In brief: The IGOC 2026 (Art. 132-155) sets foreign travel allowances for Moroccan residents: 500,000 MAD ceiling for personal travel, up to 1,500,000 MAD for business travel by categorized operators, and 15,000 MAD/month for studies abroad. Unused foreign currency must be surrendered within 30 days of return.
Travel allowances are one of the most tangible aspects of exchange control regulations for Moroccan residents. Whether for a business trip, a family vacation, university studies or medical care abroad, each type of travel is subject to specific ceilings and conditions.
The IGOC 2026 (Chapter III, Section 9, Art. 132 to 155) brings significant increases in allowances and clarifies applicable procedures. This article reviews all travel allowance regimes in force.
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Business Travel (Art. 132-135)
Standard Allowance: 100% of Tax Paid
Moroccan-law companies, cooperatives subject to corporate tax and branches registered with the Office des Changes that do not hold foreign currency or convertible dirham accounts are entitled to an annual business travel allowance equal to 100% of the corporate tax (IS), income tax (IR) or minimum tax paid for the last closed fiscal year, up to 1,000,000 MAD per calendar year (500,000 MAD under the IGOC 2024). Newly created companies, exempt companies, companies whose IS paid is below 100,000 MAD and microfinance or public-interest associations receive an allowance of 100,000 MAD per year. Individuals practising a liberal profession on their own account are entitled to 100% of the IR paid, up to 100,000 MAD per year (Art. 133 IGOC 2026).
This allowance covers the travel expenses of executives and employees abroad: transport, accommodation, meals, entertainment costs and related professional expenses.
Increased Allowance for Categorized Operators
Operators categorized by the Exchange Office that do not hold foreign currency or convertible dirham accounts receive an allowance equal to 100% of the corporate tax or minimum contribution paid for the closed fiscal year, up to 1,500,000 MAD per calendar year.
This preferential regime is available to legal entities categorized by the Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration (ADII), the Tax Administration (DGI), or holding the joint ADII-DGI categorization (Art. 17 IGOC 2026).
Conditions of Use
- The allowance is set per calendar year; the unused balance held in the “business travel allowance” account may be carried forward, provided the total credited for the year does not exceed the annual ceiling (Art. 233 IGOC 2026)
- It is credited to a foreign currency or convertible dirham “business travel allowance” account, which must be opened with a bank and may be used to load the international payment cards of staff travelling abroad; amounts drawn in banknotes are limited to 100,000 MAD per person per trip (Art. 134 IGOC 2026)
- Supporting documents for the expenses incurred (airline tickets, hotel invoices, mission orders) must be retained in accordance with the Commercial Code: the company remains responsible for justifying its foreign currency expenditure (Art. 20 and 134 IGOC 2026)
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Personal Travel (Art. 140-143)
Personal Allowance Structure
The IGOC 2026 personal travel allowance comprises two tiers:
- Base allowance: 100,000 MAD per person per calendar year, available to resident Moroccans, Moroccans living abroad and resident foreigners, upon presentation of a passport and national identity card (or registration card for resident foreigners)
- Supplement: an additional allowance equal to 30% of the income tax (IR) paid or withheld at source in the previous year, up to 400,000 MAD, with base + supplement capped at 500,000 MAD per person per calendar year (Art. 141 IGOC 2026)
Supplement Calculation
The supplement equals 30% of the IR paid or withheld at source in the previous year, up to 400,000 MAD. For example:
| IR paid in the previous year | Supplement (30%) | Total allowance |
|---|---|---|
| 100,000 MAD | 30,000 MAD | 130,000 MAD |
| 500,000 MAD | 150,000 MAD | 250,000 MAD |
| 1,000,000 MAD | 300,000 MAD | 400,000 MAD |
| 1,333,334 MAD or more | 400,000 MAD | 500,000 MAD (ceiling) |
Minor Children Allowance
Children are not subject to a reduced allowance: the base allowance is set per person. International payment cards may be loaded with the entitlements of the beneficiary, their children and their spouse on each trip, within the set limits (Art. 142 IGOC 2026).
Practical Arrangements
Foreign currency purchases are made at the bank or an authorized exchange office upon presentation of:
- A valid passport
- The national identity card (or registration card for resident foreigners)
- For the supplement: any document issued by the Moroccan administration proving payment of IR in the previous year (for retirees, the IR for the year of retirement)
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Studies Abroad (Art. 144-151)
Monthly Allowance: 15,000 MAD
Resident Moroccan students, Moroccans living abroad and foreigners born to a Moroccan father or mother are entitled to living expenses of 15,000 MAD per month (12,000 MAD under the IGOC 2024); this amount may be exceeded upon presentation of a certificate from the institution, or from the consulate or embassy of the host country, stating the monthly amount required (Art. 149 and 151 IGOC 2026). This increase reflects the rising cost of living in major university destinations.
