Shipping to Morocco from Portugal

Yes — Morocco is not an EU member. All commercial shipments require a commercial invoice, packing list and customs clearance through ADII (Administration des Douanes et Impôts Indirects). For EU-origin industrial goods, always include a EUR.1 Movement Certificate to claim 0% import duty under the EU-Morocco Association Agreement.

The EU-Morocco Association Agreement (in force since March 2000) established a free trade area for industrial goods between the EU and Morocco. Most EU-manufactured industrial goods enter Morocco duty-free with proof of EU preferential origin (EUR.1 certificate or invoice declaration). Agricultural goods are partially liberalised with quotas. Negotiations for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) aim to further expand liberalisation.

Apply to your local Portuguese customs office (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira). You'll need: a completed EUR.1 form, commercial invoice for the goods, and evidence of EU origin (production records, supplier declarations showing EU manufacture). Processing is typically same-day or next-day. For frequent Morocco exporters, apply for Approved Exporter status — this lets you self-certify origin on invoices without obtaining a EUR.1 per shipment.

DHL Express and FedEx: 1–2 business days to Casablanca. UPS Express: 2–3 days. Economy road+ferry (DPD via Tanger-Med): 2–4 days. GLS: 3–5 days. Morocco is Portugal's closest non-EU neighbour — just 14 km across the Strait of Gibraltar, making it one of the fastest non-EU destinations from Portugal.

Yes — EUR-denominated invoices are standard for EU-Morocco B2B trade. Moroccan businesses typically pay in EUR via SWIFT bank transfer, as the Moroccan Dirham (MAD) has exchange controls and cannot be freely transferred abroad. Always invoice in EUR for Moroccan B2B transactions to simplify payment collection.

DHL Express and FedEx accept parcels up to 70 kg per piece to Morocco. UPS accepts up to 70 kg. DPD and GLS road services via Tanger-Med typically accept up to 31.5 kg per piece. Maximum dimensions: up to 274 cm on the longest side for DHL Express. Note: Moroccan customs may subject very heavy or large parcels to additional inspection as commercial freight — keep individual parcels under 30 kg and well within standard courier dimensions for smoothest clearance.

Moroccan address format: Recipient Name / Street Number + Street Name / District or Neighbourhood / City + Postcode / MOROCCO. Example: Mohammed Benali / 42 Boulevard Mohammed V / Quartier Gauthier / Casablanca 20000 / MAROC (or MOROCCO). Key points: Moroccan postcodes are 5 digits. Casablanca postcodes: 20000–20990. City names in French are widely used for shipping (Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Fès, Tanger). Including the recipient's Moroccan mobile number is essential — Moroccan couriers call before delivery. French-language address labelling is preferred over Arabic-only labels.

Moroccan ADII (Administration des Douanes et Impôts Indirects) holds parcels for: missing EUR.1 certificate, incorrect HS code, suspicious declared value, goods in restricted categories (alcohol, medicines, food without ONSSA approval). If held: the carrier notifies the Moroccan recipient or their customs broker. They must visit the ADII office with documents and may need to pay additional duties or present authorisations. DHL Express has the strongest Moroccan customs brokerage team for resolving holds quickly. Well-documented shipments with EUR.1 rarely face holds. Resolution typically takes 3–10 days.

Morocco prohibits or restricts import of: pornographic material (strictly prohibited); drones above 250g without ANRT (telecommunications regulator) approval for Moroccan use; Israeli-made goods (trade restrictions); certain political publications; and goods bearing Israeli origin labelling. Medicines require DPPM authorisation for commercial import — even personal quantities of prescription drugs beyond a 1-month supply may require documentation. Used goods (used clothing, refurbished electronics) can face significant delays and customs scrutiny at ADII.

Add declared value insurance at checkout on Cargosender for all Morocco-bound shipments over €100. Standard carrier liability for international express (IATA convention) is approximately €22/kg — insufficient for most commercial goods. Morocco has a moderate-to-good claims resolution record with DHL Express and FedEx. If goods are held by ADII and subsequently damaged, this is not covered by standard transit insurance. For B2B industrial shipments (automotive components, aerospace parts — Morocco's growing sectors), insure at full declared value.

DHL Express provides full tracking to Moroccan delivery addresses, including customs status at Casablanca and Tanger-Med. FedEx tracks similarly. DPD economy road shipments track to the Moroccan border (Tanger-Med), then via a local Moroccan carrier partner for final delivery — tracking may be less granular after the border. Include the Moroccan recipient's mobile number (format: +212 6xx xxxxxx) — Moroccan couriers call before delivery, particularly in Casablanca and Rabat where traffic and parking make navigation challenging.

Returns from Morocco to Portugal require Moroccan export customs declarations (ADII) and EU import customs processing on re-entry into Portugal. Returns are not subject to EU import duty if the goods are of EU origin and properly documented (EUR.1 for re-import). However, express return shipping from Morocco costs €40–€120+ per parcel. For B2B industrial returns, work with a Moroccan customs broker to complete the export declaration. DHL Express is the most reliable carrier for Morocco returns and has Casablanca-based staff who understand both Moroccan export and EU re-import procedures.

Morocco's parcel shop network is developing but less mature than EU countries. Amana (a Moroccan e-commerce logistics company) operates collection points and parcel lockers in major Moroccan cities. Barid Al-Maghrib (Moroccan Post) has post office locations across the country for pickup. DHL Express service points are in Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech. Most international parcels in Morocco are delivered direct to the recipient address — couriers call ahead to confirm delivery. For residential deliveries in medinas (old city centres), GPS coordinates are helpful as traditional street addresses can be difficult to locate.

Moroccan TVA (Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutée) applies on import at: 20% standard rate (most goods); 14% on some specific goods (certain electrical equipment); 10% on restaurant and hotel services; 7% on some basic goods (water, pharmaceuticals). TVA is assessed on the CIF value (cost + insurance + freight) plus customs duty. Moroccan B2B importers registered for TVA can reclaim input TVA. Unlike the EU's OSS, there is no equivalent overseas seller VAT registration in Morocco — TVA is always collected at customs. ADII is the administering authority.

Yes — deliveries outside Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech and Tanger attract increasing surcharges depending on distance. Major southern Moroccan cities (Agadir, Oujda, Fès) are generally covered without major surcharges. Remote southern Morocco (Laâyoune, Dakhla — Western Sahara region) attracts very significant surcharges and extended transit from all carriers. Mountain areas of the Atlas and Rif regions add surcharges and 1–2 extra days. When booking on Cargosender, all surcharges for the destination postal code are displayed in the quote.