Sending a parcel to Morocco seems straightforward. In practice, Moroccan customs rules apply from the moment the parcel crosses the border, and carriers do not always clearly explain what the recipient will need to pay. This guide covers applicable thresholds, duties, prohibited contents and the carriers most used by MRE in France, Belgium, Canada and the Netherlands.
Costs & fees
| Colissimo International 500g (from France) | EUR 20 to 26 | La Poste France, 5-10 days |
| DHL Express 1kg (from France) | EUR 40 to 70 | 2-4 days, detailed tracking |
| Moroccan customs duties (>MAD 1,250) | 2.5% to 40% plus 20% VAT | On total declared value, by product category |
| Groupage (>50 kg, from France) | Official source unavailable | EUR 3-6/kg depending on carrier |
Timeline
The Moroccan customs threshold
Morocco applies a customs threshold on personal parcels received from abroad. The total value of the parcel must be below MAD 1,250 to benefit from duty exemption. This threshold applies to occasional personal shipments between private individuals (a gift from a relative abroad). It does not apply to commercial imports, even when packaged as gifts. Above MAD 1,250, customs duties and VAT apply on the total declared value, not just the excess. Rates vary by product category: 2.5% to 40% customs duties plus 20% VAT in most cases.
💡 Tip — Declare the actual value of the goods on the CN22 or CN23 form. An under-declaration detected by customs can result in parcel confiscation and penalties for the recipient.
⚠️ Warning — The MAD 1,250 threshold is per parcel, not per sender. Splitting an order into several small parcels to stay below the threshold is considered fraudulent splitting by the ADII (Moroccan Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration).
Prohibited and restricted contents
Certain products are prohibited from import to Morocco or subject to specific restrictions. Prohibited: narcotics, weapons and ammunition, trademark counterfeits, pornographic material, CITES protected species. Restricted: medicines (require a Moroccan prescription or Ministry of Health authorisation), fresh food products (phytosanitary controls apply), phones (ANRT type approval required for Moroccan network activation), lithium batteries (airline quantity limits apply). Used clothing and textiles may attract high duties if intended for resale. A parcel containing clothes in commercial quantities will be taxed as a textile import.
💡 Tip — For prescription medicines, always include a copy of the prescription in Arabic or with an official translation. Over-the-counter medicines in Europe may require authorisation in Morocco.
⚠️ Warning — Drones (including toy drones), radio transmitters and certain communication equipment require specific ANRT authorisations. A parcel containing an unregistered drone will be held by customs.
Carriers and delivery times
From France, MRE primarily use Colissimo International (La Poste), Chronopost, DHL and Morocco-specialist carriers such as AMANA, Nador Express and groupage companies. Colissimo International (La Poste France): 5 to 10 working days, max 30 kg, from EUR 20-25 for a 500g parcel. Reliable for small parcels. Delivery requires the recipient to be present or an attempted delivery slip. DHL Express / FedEx: 2 to 4 days, significantly higher cost (EUR 40-80 for a 1kg parcel). Suited for urgent or valuable shipments. MRE-specialist carriers (Nador Express, Barid El Maghrib partners, groupage companies): cheaper for high volumes, 7 to 15 days. Some offer door collection in France. Check insurance coverage and tracking. From Belgium: Bpost offers a Morocco service with similar lead times to Colissimo. DHL operates from Brussels. From Canada: Canada Post (Xpresspost International), UPS, FedEx. 7 to 15 days. Check customs duties carefully: used items attract high rates in Morocco.
💡 Tip — For parcels over 10 kg, compare groupage companies that charge per actual kilogram. For small urgent parcels, DHL and FedEx offer better tracking and faster customs clearance.
⚠️ Warning — Some low-cost carriers (Amazon Logistics, relay-parcel partners) do not have reliable Morocco coverage. Verify the carrier has a local Moroccan distribution network before shipping.
Optimising your shipment
To stay under the MAD 1,250 threshold, check the total value including packaging cost. The value to declare is the retail price of the items in the country of origin, not your discounted purchase price. Pack fragile items solidly. Parcels to Morocco often pass through intermediate sorting hubs. Damage claims are difficult to pursue without reinforced packaging. For regular shipments (monthly or more frequent), opening a business account with a carrier unlocks volume discounts. DHL, FedEx and Chronopost offer business accounts without minimum volume requirements. For large shipments to a fixed Moroccan address, pallet groupage (shared container) is the most economical option above 50 kg.
💡 Tip — Photograph the contents of the parcel before sealing. In the event of a customs dispute or damage, proof of contents simplifies a claim with the carrier and Moroccan customs.
⚠️ Warning — Never declare a symbolic value (EUR 1, MAD 0) on the customs form. This is fraudulent and exposes the recipient to fines or parcel confiscation.
In depth
Moroccan customs regulations on postal parcels are defined by ADII Circular Note No. 5163. The MAD 1,250 threshold applies to personal shipments between private individuals with no commercial character. Parcels ordered from foreign e-commerce sites (Amazon, Shein, Zara.com) fall in the commercial category and are subject to full duties and taxes from the first dirham, unless a specific agreement applies.
Morocco has signed UPU (Universal Postal Union) agreements with most European countries, which govern delivery times and service levels for official postal operators. For shipments from non-UPU countries, customs clearance timelines and procedures may differ.
❌ Common mistakes to avoid
- ✕Under-declaring the value of goods on the CN22/CN23 form
- ✕Splitting an order into multiple parcels to stay below the threshold
- ✕Including prescription medicines without Moroccan documentation
- ✕Choosing a carrier without verifying their Morocco distribution coverage
- ✕Forgetting to photograph the contents before sealing in case of a dispute
- ✕Not factoring customs clearance time into the stated delivery times
🔗 Official links and resources
❓ Frequently asked questions
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