Creating a company in Morocco as a non-resident: is it possible in 2026?
Yes, a non-resident can create a company in Morocco (SARL, SARL AU, SAS or SA), own 100% of it and be its manager: the law imposes no residence or nationality requirement, and no obligation to have a manager or a legal representative based in Morocco. A registered office address in Morocco is required, which business domiciliation provides for 1,200 to 6,000 MAD per year. With Charikaty, all the formalities are completed online in about 6 to 8 working days, with no travel.
The essentials in 4 points
In shortMoroccan law imposes no residence restriction on creating a company
Non-residents can set up a SARL, a SAS or a SA; auto-entrepreneur (self-employed) status, however, requires residence in Morocco
A Moroccan bank account and an address for the registered office are required
The administrative formalities are identical to those for residents
the information provided in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute personalized legal advice. We recommend that you consult a qualified legal expert before making any decision. Charikaty provides experts to support you: contact us for free advice.
This guide is intended for foreign entrepreneurs and Moroccans living abroad alike: it details the legal, administrative and practical arrangements for launching your business in Morocco without being based in the country.
What does the law say about company formation by a non-resident?
Contrary to some common misconceptions, Moroccan law fully allows non-residents to create a company. Law No. 5-96 (for SARLs), Law No. 17-95 (for SAs) and Law No. 5-96 as amended and supplemented by Law No. 19-20 (for SASs) contain no clause restricting the nationality or residence of partners (associés) and executives.
Under the Moroccan Commercial Code (Code de commerce), a company is created in Morocco through:
- Registration (immatriculation) in the Commercial Register (Registre du Commerce, RC)
- Registration with the tax administration
- Affiliation with the social security bodies
None of these formalities requires residence in Morocco.
💡 Key point: If you are a non-resident, you must provide a Moroccan address for your company's registered office (siège social). This address can be that of a business domiciliation (domiciliation) center, a coworking space or a commercial agency.
The Office des Changes rules (financing the capital from abroad, transfer of income) are presented in our guide on foreign investment in a Moroccan company.
Which company forms can a non-resident create?
In the general case, the partners of a Moroccan company can be 100% foreign or non-resident: the question is covered in detail in the guide do you need a Moroccan partner to create a company in Morocco.
SARL (Société À Responsabilité Limitée, limited liability company)
Governed by Law No. 5-96, the SARL is open to non-residents:
- ✅ Minimum share capital (capital social): 1 MAD
- ✅ Partners: 1 to 50 (SARL AU if there is a sole partner; 100% foreign ownership allowed)
- ✅ Manager (gérant): Can be a non-resident
- ✅ Liability: Limited to contributions
How it works for a non-resident: You can be a partner and manager of a Moroccan SARL. A local legal representative can be appointed for routine administrative formalities if you are unable to travel.
SARL AU (Single-member SARL)
The SARL AU is perfect if you are on your own:
- ✅ A single partner (100% foreign ownership allowed)
- ✅ Minimum capital: 1 MAD
- ✅ Operates in the same way as the SARL
You can create a SARL AU entirely from abroad.
SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée, simplified joint-stock company)
Governed by Law No. 5-96 as amended and supplemented by Law No. 19-20, the SAS is very flexible:
- ✅ One or more partners
- ✅ Minimum share capital: 1 MAD
- ✅ Complete freedom of operation
- ✅ Ideal for startups and innovative projects
The SAS is particularly well suited to non-residents because it imposes few formalities.
SA (Société Anonyme, public limited company)
Governed by Law No. 17-95, the SA requires:
- ⚠️ Minimum capital: 300,000 MAD (if the company makes a public offering: 3,000,000 MAD)
- ⚠️ Minimum of 5 shareholders
- ⚠️ The share capital must be fully subscribed and paid up to at least one quarter, with the balance to be paid within a maximum of three years
- ⚠️ A board of directors, or a management board and a supervisory board
The SA is suited to large-scale projects with several investors.
How do you manage the registered office, representation and banking remotely?
Challenge 1: The registered office address
Problem: You need a Moroccan address to register your company. To choose the right solution, compare business domiciliation and a commercial lease for the registered office.
