Morocco

Compliance/Financial Considerations

If you intend to do any of the following in Morocco, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu or 642-5141:

  • Hire a local to work for you as an employee
  • Purchase or lease office or research space
  • Purchase or lease an automobile
  • Establish a long-term (over 90 days) or ongoing project
  • Conduct a clinical trial 

U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS 

Foreign activities may trigger many U.S. laws, including:

  • Import Controls
  • Export Controls
  • Tax Reporting
  • Foreign Bank Account Reporting
  • Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Anti-Boycott Laws 

Import Controls. UC employees must adhere to U.S. import requirements, and may need to enlist the services of a customs broker, especially for shipments arriving by sea and subject to the Importer Security Filing 71730, also known as ISF 10+2. 

Export Controls. Export controls may apply to advanced software and technology, research data, and other sensitive assets. UC’s Export Compliance FAQ contains useful information and can be found here.  Go here for the University of California plan for compliance with federal export controls. If you plan on taking or sending potentially export-controlled materials to Morocco, consult the campus Research Administration Compliance Office at 642-0120. 

Tax Reporting. The University and its employees may be taxed in foreign countries. The tax implications for operating in Morocco may be found at the Internal Revenue Service’s United States-Morocco Income Tax Convention. For further clarification, contact the Controller’s Office at:

Foreign Bank Account Reporting. The U.S. Treasury Department requires U.S. citizens with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a financial account in a foreign country, where accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during a calendar year, to report such accounts on a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FinCen Report 114). Those needing to complete the form should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803 for assistance. An IRS 1040 Schedule B form (Part III–Foreign Accounts and Trusts) must be filed by the signatory for any foreign bank account, regardless of the account balance. 

Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions. In general, collaborations between University personnel and scholars at foreign institutions or organizations do not require export licenses unless they involve export-controlled or -restricted research or involve scholars in sanctioned countries. Before engaging in an international collaboration, the University needs to determine whether export licenses are required and to verify that the foreign collaborator is not blocked or sanctioned. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is responsible for enforcing all U.S. embargoes and sanctions. Depending on each country’s embargo or sanction program, activities may be prohibited without specific authorization or license. UC’s International Collaborations webpage contains additional information on this topic.   

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is intended to stop bribery. It prohibits offering to pay, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official. The term “foreign official” generally includes any employee or contractor of a foreign government, and may include individuals employed by foreign universities. It is also unlawful to make a payment to a third party knowing that all or part of the payment will go to a foreign official. For more information, review the federal government’s Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. If you need further clarification, contact the UC Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs at 642-7122. Transparency International’s 2018 survey of perceived public sector corruption rated Morocco at 43 out of 100 (73rd out of 180 countries reviewed, i.e.  somewhat corrupt).

Anti-Boycott Laws.  The U.S. Department of Commerce is responsible for oversight of laws prohibiting individuals and entities from participating in boycotts not approved or sanctioned by the U.S. government. The Export Administration Act requires that requests to participate in such boycotts or to conduct activities in any of the boycotting countries be formally reported to the Department of Commerce and/or IRS.

For other compliance-related issues, refer to UC’s International Compliance webpage.  

 ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

Foreign Bank Accounts. Employees wishing to open a foreign bank account should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803. Requests to open accounts must be made through the Office of the President’s Banking and Treasury Services Group by the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. 

Real Estate Agreements. Only employees with delegated authority to sign contracts on behalf of The Regents may enter into agreements, leases, or other contracts.  Foreign affiliates or operations must submit to the Real Estate Services Office property management agreements, personal property leases, or contracts with a term longer than one year or in an amount greater than $25,000 per year. The campus then seeks approval from the University president or designee. For more information, consult the Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Affiliate Organizations and Foreign Operations.

