Hiring a foreign employee in Morocco: ANAPEC certificate, approved contract and the TAECHIR platform

The Labour Code (articles 516 et seq.) makes the employment of a foreign national in Morocco subject to prior authorisation, granted as an approval stamped on the employment contract. Without it, the contract is not valid and the employer faces penalties.

Step 1: the ANAPEC certificate

Before hiring a foreign national, the employer must in principle show that no national candidate fits the post. This is the purpose of the certificate issued by ANAPEC, the national employment agency, after the vacancy is published.

• The standard procedure takes up to 20 working days.
• A fast-track procedure, of around 48 hours, exists for certain management posts, some rare profiles and renewals with the same employer for the same post.

Exemptions

Some categories are exempt from the ANAPEC certificate, in particular:

• the company’s managers and shareholders;
• spouses of Moroccan nationals;
• foreign nationals born in Morocco or resident there for more than ten years;
• employees of companies with Casablanca Finance City status;
• refugees and certain other categories provided for by the texts.

Step 2: the contract on the TAECHIR platform

The contract must follow the official template for foreign employees’ contracts, on the employment ministry’s online platform TAECHIR. The employer creates the application there, attaches the documents and prints the contract.

The documents usually requested include:

• the signed contract in several copies;
• a copy of the employee’s passport;
• their diplomas or work certificates;
• the ANAPEC certificate or proof of exemption;
• the company’s legal documents.

Step 3: approval of the contract

The file is filed with the ministry’s services, which grant approval within around ten working days for a complete file.

• The date of approval marks the start of the contract.
• Any change to the contract must also be approved.
• If approval is refused, the employer must pay for the employee’s return to their country.

After approval: residence, payroll and returns

• The employee must obtain a residence permit from the services of the national police (DGSN).
• They are registered with the CNSS and their salary bears income tax like any employee’s. See our article on expatriates’ taxation.
• If the contract ends early, the employer informs the ministry within the month.
• Renewal follows a simplified procedure when the employee stays with the same employer in the same post.

In short

1. ANAPEC certificate, unless exempt.
2. Contract on the official template on the TAECHIR platform.
3. Ministry approval, which sets the start of the contract.
4. Residence permit, CNSS registration and payroll.

Ascensu supports companies hiring foreign staff, from preparing the file to managing payroll.

This article is provided for general information, as at its publication date. It is not personalised advice: the rules change and every situation must be reviewed on its own facts.