Solutions:
- 📌 Coworking space: Use a coworking address in Casablanca, Rabat or Marrakech (1,500 to 3,000 MAD per month)
- 📌 Commercial agency: Rent a small commercial premises
- 📌 Charikaty: We can provide you with an address and handle the formalities online (1,200 to 6,000 MAD per year, i.e. 100 to 500 MAD excl. VAT per month)
Challenge 2: Legal representation
Problem: You are abroad and cannot appear before the courts.
Solutions:
- 📌 A lawyer or chartered accountant: Instruct a professional to handle the formalities (cost: 5,000-25,000 MAD)
- 📌 Charikaty: We handle all the procedures on your behalf with legal powers of attorney
Challenge 3: The bank account
Problem: Moroccan banks generally require physical presence to open an account. The documents required are detailed in the guide to opening a business bank account in Morocco.
Solutions:
- ✅ From Morocco: Visit a bank with your passport and proof of domiciliation
- ✅ With a power of attorney: Give a power of attorney to someone in Morocco who can open the account
What are the steps to create your company from abroad?
The creation of a company by a non-resident follows the standard 8-step sequence applicable to any Moroccan company, with a few practical adaptations (business domiciliation, powers of attorney, electronic signature). The legal framework for these remote procedures is explained in the guide to creating a 100% online company in Morocco.
Step 1: Obtain the negative certificate (OMPIC)
Reserve the company name (dénomination sociale) with OMPIC (Law 13-99). The OMPIC negative certificate (certificat négatif) costs 232.76 MAD online and remains valid for 90 days. Law 88-17 allows companies to be created electronically: with Charikaty, the negative certificate is requested online, with no travel, and obtained in about 24 hours (indicative timeframe that depends on OMPIC).
Step 2: Draft the company's articles of association
Draft the articles of association (statuts) in accordance with Law 5-96 (SARL / SARL AU), Law 17-95 as amended by Law 19-20 (SA) or Law 5-96 as amended and supplemented by Law 19-20 (SAS). The drafting can be entrusted to a platform such as Charikaty (articles of association drafted immediately upon receipt of the negative certificate), a lawyer, a chartered accountant or a notary.
Step 3: Sign the articles of association by electronic signature (Law 43-20)
Non-residents sign the articles of association by advanced electronic signature (the recommended level for corporate deeds) under Law 43-20 on trust services for electronic transactions, from anywhere in the world. A qualified signature is not required for company formation; it mainly concerns public procurement and access to certain public platforms. The advanced electronic signature has the same legal value as a handwritten signature. The practical process is described in the guide to signing the articles of association electronically.
✅ No physical legalization of signatures is required: the advanced electronic signature is legally valid, which removes any need for non-residents to travel to the Moroccan embassy or consulate.
Approved providers in Morocco: DamaneSign, providers accredited by the DGSSI. Fees included in our charikaty.com packages.
Step 4: Deposit the share capital (if applicable)
For a SARL, blocking the funds at a bank is mandatory if the capital exceeds 100,000 MAD. The blocked account can be opened with a notarized power of attorney given to a local representative (law firm, accounting firm [fiduciaire]).
Step 5: Register the articles of association with the DRI
Registration with the Regional Tax Directorate (Direction Régionale des Impôts, DRI) must take place within 30 days of the signing of the articles of association. With Charikaty, the articles of association are registered in about 24 hours (indicative timeframe that depends on the administration), with no travel and no local representative.
Step 6: Register the company in the Commercial Register
Registration in the Commercial Register is carried out by the commercial court registry (greffe du tribunal de commerce) (filing and registration fees: about 1,200 MAD). Law 88-17 makes it possible to complete this formality electronically: with Charikaty, the file is submitted entirely online, with no travel, and registration takes place in about 3 to 5 working days (indicative timeframe that depends on the registry). The company obtains its RC from the registry, as well as its IF, its ICE and its TP from the DGI.
Step 7: Publish in the Official Bulletin and in a JAL
Publish the notice of incorporation (avis de constitution) in a legal announcements newspaper (Journal d'Annonces Légales, JAL) and in the Official Bulletin (Bulletin Officiel, BO) within 30 days of registration (cost: from a few hundred to 1,500 MAD depending on the length of the notice). With Charikaty, publication is carried out online in about 24 hours (indicative timeframe that depends on the publication media).
