Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
VISAS FOR NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES
Embassies for the following countries are in Rabat.
Algeria
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Diplomatic disputes have kept the Morocco-Algeria border closed since 1994. Periodic bouts of
rapprochement raise hopes that it may one day reopen. In the unlikely event this happens during the
lifetime of this guidebook, the main border crossing would be between Oujda and Tlemcen in Algeria.
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Visas are required by everyone except nationals of Arab League countries.
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Algeria prefers applicants to apply in their country of residence.
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For more information, check out
www.sahara-overland.com
and Lonely Planet's
Africa,
which cov-
ers Algeria.
Mauritania
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Everyone, except nationals of Arab League countries, needs a visa to enter Mauritania.
»
At the time of writing, Mauritanian visas were not being issued at the border.
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The Mauritanian embassy in Rabat issues 30-day and 90-day visas (Dh380/720). Multiple-entry
visas are sometimes available, but purely at the discretion of the consular officer on the day.
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From Monday to Thursday, apply early in the morning and pick up the following day. Get there well
before the embassy opens at 9am and be prepared for queues. In the crowd of applicants, there's often
someone organised enough to operate a list of those queuing - if so make sure your name is added, to
keep your place in the queue.
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You need two passport photos and a photocopy of your passport. Local touts may approach you of-
fering forms and help filling them in (and pointers to the nearest copy shop), for a small fee.
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For more info see
www.sahara-overland.com
and Lonely Planet's
West Africa,
which covers Maur-
itania.
Spain
»
Spain is in the European Union and the Schengen Area.
»
The Schengen Area covers 30 European countries, including Spain and all other EU-member coun-
tries apart from the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
»
Ceuta and Melilla, the two Spanish enclaves in Morocco, have the same visa requirements as main-
land Spain.
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Nationals of EU-member countries do not need a visa to enter Spain.
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Nationals of countries including Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and the USA do not
need a Schengen visa to cross a Schengen border.
