When the desire for change starts making you feel impatient for traveling, look up moving to Morocco. It’s likely very different from anything you’re used to, but we’re absolutely certain their long and rich history, the cultural mix and diversity, and delicious food could convince you to stay for life.
Wondering if relocating across the world is a good idea can creep into our heads once we start the procedure of getting the correct papers, settling into a new home, or learning a new language. Better said, we start having second thoughts too late into the process. However, life-changing decisions often go hand-in-hand with doubting yourself. Unless you take the leap and do it, you won’t ever feel ready enough.
Is Morocco a Good Place to Live?
The Northern African region is home to many countries that have long been the favorite tourist and vacation destinations. Besides the Moroccan nation, there’s Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. Geographically, North Africa has some of the most famous natural riches on the globe – the Sahara desert, the Atlas Mountains, and the River Nile.
The nation of 37 million residents doesn’t stray from occasionally innovating, which is most apparent by the development of Africa’s first eco-city called Zenata, sitting near the largest city in the nation, Casablanca. Besides having eco-friendly towns, they have a stable political situation and welcome expats from all walks of life. You’ll find an international community at the same time as discovering the magnificence of the land.
Survival Tips for Moving from America to Morocco
The question “Can I just move to Morocco?” doesn’t have a simple answer. You can just move if you have the funds and patience for visa procedures, but you can’t try to become an expat if you’re unprepared to respect their etiquette, food, culture, religion, and system.
You’re in luck – Moroccans are considered among the friendliest people in the world. They want to help and have a natural curiosity for life, especially for other nations. You’ll somehow need to overcome the language barrier as they don’t speak English a lot; moreover, the local people get very impressed when foreigners learn their national language. If you speak French, you’ll manage well, too. A few more things to note are:
- Major cities don’t require it, but if you find yourself in a rural area, ensure to follow the dress code – women shouldn’t reveal their legs or arms, and they might have to put on a headscarf; men shouldn’t reveal their arms by wearing short-sleeve tops,
- Moroccans eat every meal with their hands, which might take the longest to get used to. It’s rude to use the left hand – it’s considered dirty (they associate the left hand to using the toilet,)
- When you do a home visit, always take your shoes off inside and bring a small gift to the host (sweet pastries, tea, and sugar are the best options,)
- Tipping service workers is common and highly encouraged for Moroccans, the same as for Americans. You won’t offend anyone by giving them a tip for their hard labor,
- Non-Muslim people cannot go inside mosques. Still, there are exceptions, among which is the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.
The Procedure for Moving to Morocco From the USA and Becoming an Expat
The good news is that US citizens don’t need a visa to visit the nation’s cities, but that’s only for tourism of up to 90 days. The documents you’ll need for this adventure are a passport valid for at least six months after the visit and a return flight ticket scheduled within the following 90 days.
Most people moving internationally do it for work purposes. If that’s what you’re up to as well, the type of document you’ll need is a work visa and a work permit. They’re issued to foreign people who find a job within the national borders and plan on staying long-term. Your employer would have to be native or at least have their work permit for the territory. They’re required to take care of their employees’ documentation and permits, who must apply for a residence permit themselves.
As a potential employee, you’ll be required to show your criminal record from home and a medical certificate to confirm your physical health. Copies of your employment contract have to be included in the application and certified by the Ministry of Education. After three months of living there, you’ll have to apply for a Residence Card at the local police station.
The Residence Card (carte de séjour) is a better choice for your stay because otherwise, living on a tourist visa gets annoying – you’ll have to exit the country every 90 days and renew it elsewhere. This can’t be kept up for long because the local authorities get suspicious after a while.
How Can Foreigners Live in Morocco and Become Permanent Residents?
To apply for a permanent residence, you have to be a property owner within the country’s borders and prove you can support yourself with your income. Other ways are if you marry a resident or have irrefutable proof that the business you want to open within the territory supports the national economy and you.
To become a naturalized citizen, you’ll have to stay within the territory for at least five years regularly; be mentally and physically fit; not have a criminal record and a bad reputation; be of legal age at the time of applying; have sufficient knowledge of the Arabic language, and be able to provide for yourself and the family (if you have one.)
Morocco – a North African Nation With an Ocean View
This relatively small nation in the far northwest of Africa carries a lot of history and culture behind it. It was founded in 788 by Idris the Elder, the father of the first ruling Moroccan dynasty that built the nation up. He set the foundations together with a Berber tribe, and Berber culture is very dominant in today’s Moroccan society. This buzzing nation’s nickname is quite grandiose – they call it The Western Kingdom.
The official language is Arabic, spoken with a Moroccan dialect called Darija; Moroccans also speak Berber and French. French is widely spoken there because the country became a protectorate of France in 1912. The French established Rabat as the administrative center of the land, and when the Western Kingdom gained independence in 1955, it proclaimed Rabat as the country’s capital.
Marrakesh, Maghreb, Fas, Morocco – the Many Names of the Western Kingdom, and Other Fun Facts
This long-lasting nation in the Northwest of Africa is globally known by many names. The one we know comes from European origins – precisely, the Spanish word Marruecos. In Turkey, the country is referred to as Fas, Persian and Punjabi-speaking countries call it Marrakesh, and Arabic speakers sometimes refer to it as Maghreb.
