Visa Approval Insights: Schengen Countries Most Welcoming to Moroccan Applicants

Monday 12 August 2024 - 15:15

In 2023, Switzerland emerged as the leading Schengen country for approving Moroccan visa applications, boasting an 83.9% acceptance rate. Notably, 82% of these visas were multiple-entry, highlighting Switzerland's openness to Moroccan travelers.

According to SchengenVisaInfo, Switzerland, Poland, France, Portugal, and Czechia ranked highest in approving Moroccan visas. Switzerland approved 3,415 visas, placing third for multiple-entry visas, trailing behind Germany and Austria.

Poland followed with an 83.1% approval rate, although it received fewer applications, totaling 693. It had the lowest percentage of multiple-entry visas granted to Moroccans.

France, a popular destination for Moroccan applicants, had an 81.3% approval rate, processing 11.8% of all Moroccan applications. It issued 251,950 visas, with over half being multiple-entry.

Portugal and Czechia had approval rates of 80.05% and 75.60%, respectively, though they received fewer applications than France.

Overall, Moroccan passport holders filed 591,401 Schengen visa applications in 2023, with 437,029 approved, reflecting a 73.90% success rate. Morocco remained a top source of applications, particularly for France, which saw a rebound in visa issuance after lifting previous restrictions.

Conversely, Spain rejected the most Moroccan applications, with 51,000 denials, accounting for 27.1% of requests. Moroccans represented 13.3% of all Spanish visa applications but faced a 20.3% rejection rate.

Rising Black Market Concerns

The high demand for visas has fueled a black market for visa appointments. The Moroccan newspaper "Assabah" reported intermediaries exploiting online systems, reselling appointments for up to MAD 10,000 (about $1,000).

Ayoub Maftah El Kheir from the Moroccan Observatory for Digital Sovereignty noted that these intermediaries use advanced technology to bypass security, raising alarms for more robust electronic surveillance and improved booking systems.

As Morocco strengthens diplomatic ties with France and Spain, questions remain about resolving the consular challenges and easing the visa process for Moroccan applicants.