Assahafa.com
Moroccans rank as the world’s second-largest recipients of Schengen visas issued by France in 2025, according to French Consul General in Rabat, Olivier Ramadour.
More than 300,000 Schengen visas were granted in 2025 by France to Moroccan nationals in 2025, marking an increase of around 20% compared to 2024. This places Morocco second worldwide after China and ahead of India, Ramadour said in an interview on the program “Inter Matin,” broadcast on Chaîne Inter radio and hosted by M’hamed Bhiri.
He noted that this figure reflects the priority given to bilateral relations with Morocco and the depth of human ties between the two countries, stressing that visa forms “an integral part” of the strategic partnership between France and the Kingdom.
In this context, the Consul General of France in Rabat highlighted the significant efforts made over the past two years to facilitate access to visa appointments, enabling more Moroccans to travel to France easily.
He explained that the French consular services in Morocco, which have outsourced the collection of visa applications to an external service provider, are working to improve, streamline, and shorten the procedure and processing times for applications.
Addressing the issue of intermediaries, the Consul General said such practices “create a breach of equality,” adding that French consular services are seeking solutions that do not require their use.
While acknowledging that intermediaries may assist applicants with limited time or language difficulties, he pointed out that problems arise when agencies use IT methods to capture online appointments and resell them.
He stated, in this regard, that access to appointments for visa applications is free of charge.
Ramadour also clarified that, contrary to certain perceptions, refusals of Schengen visas are justified on the basis of a grid defined by all Schengen partners, noting that each refusal decision may be appealed before the visa appeals commission and subsequently before French administrative courts.
Source: map
