Spain Denies Easing Visa Requirements for Moroccans Entering Ceuta

18 July 2024 – bySylvanus · 1 min read

Contrary to the information published by some media, Spain has not restored the Schengen visa exemption to facilitate the entry into Ceuta for Moroccans residing in Tetouan and M’diq-Fnideq, upon presentation of their passports alone.

Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the Spanish Minister of the Interior, is crystal clear. "The Spanish government is committed to maintaining the security and stability of the border area, and the imposition of the visa is part of this policy," he said during his recent visit to the city of Ceuta, thus denying the information reporting the easing by Madrid of entry restrictions for Moroccans. According to him, these are just "rumors".

The visa exemption for Moroccans residing in the cities of northern Morocco is provided for in the Schengen treaty. This exemption allowed the inhabitants of the province of Tetouan and the prefecture of M’diq-Fnideq to enter the city of Ceuta with their passport alone until 2019, without needing a Schengen visa.

The possible lifting of this suspension would be one of the files that Morocco and Spain are seeking to resolve before the start of commercial customs activities at the Bab Sebta border crossing.

Category: Morocco

Keywords:

Spain Tetouan Ceuta M’diq Fnideq Schengen Visa Moroccan passport