Algeria reinstates visa requirements for Moroccan citizens

Diplomatic tensions between Morocco and Algeria have escalated following Algeria's decision in September 2024 to reinstate immediate visa requirements for all Moroccan passport holders. This move ends nearly two decades of free movement that had been in place since 2005.

Algerian authorities justified the measure by citing concerns regarding organized crime, drug trafficking, and espionage. Official communications from Algiers have placed the responsibility for the deterioration of bilateral relations on Morocco, a stance that has persisted since the formal rupture of diplomatic ties in August 2021.

Beyond travel restrictions, Moroccan nationals in Algeria face significant economic hurdles. Legal analyses indicate that, unlike Morocco's open property laws for foreigners, Moroccans in Algeria are generally prohibited from owning property and face various restrictions on conducting commercial activities.