France Visa from Morocco: the key points
An ordinary Moroccan passport does not allow entry into France without a visa. Before any stay, you must obtain a visa issued by the French consulates in Morocco. Only holders of a Moroccan diplomatic or service passport are exempt from the short-stay visa requirement.
The process takes place in two stages. First, you complete your application online on the official France-Visas portal. Then, you submit your physical file and biometric data at a submission centre. In Morocco, the service provider is TLScontact, not VFS Global. Seven centres cover the territory: Agadir, Casablanca, Fès, Marrakech, Oujda, Rabat and Tanger.
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The decision rests exclusively with the French general consulates in Casablanca and Rabat. TLScontact only receives files, collects fingerprints and processes payments. A centre can neither speed up a decision nor guarantee a result. Beware of intermediaries who sell appointments or promise a visa in exchange for payment: the only legal route goes through France-Visas and then TLScontact.
The most requested visa remains the Schengen short-stay visa, for tourism, family visits or business. In 2025, France issued 267,559 short-stay visas to Moroccan nationals, making it Morocco’s leading Schengen window, and 32,544 long-stay visas. Across the entire Schengen area, 619,827 applications were submitted from Morocco in 2025, resulting in 480,354 visas granted.
Since the entry into force of the Entry/Exit System (EES), non-European travellers on short stays also have their data recorded at borders. This step does not replace the visa: it is in addition to it.
Types of visa
Short stay (Schengen)
It covers stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period, throughout the Schengen area. It is used for tourism, family visits, business and short training courses of less than 3 months. Some of the visas issued to Moroccans are multiple-entry circulation visas: in 2025, 55% of Schengen visas granted in Morocco allowed regular return trips.
Long stay
It authorises a stay of more than 90 days in France. It is intended for people going to work, joining a spouse or settling long-term. Most long-stay visas are VLS-TS (valant titre de séjour), to be validated online within three months of arriving in France. Nearly 60% of long-stay visas issued in 2025 were of this type.
Student
The long-stay “student” visa (VLS-TS) allows study from 4 months to 1 year. In Morocco, the application first goes through the Campus France “Études en France” procedure before the file is submitted. This visa authorises part-time work: 964 hours per year, or 20 hours per week.
Work
This is a long-stay salaried visa, obtained after a work authorisation issued by the French authorities. Highly qualified profiles can apply for a “passeport talent” visa reserved for sought-after skills and their families.
Family reunification
This concerns people joining a family member who is French or legally residing in France. Family members of French or European nationals often benefit from exemption from application fees.
Procedures and documents
The procedure follows a precise order, with no shortcuts possible.
- Create your France-Visas account and complete the online form (CERFA). The receipt and the final form must be printed and brought to the centre.
- Book an appointment on the TLScontact website, at one of the seven centres.
- Gather the supporting documents appropriate to the purpose of the stay.
- Submit the file at the centre: document check, fingerprint and photo capture, payment of fees.
- Track the application online, then collect the passport at the centre.
Fingerprints and the photo are collected at the first submission. They remain valid for 59 months: if you have already provided your biometric data recently for another Schengen visa, you will not need to do so again.
For a short-stay visa, the standard file includes:
- The signed and dated application form.
- A passport valid for 3 months after the return date, with 2 blank pages.
- Two recent photos (less than 3 months old), light background, meeting the required standards.
- Travel insurance covering at least 30,000 € in emergency medical expenses and repatriation, valid throughout the Schengen area.
- Proof of financial means: bank statements and pay slips for the last three months.
- Proof of accommodation: hotel booking or a hosting certificate.
- A return flight booking.
- Proof of ties to Morocco: employment certificate, CNSS statement, marriage certificate, property title deed.
Documents written in Arabic generally need to be translated into French. Depending on the situation, additional documents may be requested: a financial support certificate, company articles for a business trip, or a specific kafala file for a child in care.
For a student visa, add the enrolment confirmation or pre-enrolment certificate, the Campus France validation and proof of financial means. Since summer 2026, the minimum financial resources required for a student have increased from 615 € to approximately 877.50 € per month, meaning 10,530 € to be justified over twelve months, according to France-Visas. An incomplete file is the leading cause of refusal: each missing document must be provided in original along with a photocopy.
Applications cannot be submitted more than 6 months before the departure date.
Processing times and costs 2026
Application fees are set in euros and converted into dirhams at the current chancellery rate. They are never refunded in the event of refusal or cancellation. Added to these are TLScontact service fees of approximately 258 MAD per file, payable in cash in dirhams.
| Visa type | Application fee | Indicative processing time | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short stay (Schengen) | 90 € adult, 45 € child aged 6-12, free under 6 | 7 to 10 days minimum, up to 3 weeks in peak season | 90 days maximum within 180 |
| Long stay (general, work, family) | 99 € | 3 weeks to 3 months | More than 90 days, depending on the permit |
| Student VLS-TS (Études en France procedure) | 50 € | 3 weeks to 3 months | 4 months to 1 year |
Upon arrival in France, the student holding a VLS-TS also pays a validation tax of 150 € (100 € tax and 50 € stamp duty). Family members of French or European nationals and children under 6 on short stays are exempt from application fees.
For a short stay, book your appointment at least 15 days before departure, and 1 month before for a long stay. In peak season, the waiting time for an appointment can reach several weeks. Payment of fees is made at the centre, in cash, in dirhams: make sure you have the exact amount before attending.
A few tips to minimise back-and-forth trips: keep a copy of each document, check that the passport has two blank pages and that the photo meets the required format, and re-read the form before signing it. Once the visa is granted, immediately check the dates and number of entries on the sticker: any error must be reported to the centre without delay. In the event of refusal, a reasoned decision will be notified to you and an appeal remains possible within the indicated timeframes.
The most common reasons for refusal
- Incomplete file. A missing, expired or untranslated document blocks the processing. Check each supporting document before submission.
- Insufficient financial means. Bank statements do not demonstrate the ability to fund the stay. A balance that has been temporarily inflated without a credible history raises suspicion.
- Doubt about the intention to return. The absence of strong ties to Morocco (stable employment, family, property) is the most cited reason for short-stay refusals.
- Inconsistencies in the file. Travel dates, declared purpose, accommodation and financial means that contradict each other weaken the application.
In 2025, France recorded a refusal rate of approximately 12.5% for Moroccan applicants, according to a Senate report. This is significantly lower than the Schengen average for Morocco (19.2% refusal rate across all countries) or Algeria (34.8%). A coherent and complete file therefore has a real chance of success.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I submit my application?
At least 15 days before departure for a short stay and 1 month for a long stay. In peak season, aim for several weeks in advance. You cannot submit more than 6 months before departure.
Are the fees refunded if the visa is refused?
No. Application fees and service fees are refunded neither in the event of refusal nor in the event of trip cancellation. The only exception: if you decide not to submit before biometric data is collected, the service fees are returned.
Where do I submit my file in Morocco?
At one of the seven TLScontact centres: Agadir, Casablanca, Fès, Marrakech, Oujda, Rabat or Tanger. The choice of centre is made when booking your appointment online. The final decision rests with the French general consulates in Casablanca and Rabat.
To go further: consult our complete guide to the France visa from Africa (6 countries compared).
