Hi
Heard so many bad stories regarding entering Morocco, could someone be kind enough to do a step by step guide from boarding the ferry in Spain to riding off and what's involved involved inbetween.
Many Thanks
Dave

Quite simple. If you are crossing to Ceuta that's still Spain so when you land there's no formalities.

If crossing to Tanger Ville (Tanger Town) or Tanger Med (the new port) then passport control is done on board the boat. Whilst waiting for the ferry complete the police immigration form you should have been given with the tickets. Then as soon as you are on board look for people queuing with passport/forms in hand and join the queue.

If you've not been to Morocco before (or have a new passport) a police ID number will be stamped in your passport. The details need to be entered onto the police computer system and sometimes this is done on board with a notebook PC, other times it's done on land after arrival. You need to show your passport when you exit to board to prove you've been processed.

You then drive to the customs point which is 200m at Tanger Ville and about 1km at Tanger Med. There you hand over your D16TER temporary vehicle import form together with V5C log book and wait patiently for it to be processed. Eventually it gets returned to you and you can move off.

If you don't have green card coverage for Morocco you can normally buy border insurance at Tanger Med from a booth on the left; there's also a change book. At Tanger Ville they are on the right.

DO NOT allow one of the touts to assist you. It's unnecessary and they often make the process slower by trying to show it's difficult to extract money from you.

If someone asks you for your documents only hand them over to customs or police.why.

__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

So, Tim when Moroccan police put first time C.I.N. into the passport it is valid until new passport is delivered?

The number will follow you... when you get a new passport they'll write/stamp it in that one.


Casper

Strongly agree with what Tim has written about tips etc.

Tanger Med is not as slick as it was and the touts have surfaced. We exited today and were given the run around requiring several douaniers to "inspect" the D16 and receive multiple stamps instead of the usual one.None of the looked at the vehicles, the Xray scanner staff couldn't be bothered scanning the vehicles and there were no searches.

Clocks went forward here last night which didn't help as some staff hadn't realised resulting in much confusion on ferry times even taking into account the Morocco/Spain time difference.

Plus ca change......

Don't let this put you off. as border crossings go it's very straightforward and well worth it to visit a fantastic country.

Back over tomorrow!

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Atlas Overland - Specialist adventure tour company providing off-road holidays for 4x4 enthusiasts in Europe and North Africa.
Tours to Morocco, Iceland, Arctic Circle, Portugal, Alps, Pyrenees, Eastern Europe, Corsica, and UK weekend tours.

Not that it really matters, but all the "Time" websites are saying that the clocks are going forward in Morocco on Sunday, 29 April.

I should be there in a few days time

My bike is registered and insured in Ireland. My insurer offers neither coverage nor suggestions regarding where to get coverage. I just need 3d party liability for 12 days riding in Morocco in October, 2015. Can anyone help? I'd really like to get it before I arrive there.

Any other recent advice on entry procedures is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

If you arrive at Tan Med, the easiest entry port, just buy it there from the both. Takes 10 mins.
10 days 620dh (~50 eu)
1 month 950

The temporary vehicle import doc is worth getting in advance online.
More here: Morocco ~ Documents and port immigration | Sahara Overland

Thanks for your reply and the link to entry details. I'll just have to do it that way. I wanted to secure the insurance before arrival, but am finding that virtually impossible. Do you know if they will accept euros or credit cards or must I exchange money first?

At TanMed it's all very easy. Immigration card on the boat (policeman with laptop), ride off and go to customs - show your online TVIP D16 or fill one out on the spot; then go to money changing cabin bank nearby and buy MAD - all kosher; then go next door and buy insurance. Then ride out.

If it's your first visit to Morocco, or if you're on a new passport, you'll need to get your passport and CIN number entered into the police computer at one of the booths at the border. Staff will show you where to go.
The insurance guys will take euros - at the usual exchange rate of 10MAD=1€.

Peter

__________________
Atlas Overland - Specialist adventure tour company providing off-road holidays for 4x4 enthusiasts in Europe and North Africa.
Tours to Morocco, Iceland, Arctic Circle, Portugal, Alps, Pyrenees, Eastern Europe, Corsica, and UK weekend tours.