Components of the Study Allowance
The study allowance covers:
- Monthly subsistence costs (15,000 MAD/month)
- Tuition fees: full transfer of registration and tuition fees upon documentation from the educational institution
- Rent: transfer of the rent amount upon presentation of the lease
- Security deposit, where the lease provides for one, up to 3 months’ rent; it must be repatriated and sold on the foreign exchange market within 60 days of the end of the lease, or applied to rent payments
Eligibility Conditions
The student must:
- Pursue post-secondary academic or vocational studies abroad at a public or private educational institution
- Provide an enrollment certificate or pre-enrollment letter
- For the rent transfer: present the lease (in the student’s name, or the guardian’s for a minor) or a certificate from the accommodation provider stating the amount and duration of the lease
The originator domiciles a “studies abroad” file with a single bank, which alone executes the transfers (tuition, living expenses, rent) to the student, the institution or the landlord (Art. 147 and 150 IGOC 2026).
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Medical Care Abroad (Art. 152-155)
Residents requiring medical care abroad may benefit from a specific allowance covering:
- Medical expenses: full transfer upon presentation of the medical estimate from the foreign healthcare facility
- Medicines, orthopaedic equipment, medical transport between two foreign countries, medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
The living expenses of the patient and of the person accompanying them are not covered by this regime: they may be funded from the personal travel allowance, which can be combined with the medical care allowance (Art. 141 IGOC 2026).
The bank requires a medical certificate issued by the attending physician in the patient’s name, a final invoice or a quotation / pro forma invoice (the final invoice must be provided within 3 months of payment) and a copy of the passport or registration card. Where the costs are covered by an insurance or social security body supervised by ACAPS, a copy of the coverage approval is sufficient (Art. 155 IGOC 2026).
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Public Sector Missions (Art. 136-139)
Staff of public administrations, local authorities and public establishments and enterprises on mission or training abroad receive the amounts stated in the mission order or training decision; failing that, 2,000 MAD per day per person, up to 20,000 MAD per trip. Foreign currency is provided by banks or exchange operators upon presentation of the mission order and passport (Art. 137 and 139 IGOC 2026).
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Surrender of Unused Foreign Currency (Art. 33 and 142)
30-Day Surrender Obligation
Foreign currency obtained and not used must be sold on the foreign exchange market within 30 days: from the return to Morocco if the trip took place (this sale does not restore entitlements), or from the date of issue if the trip is cancelled (the full amount must be sold, and restoration of entitlements must be requested from the Office des Changes). This obligation applies to both banknotes and unencashed traveler’s checks.
The resident keeps the exchange slip issued upon the sale (Art. 20 and 34 IGOC 2026).
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Foreign Residents in Morocco
Since the IGOC 2026, foreign residents are entitled to the personal travel allowance and the medical care regime on the same terms as Moroccans (Art. 140 and 152), upon presentation of their registration card. The studies regime remains reserved for Moroccans, Moroccans living abroad and foreigners born to a Moroccan parent (Art. 145). Transfers of their employment income (salaries net of tax and contributions, pensions, professional income) are governed by Art. 156 to 159.
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Reference texts: Instruction Générale des Opérations de Change (IGOC) 2026 (PDF)
READ ALSO:
Exchange control regulations in Morocco 2026
Current transfers and exchange in Morocco
Income tax for Moroccans living abroad
Foreign currency accounts in Morocco
Frequently asked questions
What is the personal travel allowance ceiling in 2026?
The ceiling is 500,000 MAD per person per calendar year: a base allowance of 100,000 MAD, plus a supplement equal to 30% of the IR paid or withheld at source in the previous year, up to 400,000 MAD (Art. 141 IGOC 2026).
Can the business travel allowance be combined with the personal allowance?
Yes. The business travel allowance (allocated to the company) and the personal travel allowance (allocated to the individual) are independent and cumulative. A director may use the company's allowance for professional travel and their personal allowance for private trips.
How does the study abroad allowance work?
The student receives 15,000 MAD per month in living expenses (more upon supporting documents), plus the transfer of tuition fees and rent up to the documented amounts, and a security deposit limited to 3 months' rent where the lease provides for one. For living expenses, the bank requires an enrollment or pre-enrollment certificate, or an equivalent document. A lease or equivalent evidence is required for rent. Tuition fees are transferred upon presentation of documents from the institution or its authorized intermediary stating the amounts due, together with a school attendance certificate or an equivalent document. In case of pre-enrollment, the enrollment certificate must be submitted within four months of the first payment. The monthly amount was raised from 12,000 MAD (IGOC 2024) to 15,000 MAD (Art. 144-151 IGOC 2026).
What should be done with unused foreign currency upon return from travel?
Unused foreign currency must be surrendered to a bank or authorized exchange office within 30 days of returning to Morocco. Non-compliance with this obligation constitutes a violation of exchange control regulations (Art. 33 and 142 IGOC 2026).
