How to get paid by foreign companies from Morocco

Short answer: most remote workers in Morocco get paid by international bank transfer to a Moroccan bank account, or through a payment platform that then sends the money to that account. Whatever route you use, the money has to come back to Morocco within the deadline set by the Office des Changes, and you need a legal status to declare it, usually auto-entrepreneur.

Getting paid is the part of remote work nobody explains in the job post. The company abroad wants to send money the way it always does. Your bank wants paperwork. The Office des Changes, Morocco's foreign exchange regulator, has its own rules. This guide walks through each piece so your first payment arrives without surprises.

We are not a bank or a tax adviser, and rules change. For anything about tax or foreign exchange, check the official sources linked at the end of this guide, and ask an accountant when your situation is unusual.

First, agree on how you'll be paid

Before you sign anything, ask the company three questions:

1. Are you hiring me as a contractor or as an employee? Most foreign companies hire people in Morocco as contractors who send a monthly invoice. Some use an employer of record, a company that employs you in Morocco on their behalf and pays you a normal Moroccan salary.
2. Which currency will you pay in? Euros and US dollars are the most common. Agree on the currency in writing, so exchange rate changes are not a surprise.
3. How and when do you pay? Bank transfer or payment platform, monthly or per project, and how many days after the invoice.

If you are an employee through an employer of record, the payroll side is handled for you: you receive a salary in dirhams with your social security declared. The rest of this guide is for the far more common case, working as a contractor.

Option 1: international bank transfer to your Moroccan account

This is the simplest route and the one regulators like best, because the money lands directly in Morocco.

The company sends a transfer through the SWIFT network to your bank. You give them:

• your full name exactly as it appears at the bank
• your bank's name and address
• your IBAN (Moroccan account numbers are 24 digits, the RIB, and banks give you an IBAN version for transfers from abroad)
• your bank's SWIFT or BIC code

The money usually arrives in two to five working days. By default your bank converts it to dirhams at its own exchange rate, and both your bank and the sender's bank may take a fee. Ask your bank for its fee on incoming international transfers before the first payment, and compare a few banks if you expect regular payments.

If the company is in the euro zone, ask whether they can send the transfer in euros rather than converting to dirhams on their side. Letting your Moroccan bank do the conversion is often cheaper, and it keeps the amount on your invoice and the amount sent identical.

Option 2: payment platforms

Many companies, especially in the US, prefer to pay contractors through a payment platform or a contractor management tool. These services collect the money from the company and pay it out to your Moroccan bank account.

Before you rely on one, check three things:

• That it supports Morocco. Some services let you open an account from Morocco but not withdraw to a Moroccan bank. Check the provider's own list of supported countries.
• The real cost. Add the withdrawal fee to the currency conversion margin. A platform that advertises "no fees" can still cost you two or three percent on the exchange rate.
• The repatriation rule. Leaving earnings sitting abroad is the risky part, as the next section explains. Withdraw to your Moroccan account regularly.

The rule you must not ignore: repatriation

Morocco controls foreign exchange. As a resident, money you earn from foreign clients must come back to Morocco. The Office des Changes has reminded people who sell services online from Morocco that their earnings must be repatriated within 90 days of the service, and it has sanctioned residents who kept money in accounts abroad without permission.

For companies exporting services, the Office des Changes page on service exports sets the repatriation deadline and explains which documents prove it. The general foreign exchange instruction is updated from time to time, so read the current version on the Office des Changes website rather than relying on old forum posts.

In practice, the safe habit is simple: withdraw every payment to your Moroccan bank account as soon as it arrives, and keep your invoices and transfer receipts together.

Foreign currency accounts

Moroccan banks can open a foreign currency account, or an account in convertible dirhams, for residents who have income from foreign sources. That lets you keep part of your earnings in euros or dollars, which is useful if you pay for tools, courses or trips abroad.

Rules on how much you can keep in foreign currency and what you can use it for are set by the Office des Changes and applied by your bank. Ask your bank for the conditions of its account for residents with foreign income, and bring proof of that income: your contract or invoices, and the transfers you have received. Our guide to the auto-entrepreneur status explains the paperwork that makes these conversations easier.

Invoicing: what to put on each invoice

As a contractor, you send an invoice every month or at the end of each project. A clear invoice gets paid faster. Include:

• your name, address and your auto-entrepreneur identifier or tax number
• the company's legal name and address
• an invoice number that follows the previous one
• the date and the period worked
• a short description of the work
• the amount and the currency
• your bank details for the transfer

Keep a copy of every invoice and match it to the transfer you received. When you declare your turnover, these are the documents you will need.

Declaring your income

Getting paid legally also means declaring that income. Most remote workers in Morocco choose the auto-entrepreneur status: you register online, declare your turnover every quarter, and pay a small percentage of it as income tax. For services, that rate is 1 percent of turnover, within an annual ceiling. The details, including what happens above the ceiling, are in our auto-entrepreneur guide.

Above a certain income, or if you work with several people, creating a company can make more sense. That's a conversation for an accountant.

A first-payment checklist

Before your first invoice, make sure you have:

1. A legal status to declare the income (usually auto-entrepreneur).
2. A Moroccan bank account that accepts international transfers, with its IBAN and SWIFT code.
3. A written agreement with the company on currency, amount, payment method and timing.
4. An invoice template with all the details above.
5. A plan to withdraw any platform balance to Morocco quickly.

Then send the invoice, note the date, and check when the money arrives. If it doesn't arrive within the agreed time, follow up politely with the invoice number.

Not working remotely yet? Start with our guide on landing your first remote job from Morocco, then browse remote jobs open to Morocco.

FAQ

Can a foreign company pay me directly in euros or dollars?

Yes. The company can send the transfer in its currency, and your Moroccan bank converts it to dirhams, or credits a foreign currency account if you have one. Agree on the currency in your contract.

Do I need the auto-entrepreneur status to receive money from abroad?

Your bank can receive the transfer without it, but you still need a legal way to declare and pay tax on that income. For most solo remote workers, the auto-entrepreneur status is the simplest one.

Can I keep my earnings on a payment platform account?

Not for long. As a resident of Morocco, you must bring your foreign earnings back to Morocco within the deadline set by the Office des Changes. Withdraw to your Moroccan account regularly.

How long does an international transfer take?

Usually two to five working days, sometimes more if an intermediary bank is involved. Check with your bank if a transfer hasn't arrived after a week.