Articles

The US State Department's page on MOROCCO may be found HERE

Personal Safety

AS PART OF ONGOING EFFORTS TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19), AUTHORITIES IN MOROCCO WILL EXTEND EXISTING RESTRICTIONS IN THE CASBLANCA-SETATTA REGION, AS WELL AS IN THE PROVINCES OF MEDIOUNA AND NOUACEUR THROUGH AT LEAST DECEMBER 22. INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER FLIGHTS REMAIN SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE; HOWEVER, SOME AIRLINES OPERATE LIMITED REPATRIATION AND CHARTER FLIGHTS. EMERGENCY AND CARGO FLIGHTS ARE EXEMPT. THE BORDER WITH THE SPANISH AUTONOMOUS CITIES OF CEUTA AND MELILLA, LOCATED ON THE NORTHERN COAST OF AFRICA, IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. AUTHORITIES COULD FURTHER EASE RESTRICTIONS OR INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL PREVENTATIVE MEASURES, DEPENDING ON THE EVOLUTION OF DISEASE ACTIVITY IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS.

Note: this page contains basic risk information. For more details, please contact the Risk Services Office at risk@berkeley.edu. 

If you are traveling to Morocco on University-related business, please sign up for the University’s travel insurance program by going here. For more information on the travel insurance program, please go here.

Because everyone’s health is unique, we suggest seeking the advice of a medical professional before traveling internationally. Members of the campus community interested in protecting their health while abroad may schedule an appointment with the University Health Services International Travel Clinic.  

Morocco is generally economically, politically, and socially stable and is typically moderately impacted by regional developments, such as the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. The geopolitical threat in Morocco is moderate. Morocco is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with King Mohammed VI as head of state. The king appoints the governors of the country's 16 administrative regions, the prime minister and cabinet ministers, and has the power to dissolve the legislature. The legislature, which has limited powers, is divided into a lower and upper chamber. The members of these chambers are elected by popular vote; however, political parties in the country are weak and most support the king and the current political system. 

Morocco continues to face challenges that may affect the country's outlook in the near term. Economic concerns, including high levels of poverty and unemployment, fuel anti-government and anti-monarchy sentiment among many Moroccans, triggering large-scale demonstrations at times. Ongoing tensions with neighboring Algeria and the Polisario Front over the disputed Western Sahara territory remain a concern. Algeria supports the Polisario Front in its goal to gain independence for the Western Sahara territory, although this support has strained ties between the two countries and has led to the closure of the shared border.

Crime generally poses a moderate threat in Morocco. Petty crime is an ever-present threat globally, but in Morocco, other criminal threats include scams and gender-related violence. Criminal activity is most prevalent in tourist locations, on public transportation, and in crowded areas. The trustworthiness, capabilities, and responsiveness of security services in Morocco are generally adequate (risk is moderate). Police officers are typically able to speak foreign languages. The prevalence of violent demonstrations in Morocco is moderate. The prevalence of anti-foreign sentiment is minimal. Potentially dangerous protests and endemic civil strife are most common in the disadvantaged Rif region, but potentially dangerous protests sometimes affect Rabat and Casablanca. 

The threat of terrorism is moderate in Morocco. Known but nonspecific threats exist, and Morocco must currently be considered a potential target of Islamic State sympathizers and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. 

For most foreign nationals, the threat of kidnapping in Morocco is generally low; kidnappers are more likely to targets locals for sexual assault. Victims face the threat of injury or death. 

Legal/Political

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. 

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Consulate immediately. 

  • Crimes of fraud, including passing bad checks, non-payment of bills (including hotel bills), or breach of contract are considered serious in Morocco and can often result in imprisonment and/or fines.
  • Bail generally is not available to non-residents of Morocco who are arrested for crimes involving fraud.
  • Debtors can be held in prison until their debts are paid or until an agreement is reached between the parties. 
  • Passports may be seized by the Moroccan government to guarantee that debtors settle their cases. 
  • Debtors may be unable to work in Morocco without passports while still being held responsible for their debts. 
  • Prior to entering into a contract, you may want to consider consulting an attorney.

GBTI Travelers: Consensual same-sex sexual relations are criminalized in Morocco. Penalties include fines and jail time.