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Kingdom of Morocco · work sponsored

Work Residence Card (carte de sejour, salarie)

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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.

Requires sponsorshipDoes not lead to permanent residencyIssued as a carte d'immatriculation in the work category, commonly for one to several years and renewable while the employment continues; confirm current validity on the official page.
Processing time
Indicative only - timelines vary by case and 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
Issued as a carte d'immatriculation in the work category, commonly for one to several years and renewable while the employment continues; confirm current validity on the official page.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗

In short

As of 10 July 2026, the Work Residence Card (carte de sejour, salarie) for Kingdom of Morocco is a sponsor-led Morocco immigration route. Sources: official Kingdom of Morocco government pages, reviewed 10 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/morocco/work-residence-card#answer

What is the Work Residence Card (carte de sejour, salarie) in Kingdom of Morocco?

Work Residence Card (carte de sejour, salarie) is a sponsor-led 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 case and prefecture; confirm current processing on the official DGSN and Service des Etrangers channels; typical duration is Issued as a carte d'immatriculation in the work category, commonly for one to several years and renewable while the employment continues; 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 a job offer in Morocco, this is the route that puts your residence on a proper footing. Morocco runs a two-part system: your employer first gets your foreign work contract (the contrat de travail d'etranger) authorised through ANAPEC under the Ministry of Labour, normally after showing the role could not be filled locally, and then you apply at the Service des Etrangers for a residence card in the work (salarie) category, issued by the DGSN. The card is tied to that employment and is renewable rather than permanent, so on its own it does not lead to settlement, but years of continuous residence on it can open the door to the longer carte de residence later. Good to know: the work contract and the residence card are separate steps, and you generally need both to be settled before you are fully in order.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm your employer can get a foreign work contract authorised through ANAPEC and that the work (salarie) residence category fits your role.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Gather the authorised work contract, passport, proof of address and medical certificate the Service des Etrangers asks for.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Apply for the residence card at the Service des Etrangers of your prefecture, where the DGSN processes the card.

  4. After approval

    Collect your card, keep it valid while you are employed, and renew before it expires; long enough continuous residence may later support a carte de residence.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Work Residence Card (carte de sejour, salarie), 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. Agree the lawful start date and onboarding with the employer or sponsor. Check whether the permission names an employer, role or activity before changing the arrangement.
  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 Work Residence Card (carte de sejour, salarie) 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 + sponsor
    Use official Work Residence Card (carte de sejour, salarie) route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Work Residence Card (carte de sejour, salarie).

    Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a work contract before I can get the residence card?+

Yes. Your employer first gets your foreign work contract authorised through ANAPEC under the Ministry of Labour, and only then do you apply for the work-category residence card at the Service des Etrangers. Confirm the current sequence on the official DGSN page before you start.

Does this card make me a permanent resident of Morocco?+

Not by itself. The work residence card is renewable while you stay employed, but it is not permanent. After several years of continuous, regular residence you may be able to apply for the longer carte de residence. Confirm the current rules on the official DGSN page.

Do I apply for the Moroccan work visa and residence card in one step, or separately?+

They are separate steps: you generally enter Morocco on a long-stay Visa D appropriate to the employment, then lodge a residence application in the work (salarie) category at the Service des Etrangers of the prefecture where you live, with the card issued by the DGSN. Confirm the current sequence on the official DGSN page.

What documents do I need for the Morocco work residence card?+

Typical evidence includes the authorised foreign work contract (contrat de travail d'etranger), a valid passport with the appropriate entry visa, proof of address in Morocco such as a lease, utility bill or hosting certificate, and a recent medical certificate and photographs as required by the Service des Etrangers. Confirm the full current list on the official DGSN page.

Why does my Moroccan employer have to prove the job couldn't be filled locally?+

Your foreign work contract is authorised through ANAPEC under the Ministry of Labour normally after the employer shows the role could not be filled by a local candidate, which is built into how the work route is approved. Confirm the current process 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

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