This country snapshot describes examples of well-developed areas of the Kingdom of Morocco’s (hereafter referred to as Morocco) migration governance structures and areas with potential for further development, as evaluated by the six domains of the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI). These address migrants’ rights, a “whole-of-government” approach, partnerships, socioeconomic well-being of migrants, the mobility dimensions of crises, and safe and orderly migration.

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The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) initiative is a policy-benchmarking programme led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and implemented with the support of the Economist Intelligence Unit. Funding is provided by the Government of Sweden.

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas:

• Morocco offers migrants a relatively favourable framework for obtaining long-term resident permits.
• Permanent residents of Morocco can apply for citizenship after five years. 
• In terms of access to public primary, secondary and post-secondary education, migrants holding a resident permit have the same status as Moroccan citizens. 
• Migrant workers have access to public service jobs and may engage in regulated occupations under the same conditions as Moroccans. 
• Migrants legally established in Morocco have the right to vote in municipal elections. 

Areas with potential for further development: 

• Morocco has not ratified the Migration for Employment Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 97), or either of the conventions on statelessness (1954, 1961).
• Migrant labour market participation is limited, partly because of the lack of information shared with potential employers and because migrants and enterprises are unfamiliar with ANAPEC employment assistance services and facilities, which are now available to regularized migrants. 
• Access to social security is limited to holders of a resident permit. Foreign workers obtain access through their employers, whereas irregular migrants can receive only emergency treatment and must seek care from civil society organizations.
• The Moroccan diaspora was unable to participate in the 2016 elections for practical and logistical reasons.

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas:

• The Ministry Delegate to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in charge of Moroccans Abroad and Migration Affairs (MDCMREAM in French), is responsible for conceiving and coordinating migration policies. 
• The National Human Rights Council is in charge of monitoring the situation of migrants and refugees living in the Kingdom and publishes annual and periodic thematic reports.
• The country has a coherent legal framework for migration, based on Law No. 02-03, on the entry and stay of foreigners in the Kingdom of Morocco, on emigration and on irregular immigration.
• The National Immigration and Asylum Strategy (2014) has 11 priority domains including education, health, housing, social protection, employment, trafficking in human beings, international cooperation and governance. 

Areas with potential for further development: 

• The national census of the population and habitat has included questions on migration for several years, but the information is only occasionally published by the Ministry Delegate to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in charge of Moroccans Abroad and Migration Affairs (MDCMREAM) and the National Humans Rights Council. 

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas:

• Morocco is a participant in the Global Forum on Migration and Development, of which it was the co-chair, with Germany, during the period of 2017-2018. 
• It is a Member State of IOM and has actively participated in a number of IOM-directed initiatives. 
• Since March 2017, Morocco has led on the question of migration for the African Union and participated in the Third Global Consultations of Chairs and Secretariats of Principal Regional Consultative Processes on Migration. 
• It is also engaged in negotiations, discussions and consultations on migration with the European Union. 
• Morocco has formed several partnerships with civil society organizations on migration-related issues, the most important being the agreement with the Moroccan Red Crescent. 

Areas with potential for further development:

• Recently, civil society was consulted in connection with the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration. The Government regularly cooperates with the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises on migration matters, but companies could benefit from a more structured application.

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas: 

• The number of international students in Morocco is not subject to a quota. 
• International students have access to public higher education establishments, and many sub-Saharan students have received scholarships granted by the Government of Morocco through the Moroccan International Cooperation Agency. 
• The Government actively encourages and formalizes remittances. 
• Morocco has signed formal bilateral agreements on labour contracts with Belgium (1964), France (1987), Germany (1963), Italy (2005), Jordan (1983), Libya (1983), the Netherlands (1969 and 2017), Qatar (1981), Spain (2001 and 2005) and the United Arab Emirates (1981).
• The Ministry Delegate to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in charge of Moroccans Abroad and Migration Affairs (MDCMREAM) has published a practical handbook on the recruitment of foreign wage-earners in Morocco and guidelines for the integration of cultural diversity into corporate practice. 

Areas with potential for further development: 

• The country does not have a system whereby international students can work in Morocco after having obtained their diplomas; post-diploma work permits are issued on a case-by-case basis.
• International students are not authorized by law to work during their studies. 
• No systematic national evaluation is conducted on labour market demand for immigrant workers. 
• The cost of transferring funds to Morocco remains high.

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas:

• Morocco has 91 embassies, 53 general consulates and four permanent missions worldwide.
• Morocco has methods for repatriating its citizens living abroad who are affected by a crisis. 
• The Ministry Delegate to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in charge of Moroccans Abroad and Migration Affairs (MDCMREAM) has prepared a draft decree on emergency repatriations that is currently being examined by the authorities. 
• The National Immigration and Asylum Strategy promotes access to humanitarian aid by migrants. 

Areas with potential for further development: 

• There is not specific strategy for assisting migrants during or after crises, and no emergency plan for managing large-scale population movements during a crisis. 
• The country does not have a policy for dealing with migration movements caused by the harmful effects of climate change or environmental degradation. 
• The system for alerting and informing people when a natural or human-induced crisis strikes is relatively new and does not take account of the specific vulnerabilities of migrants, nor do migrants whose countries of origin are in crisis benefit from any immigration procedure exemptions.
• An interministerial commission has called for improvements to the consular services for Moroccans living outside the country, for example in the form of new training and recruitment in missions abroad; the adoption of an electronic registration system; simplified administrative procedures; a review of the rules relating to the status of migrant; and the launch of a toll-free number for Moroccans living abroad.

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas:

• The Moroccan authorities are currently developing a strategy to facilitate the return of Moroccans living abroad, and several projects have been implemented to that end.
• The government runs a website that clearly describes visa options. There is a mixed online/paper system for visas, facilitating access by migrants without Internet access or digital skills.
• In order to monitor visa overstays, local prefectures, which issue permits, have an electronic database on which migrants applying for permits have to register.

Areas with potential for further development: 

• Morocco does not have an active strategy to combat trafficking in human beings. 
• Law No. 27-14 of 25 August 2016, on combatting trafficking in human beings, was adopted in 2016, but the committee it provides for has yet to be established.
• There are no regular publications providing information on anti-trafficking activities.