Morocco Suspends Visa Issuance for Taiwanese Citizens
In a surprising development, the Moroccan Embassy in Japan announced the suspension of visa processing for Taiwanese nationals starting Thursday, July 23, 2026. This move has generated confusion among travelers and Taiwanese travel agencies, particularly given the absence of any immediate official clarification from Moroccan authorities, as reported by Taiwan.
Due to the lack of formal diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Morocco, Taiwanese citizens are unable to apply for visas directly from Taiwan. Instead, they have relied on a ‘visa confirmation letter’ obtained through the Moroccan Embassy in Tokyo, which is subsequently submitted to Moroccan authorities for review and approval. After securing this letter, the length of stay is determined by the stamp placed by Moroccan authorities at airports, usually allowing for a maximum stay of 14 to 15 days.
The complexity of the procedure, which involves sending documents overseas, typically results in processing times ranging from one to two months or longer. Consequently, most Taiwanese tourists have turned to travel agencies for assistance in navigating this intricate application process.
Following the Moroccan Embassy's announcement, the major Taiwanese travel agency Lion Travel issued a notice on its website on Thursday stating that it would halt the processing of visa confirmation letters for tourism in Morocco, in accordance with the embassy's decision. On Friday, July 24, the agency confirmed that affected travelers could receive a full refund of their deposits or modify their travel itineraries at discounted rates for group changes.
In response to this situation, Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei stated that the ministry has reached out to its overseas offices for inquiries regarding Morocco's decision but has not yet received a response. The spokesperson advised Taiwanese citizens planning to travel to Morocco for tourism or business to carefully reassess their plans and stay updated on announcements from the ministry.
This suspension comes at a time when Moroccan tourism has been increasingly attracting interest from Asian travelers, including Taiwanese tourists looking to explore the country's rich historical cities, vast deserts, and cultural landmarks. As of now, Moroccan authorities have not issued any official statements explaining the reasons behind this suspension or whether it is temporary or permanent, nor have they indicated if alternative channels are being considered.
As reported by tanja7.com.
