As Morocco prepares to host the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, the country has decided to strengthen its entry and border control measures.
Authorities have announced a temporary extension of the Electronic Travel Authorization (AEVM) system to citizens of eight additional African countries: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gabon, Niger, Senegal, Togo, and Tunisia.
Normally, the AEVM (Autorisation Électronique de Voyage au Maroc) system is already available to citizens of several visa-exempt countries traveling to Morocco, such as Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, and more recently, Ecuador.
This temporary extension, which will run from September 25, 2025, through January 25, 2026, aims to streamline entry procedures, ensure safe travel, and accommodate the large influx of supporters and visitors expected during the tournament.
Two application paths depending on the purpose of travel
Moroccan authorities have outlined two separate procedures based on the traveler’s reason for entry.
- For AFCON fans: Supporters holding match tickets will be required to use the “Yalla” mobile app, developed jointly by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Morocco’s Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for AFCON 2025. Available starting September 25, the app will serve both as a Fan ID and a simplified electronic visa, centralizing spectator identification and entry authorization into one platform.
- For other travelers: Visitors coming for tourism, business, or family reasons will need to apply for their AEVM through the official portal acces-maroc.ma, the same platform normally used for Morocco’s standard electronic visa (e-Visa). In this case, the application must be submitted at least 96 hours prior to departure.
Exemptions to the AEVM requirement
While the AEVM will be mandatory for most nationals of the eight countries concerned, several categories will be exempt:
- Holders of diplomatic, service, special, or official passports;
- Legal residents in Morocco with valid residence permits;
- Passengers in direct transit through Moroccan airports who do not leave the international zone;
- Nationals married to Moroccan citizens, upon presentation of proof of marriage;
- Travelers aged 55 and older.
A strictly temporary measure, enforced from the boarding
Authorities emphasize that this measure is strictly temporary and will end on January 25, 2026, a few days after the end of the tournament. Until then, travelers will be required to present their AEVM not only upon arrival in Morocco but also at the time of boarding.
Royal Air Maroc has stressed that this requirement will be strictly enforced and that passengers who fail to obtain their authorization in advance risk being denied boarding.
The Moroccan national airline is urging travelers to “plan ahead to ensure a smooth journey,” underlining that the ETA must be presented both during departure checks and upon arrival in Morocco.
