Kingdom of Morocco · study
Student Residence Card (carte de sejour, etudiant)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
For international students enrolled at a Moroccan university or institute: this student residence card (carte de sejour) lets you live in Morocco for the length of your course, renewing alongside your studies.
- Processing time
- Indicative only - timelines vary by prefecture; confirm current processing on the official DGSN and Service des Etrangers channels.
- Government fees
- Indicative only - government fees and a fiscal stamp apply; confirm current amounts on the official DGSN page.
- Typical duration
- A renewable residence card tied to your period of study; confirm current validity on the official page.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
In short
As of 1 June 2026, the Student Residence Card (carte de sejour, etudiant) for Kingdom of Morocco is an unsponsored Morocco immigration route. Sources: official Kingdom of Morocco government pages, reviewed 1 June 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/morocco/student-residence#answer
What is the Student Residence Card (carte de sejour, etudiant) in Kingdom of Morocco?
Student Residence Card (carte de sejour, etudiant) is an unsponsored Morocco route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - government fees and a fiscal stamp apply; confirm current amounts on the official DGSN page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - timelines vary by prefecture; confirm current processing on the official DGSN and Service des Etrangers channels; typical duration is A renewable residence card tied to your period of study; confirm current validity on the official page. This route does not lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) on 1 June 2026.
Overview
If you have been admitted to study in Morocco, this is the residence route that keeps you in order while you complete your course. It is the carte de sejour (carte d'immatriculation) in the student (etudiant) category, granted on the basis of your enrolment and your means to support your studies, and issued by the DGSN through the Service des Etrangers. You normally enter on a long-stay Visa D for study first and then register for the card. It is renewable while you remain enrolled but does not by itself lead to settlement; students who want to stay on after graduating usually move onto a work or other residence basis. Good to know: the card is for study, so paid work is limited and follows the separate work rules.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Admission or enrolment at a recognised Moroccan university, school or institute.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
- ✓Lawful entry to Morocco, normally on a long-stay Visa D for study.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
- ✓Evidence of the means to support your studies and living costs.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
- ✓A student-category residence application at the Service des Etrangers and proof of address.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
Common blockers
- !No confirmed enrolment at a recognised institution.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
- !Lapsed enrolment, which removes the basis for the card.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
- !Expecting the student card to allow unrestricted work, which it does not.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·A letter of admission or proof of enrolment from the institution.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
- ·A valid passport with the appropriate study entry visa.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
- ·Evidence of funds for tuition and living costs.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
- ·Proof of address in Morocco and a recent medical certificate as required.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm your admission to a recognised Moroccan institution and that the student residence card matches your course.
Build the evidence pack
Gather the admission letter, passport, proof of funds and proof of address the Service des Etrangers requires.
Submit through the official channel
Enter on the study Visa D where needed, then apply for the student residence card at your prefecture.
After approval
Renew the card while you remain enrolled, and plan a work or other residence basis before graduating if you intend to stay.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantUse official Student Residence Card (carte de sejour, etudiant) route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Student Residence Card (carte de sejour, etudiant).
Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) · verified
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Related routes
Long-stay Visa (Visa D)
For anyone planning to live in Morocco for more than 90 days: the long-stay Visa D is the entry visa you obtain before travelling, and it is the step that comes before you register for a residence card once you arrive.
Work Residence Card (carte de sejour, salarie)
For foreign nationals taking up a job in Morocco: this is the employment-based residence card (carte de sejour) you hold once a Moroccan employer has secured an ANAPEC-authorised work contract for you, letting you live and work in the country lawfully.
Permanent Residence Card (carte de residence, 10-year)
For long-term foreign residents of Morocco: the carte de residence is the longer, typically ten-year card you can apply for after years of continuous, regular residence, giving you a far more settled status than the renewable carte de sejour.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work while studying in Morocco?+
The student residence card is for study; paid work is limited and follows the separate work rules, which need an ANAPEC-authorised contract. Confirm what is allowed on the official DGSN page before taking any job.
Can I stay in Morocco after I graduate?+
The student card is tied to your enrolment, so to stay on after graduating you generally move onto a work or other residence basis. Confirm the current options on the official DGSN page.
Does my Moroccan student residence card automatically become a work card when I graduate and get a job?+
No. The student card is tied to your enrolment, so to stay on and work after graduating you generally move onto a separate work or other residence basis, which needs an ANAPEC-authorised contract and a work-category residence card. Confirm the current options on the official DGSN page.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in MoroccoHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN)
Last checked: 1 June 2026