Morocco to Discontinue 24-Hour Visas for Ceuta, Melilla

Rabat – Morocco no longer recognizes the special 24-hour visas issued by the Spanish consulates in Tetouan and Nador for entry into the Spanish enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta.

According to a report from Schengenvisainfo published on Wednesday, the government announced that only Schengen Visas and residence permits will be accepted for individuals seeking to leave Moroccan territory for the Spanish enclaves.

The decision primarily affects cross-border workers who rely on these short-term visas to facilitate their daily commute and work-related activities in Melilla and Ceuta.

The announcement comes two years after the introduction of the 24-hour visa by the Government of Pedro Sanchez during Ramadan in 2022. The visa initiative was launched following the reopening of borders that were closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which commenced in March 2020.

According to Moroccan news media reports, recent developments indicate that only individuals possessing valid residence permits, along with a letter of access endorsed by Ceuta authorities and a Schengen visa, will be granted authorization to cross into the enclaves.

Arantxa Campos, President of the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Ceuta, expressed concern over the implications of the decision, reports Schengenvisainfo.

Campos alleges that by discontinuing the acceptance of 24-hour visas, the Rabat government is effectively categorizing cross-border workers as residents of Ceuta, complicating their status and access to employment opportunities in the enclaves.

While the Spanish government has not issued an official statement in response to these developments, French digital media outlet Le360 is reporting negotiations between Rabat and Madrid aimed at reaching a mutually agreeable solution.

The decision is predicted to impact 70% of Ceuta’s working force. Prior to the pandemic, over 2,200 Moroccan women crossed the borders daily to work in Ceuta. However, this number has since decreased, with only around one thousand foreign workers currently documented in the enclave.

Estimates suggest there are around 8,000 cross-border workers in Ceuta, encompassing both documented and undocumented individuals.