Step 8: CNSS affiliation and employee declaration
The company's affiliation with the CNSS is obtained at the time of incorporation; declaring employees becomes mandatory as soon as the first employee is hired. The procedure is online at www.cnss.ma.
💡 Adaptation for non-residents: the advanced electronic signature (Law 43-20) makes it possible to finalize all deeds requiring a signature from abroad, without any physical legalization or visit to the Moroccan embassy or consulate. No law requires you to have a legal representative or a manager based in Morocco: if a procedure nevertheless requires physical presence (for example at the bank), you can, as an option, appoint a local representative (lawyer, chartered accountant) holding a power of attorney. Total time with Charikaty: about 6 to 8 working days (negative certificate in about 24 hours, articles of association drafted immediately and registered in about 24 hours, registration in 3 to 5 working days, JAL/BO publication in about 24 hours), compared with about 3 to 5 weeks via the traditional route. These timeframes are indicative and depend on the authorities; if the capital has to be deposited in a bank, the bank's processing time is added.
How much does it cost a non-resident to create a company?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Business domiciliation (annual) | 1,200-6,000 MAD |
| Legal services | 5,000-25,000 MAD |
| OMPIC negative certificate (online) | 232.76 MAD |
| Registration in the register | approx. 1,200 MAD |
| Legal announcement | 700-1,500 MAD |
| Bank account opening | 0-500 MAD |
| Tax registration | Free |
| TOTAL | approx. 8,330-34,430 MAD |
💡 Charikaty tip: We offer specialized packages for non-residents, often cheaper than handling the formalities yourself.
What obligations apply to a non-resident after formation?
Once your company has been created, you have obligations:
✅ Annual tax return with the Moroccan tax administration ✅ Balance sheet and income statement every year ✅ Tax residence declaration if you are not a Moroccan resident ✅ Social security contributions for employees and the manager ✅ VAT (TVA) if your turnover exceeds the legal thresholds
⚠️ Important: As a non-resident, you could be subject to double taxation rules. Consult a chartered accountant to optimize your tax situation.
FAQ
Can a non-resident be the manager of a Moroccan SARL?
Yes, under Law No. 5-96, the manager can be a non-resident. They can manage the company from abroad, but must be able to sign the administrative documents.
Do I need a visa or a residence card to create a company in Morocco?
No, there is no legal visa or residence requirement to create a company. You can create a Moroccan company with just a valid passport. However, for extended stays, it is recommended to consult the Moroccan consulate.
Can I create a Moroccan company without ever going to Morocco?
Yes. The articles of association are signed by advanced electronic signature (Law 43-20) and, with Charikaty, all the formation formalities are completed online, with no obligation to have a representative in Morocco. Only the opening of the bank account may require, depending on the bank, a visit to Morocco or a power of attorney given to a representative.
What tax regime applies to my Moroccan company if I am a non-resident?
Your Moroccan company pays corporate income tax (impôt sur les sociétés, IS) in Morocco on its profits made in Morocco, regardless of your residence. However, you should check the tax treaties between Morocco and your country of residence to avoid double taxation.
What documents do I need to provide as a non-resident?
A valid passport or Moroccan identity document, proof of a Moroccan address (business domiciliation contract), signed articles of association, and notarized powers of attorney if a representative acts on your behalf.
How long does it take to create a company as a non-resident?
With Charikaty, allow about 6 to 8 working days: negative certificate in about 24 hours, articles of association drafted immediately and registered in about 24 hours, registration in the RC in 3 to 5 working days and JAL/BO publication in about 24 hours, compared with about 3 to 5 weeks via the traditional route. These timeframes are indicative and depend on the authorities.
Related articles
How does Charikaty simplify company formation for a non-resident?
Here is what you need to create your company from abroad: a registered office address in Morocco, the negative certificate, articles of association signed electronically, their registration, the filing with the court registry and the legal publication. With Charikaty, you do everything online, without leaving your country: it is the simplest and fastest route.
Charikaty specializes in company formation for non-residents and foreigners. We handle the formation formalities: business domiciliation, registration and tax registration. Discover our remote company formation service for MRE and non-residents.
With Charikaty, setting up a SARL in Morocco costs from 4,550 MAD including VAT, official fees included, and is done entirely online. More than 250 companies have already been set up with Charikaty.
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