Find visa optionsFind visas
Menu

Kingdom of Morocco · study

Student Residence Card (carte de sejour, etudiant)

By · 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.

No sponsorship requiredDoes not lead to permanent residencyA renewable residence card tied to your period of study; confirm current validity on the official page.
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
Reviewed Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗

In short

As of 25 July 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 25 July 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

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm your admission to a recognised Moroccan institution and that the student residence card matches your course.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Gather the admission letter, passport, proof of funds and proof of address the Service des Etrangers requires.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Enter on the study Visa D where needed, then apply for the student residence card at your prefecture.

  4. After approval

    Renew the card while you remain enrolled, and plan a work or other residence basis before graduating if you intend to stay.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Student Residence Card (carte de sejour, etudiant), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Coordinate enrolment and attendance with the institution. Check the actual work conditions before accepting a job or freelance work.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Student Residence Card (carte de sejour, etudiant) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Morocco

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Morocco. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

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.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use 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

Matches these professions

Student

Also explored by

Indian Filipino Nigerian

Compare Kingdom of Morocco with

Related routes

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 Morocco

How 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

See the full evidence trail and methodology

CompareFind visa options