Regarding asylum, Morocco adopted a Royal Decree on 29 August 1957 agreeing on the modalities for the implementation of the 1951 Convention. The Decree established an Office for Refugees and Stateless Persons (Bureau des Réfugiés et Apatrides) (BRA) and an Asylum Appeal Instance within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Furthermore, the Decree stipulated that the BRA is responsible for recognizing the refugee status of persons under UNHCR’s mandate or by virtue of the criteria under the 1951 Convention, and issuing residence permits and other documentation to applicants. However, the adoption of the Decree did not result in the establishment of a national asylum procedure, nor a systematic issuance of residence permits. The Immigration Law No.02-03 was adopted in 2003 and sets out some the conditions for the treatment of granting asylum-seekers and refugees. The National Strategy on Immigration and Asylum (NSIA), introduced in Morocco in 2013, sets out mechanisms of response to meet the needs of refugees and asylum-seekers in Moroccan, including protection against refoulement and access to documentation and essential services, such as education, health care and employment. However, gaps in implementation persist. For example, the issuance of residence permits by BRA to refugees recognized by UNHCR remains slow, with many refugees unable to obtain necessary documentation due to bureaucratic obstacles. The country continues to work towards enhancing its asylum and migration frameworks, with work ongoing towards the adoption of a national asylum law.

Morocco’s role in regional and international fora on migration and asylum is notable, as it has been actively involved in the Global Compacts on Refugees and Migration and is a key player within the African Union.