France issued more than 300,000 Schengen visas to Moroccan nationals in 2025, making Morocco the second largest recipient worldwide after China and ahead of India.
The figure, announced by France’s Consul General in Rabat, Olivier Ramadour, marks a rise of about 20% compared with the previous year. Speaking on Chaîne Inter radio, Mr Ramadour said the increase reflects Morocco’s central place in France’s consular policy and the strength of ties between the two countries.
“The visa component is fully part of the strategic partnership between France and Morocco,” he said.
He said French consular services had worked to make it easier to secure appointments and to reduce processing times. Part of the procedure has been outsourced to an external provider to better manage demand and streamline applications.
Mr Ramadour also addressed the issue of agencies reselling appointment slots obtained through automated means. He said such practices “create inequality between applicants” and disrupt the system. Access to appointments is free of charge, he added, and measures are being considered to block these parallel channels.
He drew a distinction between intermediaries who help applicants prepare their files, often for language or time reasons, and those who exploit appointment bookings for profit.
On visa refusals, Mr Ramadour said each decision is based on criteria agreed by Schengen member states. Applicants who are refused can appeal first to a specialised commission and then to the French administrative courts.
