Medical repatriation from Morocco to France
A relative has fallen ill or been injured in Morocco, on holiday, visiting family or living there, and needs to continue treatment in France. We organise the journey from the hospital in Morocco to the receiving hospital in France.
The route between Morocco and France
[Route to be confirmed by the company]
Depending on where the patient is treated, the departure airport is usually Casablanca Mohammed V, the country’s main hub, south of the city, or Marrakech Menara, Agadir Al Massira, Tangier Ibn Battouta, Fès-Saïss or Rabat-Salé. In France, the patient usually lands in Paris, Lyon or Marseille; direct flights from Casablanca also serve cities such as Bordeaux, Toulouse and Nantes.
Of the three Maghreb countries, Morocco is the furthest from France. As the crow flies, Casablanca is about 1,900 km from Paris-Orly, Marrakech about 2,100 km and Agadir close to 2,300 km. According to Lyon airport, direct scheduled flights take around 2 hr 50 min between Lyon and Casablanca and 3 hr 10 min to Marrakech; flights to Paris are a little longer.
For an air ambulance, the flight time depends on the aircraft, the winds and any technical stop. As an indication only, count on a time of the same order as a scheduled flight, sometimes more, plus the ambulance transfers at each end.
Three ways to travel
Air ambulance
A dedicated medical aircraft flies from the Moroccan airport nearest the hospital to the French airport nearest the receiving hospital, with a medical team on board. Air ambulance
Stretcher on a scheduled flight
From Lyon alone, Royal Air Maroc, Transavia, easyJet and Air Arabia fly direct to several Moroccan cities. Whether a stretcher can be fitted depends on the airline, the aircraft and its medical service. Stretcher on a scheduled flight
Seat with a medical escort
For a patient who can sit, a doctor or nurse travels alongside, handles care during the flight and deals with the airline’s formalities. Medical escort
The choice depends on the patient’s condition: see our guide air ambulance or stretcher.
Formalities for the patient and relatives
- French nationals flying out to join the patient need no visa for a short stay, but they do need a valid passport: according to the French foreign ministry’s travel advice for Morocco (in French), an identity card alone is no longer accepted.
- Moroccan nationals, whether the patient or a relative travelling with them, need a Schengen short-stay visa for France unless they hold a French residence permit. France-Visas lists a specific purpose, stay for medical care, with supporting documents in addition to the usual ones.
- The file: a recent medical report, copies of passports and the insurance or assistance details. See documents for a medical repatriation.
Timescale and cost
Once the medical plan, the receiving hospital and the payment are agreed, our usual time from agreement to take-off is [usual time from agreement to take-off]. A flight from Agadir to northern France is much longer than one from Tangier to the south of France, which affects both the timing and the price.
If the patient has travel insurance, call its assistance number first. See what a repatriation costs, our insurance guide and our other routes.
Questions about repatriation from Morocco
Which airport will the patient leave from?
Usually the one closest to the hospital that suits the transport chosen. An air ambulance can often use a regional airport, while a scheduled flight may mean a longer ground transfer to an airport with a suitable direct flight.
Can a relative travel with the patient?
Often, depending on the transport and the space on board. A Moroccan relative needs a visa issued in time for departure; a French relative needs a valid passport.
Who decides whether the patient can fly?
The treating doctor and the medical team organising the transfer, and on a scheduled flight the airline’s medical service. This page gives general information only and does not replace medical advice. In an emergency, call the local emergency number.
A relative needs to come home from Morocco?
Send us the details of the hospital in Morocco and the treating doctor’s contact. Our medical team reviews the file and we reply with the options and a written quote.