Some more fun and interesting facts are:
- The city of Chefchaouen is called The Blue City because a large part of it is painted in pale blue,
- Marrakesh is also known as the Red City, but it wasn’t painted like Chefchaouen; its walls are red because of the sandstone they were built from,
- Moroccans are 99% Muslim,
- The nation has a ruling dynasty and a King; the ruling dynasty is called Alaouite, and they’ve been on top since 1631. The King’s name is Mohammed VI,
- Mint tea is the national drink,
- You can see Europe from the coast of Tangier,
- Real-life snake charmers are working in tourist areas,
- Hashish makes up a small percentage of the country’s GDP – the drug is, however, illegal,
- Their currency is the dirham ($1 = 10 dirhams,)
- Yves Saint-Laurent purchased a home in Marrakesh in the 1980s and re-decorated it with designer Pierre Berge; today, it’s known as Majorelle Garden and serves as the Yves Saint-Laurent Museum.
The Culture And the Language Are a Vibrant Mix of Influences
If you’re someone relocating abroad for love, then the Western Kingdom has already changed your life in some way. Moroccans traditionally get married in a lavish ceremony, as they enjoy everything else. This ceremony presents a mix of Berber, Arab, African, and European influences, besides the main religion of the people, Islam.
Sometimes local folks like to wear the traditional robe called djellaba, other robes and tunics made of linen and silk, and the Arab-influenced kaftan. You’ll hear them speak Berber, Darija Arabic, Hassaniya Arabic, French, and occasionally English in some areas. Because they’re so diverse, you will have a great time learning a language abroad as an expat.
The Taste of Moroccan Food Is Unlike Any You Tried Before
One thing to do when you decide to reside abroad is to immerse yourself in the food traditions. Mentioned as a separate part of culture worthy of praise, Moroccans like to boast they’re one of the best countries to live in because they make the most wonderful dishes, inspired by a mix of influences.
You can find cooked and spiced snails at a street vendor’s kiosk that’ll blow your mind. The national dish is tagine, named after the Berber earthenware pot that the food is cooked in. Tagine can be with chicken or beef, but it’ll always have some couscous. Sometimes, all you’ll see or eat is couscous since it’s the favorite food of all Moroccans. Everything’s cooked so that it gives back to or respects nature in a way. Spices are the lifeblood of the nation; you can see bags of colorful spice radiating across markets.
If you haven’t eaten this well before, you certainly will when you become one of the expats. In the video below, one man went on a culinary tour of Marrakesh and ate some of the most famous street foods.
Of All the Gin Joints, In All the World, You Decide on Moving to Casablanca, Morocco
Part of becoming an expat is looking for the best places for living abroad and wondering is it expensive to live in Morocco. While living there isn’t exactly a walk in the park, you can have a great time actively joining some expat communities. You can quickly start feeling isolated because of the general lack of communication in English.
Speaking of expats, Casablanca is the best town to move to for a start. This is where the famous movie “Casablanca” took place, and why the phrase “Of all the gin joints, in all the world, she had to walk into mine” made the town so famous. However, while there aren’t any Humphreys Bogart residing nearby, there are many international residents that’ll understand your constant references to the film. It’s the largest city in the nation, with 5 million inhabitants.
The surface of the nation is similar to the surface of California, so we’ll take a similarly populated town to compare rent prices with Casablanca. Los Angeles has 3,9 million inhabitants; however, renting a three-bedroom apartment in the city center there is $4,500 – five times higher than $900 in Casablanca. In addition to getting cheaper rent, Casablanca’s among the best places for living abroad with family because of the many international schools located there.
The Cost of Living in Marrakesh, the Town With a World Heritage In Its Center
Marrakesh is one of the most incredible places to make yourself at home because of its geographical location, amenities, and culture. It’s located in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, just close to the Sahara, and it has a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of it. The population of 794,000 residents comes the closest to the population of San Francisco’s 881,000. You can expect to cash out $700 on rent in Marrakesh, nearly ten times less than in SF.
The Cost of Living in Rabat, the Fortified Capital
The capital city that welcomes all international guests and expats has been the state’s center for a long time. If you want to live abroad along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, and take in the sights of a 12th-century waterfront kasbah, move to Rabat. It’s populated by 620,000 residents, similar to California’s capital, Sacramento, with 514,000 residents. Renting a new, three-bedroom apartment outside of Rabat’s center is $920 per month, while in Sacramento, the same offer comes for $2,800.
One of Our Tips for Moving to Morocco – Hiring an International Moving Company
Overseas shipping and relocating during coronavirus seem like tough things to do, so when you plan on living overseas, ensure you have the help of an overseas moving company by your side. Creating a checklist for moving abroad will be helpful to movers because they’ll know how much packing to do for you; the relocation services by sea are done by movers that take care of all your items when you want to move them across the world, and when you want to put them in storage for safekeeping.
Hiring professionals reduce relocation stress by a lot, especially considering the magnitude of the change you’re making by becoming an expat among Moroccans. It’s a life you’ve never imagined before, but getting there still requires taking responsibility. You’ll soon learn that the dry heat of that land didn’t allow you to prepare well when you were packing for international moving. However, if you’re relocating from California, you won’t see a big difference in the weather. Just a lot of desert.
If You Seek a New, Culturally Rich Experience, the Moroccan Country Is the Place to Be
Moving overseas to the Western Kingdom sounds amazing. While keeping in touch with friends and family could make you feel nostalgic, in turn, the local folk will make you feel more than welcome and safe. Packing your stuff for shipping overseas will have you second-guessing yourself, as we already mentioned, but the idea of relocating to the land of spice, diversity, friendliness, and new lessons in life seems to be a risk worth taking.
