions set out in the regulations. The funds remain in their original currency, with no further conversion between euros and dirhams.
Another option is a convertible dirham account. The money is recorded in Moroccan currency, but eligible funds can be converted back into euros and transferred abroad. The amount ultimately received then depends on the exchange rate applied and bank fees.
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These two arrangements are expressly provided for Moroccan nationals residing abroad under the General Instruction on Foreign Exchange Transactions 2026, particularly Article 228.
When the money is held in an ordinary account
The situation becomes more complicated when savings have been deposited in a standard dirham account. This type of account does not automatically entitle the holder to convert the entire balance into euros and send it to France, Belgium or the Netherlands.
However, the origin of the money may provide a right to transfer it, regardless of the account used. This is notably the case for certain investments financed in foreign currency, such as property purchases, stakes in companies or eligible bank investments.
Article 171 of the Office des Changes regulations guarantees, when the conditions are met, the transfer of income from these investments and the proceeds from their sale, including capital gains.
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For an MRE planning to reclaim their savings, the key documents are bank statements, notices of transfers received from abroad and, where an investment is involved, proof of its original financing. This enables the bank to verify where the funds came from and determine the applicable transfer rights.
