IGOC 2026: What MRE Need to Know About the New Office des Changes Limits (Travel 500,000 MAD, Tuition 15,000 MAD/Month, E-commerce 20,000 MAD)
The 2026 General Instruction on Foreign Exchange Operations (IGOC) entered into force on 1 January 2026. Travel allocation raised to MAD 500,000 per year, e-commerce limit lifted to MAD 20,000, study fees abroad up to MAD 15,000 per month. Here is what directly affects MRE and their families in Morocco.
Morocco's 2026 General Instruction on Foreign Exchange Operations (IGOC) issued by the Office des Changes came into force on 1 January 2026. The text raises several foreign currency allocation ceilings, modernises the online payment framework and clarifies the rules for studies abroad. For MRE, whose families in Morocco use these mechanisms daily, the impact is very concrete.
The three changes directly affecting MRE families
Three allocation ceilings were raised on 1 January 2026 and directly affect Moroccans residing in Morocco who are in contact with an MRE.
The annual personal travel allowance rises to MAD 500,000 per calendar year. It is split in two parts: a base allowance of MAD 100,000 open to any Moroccan adult, and an additional allowance of up to MAD 400,000 calculated as 30 % of the income tax paid in Morocco during the previous year.
The annual e-commerce allowance for individuals rises from MAD 15,000 to MAD 20,000. It funds online purchases on foreign sites paid in foreign currency (software subscriptions, marketplaces, professional streaming services, hardware purchases).
The monthly study fees abroad allowance rises from MAD 12,000 to MAD 15,000 per month per student. For an MRE co-financing the studies of a sibling or a child returning to study outside Morocco, this ceiling is the key reference.
How to read the 100,000 + 400,000 travel allowance
Many Moroccans still believe the travel allowance is capped at MAD 100,000. That is no longer accurate as of 1 January 2026.
The first MAD 100,000 tier is unconditional. It is used for travel outside Morocco upon presentation of a passport and ticket at any authorised bank or exchange office. It is not carried over from one year to the next.
The second tier, up to an additional MAD 400,000, is conditional on actual income tax paid in Morocco. The calculation is simple: 30 % of the IR amount paid during the reference year, capped at MAD 400,000. A taxpayer who paid MAD 100,000 in IR opens up MAD 30,000 of additional allowance; a taxpayer who paid MAD 1,500,000 in IR reaches the maximum ceiling.
For an MRE who is not a Moroccan tax resident but has a parent subject to income tax in Morocco, this allowance is mobilisable by the resident parent for personal expenses abroad, including visits to the MRE.
E-commerce raised to MAD 20,000 per year: what it unlocks
The e-commerce ceiling raised to MAD 20,000 per year unlocks use cases that were blocked by the previous MAD 15,000 cap.
A Moroccan freelancer working with MRE abroad can cover their professional subscriptions (Adobe, Microsoft 365, ChatGPT, Cursor, Linear, Notion, cloud hosting, business SaaS) without having to multiply foreign accounts. A resident parent equipping a child with IT gear orders from Amazon or Apple without exceeding the cap.
This allowance is set by default on Moroccan bank cards with the international option enabled. The bank generally requires an explicit activation and verification of the cardholder's identity. The cap is annual and rolling over the calendar year.
Study fees abroad: MAD 15,000 per month per student
The MAD 15,000 monthly cap covers the student's living expenses: housing, food, local transport, supplies, health. It is on top of tuition fees stricto sensu (enrolment rights) which are transferred separately on presentation of the university invoice.
For an MRE co-financing the studies of a family member, two options coexist: either the Morocco-resident parent uses the IGOC ceiling to transfer up to MAD 15,000/month to the student's account abroad, or the MRE transfers directly from their country of residence, which falls outside the IGOC framework.
The choice depends on the situation. If the student has a Moroccan student account before leaving, the IGOC option lets the resident parents keep an eye on spending. If the student opens an account directly in their country of study, an MRE transfer from abroad is often simpler and cheaper in banking fees.
What the reform does not change for MRE
Several classic rules are not affected by IGOC 2026 and continue to apply.
MRE returning to Morocco can still freely import the foreign currency they hold, without declaration below MAD 100,000 equivalent, with a customs declaration above.
Convertible dirham accounts (MDM convertible) at Moroccan banks remain the reference tool to hold and grow foreign currency funds in Morocco while keeping the ability to transfer freely abroad. Opening and operating conditions have not changed.
Inbound transfers from abroad to a Moroccan account remain unrestricted and uncapped. Only the outbound direction Morocco to abroad is regulated by the IGOC ceilings.
The 30-day travel allowance rule
A point often overlooked: the travel allowance must be used within 30 days of withdrawal. Beyond that, unused foreign currency must be re-sold to the bank or recredited to the customer account.
For an MRE helping a resident parent prepare a trip spread over several weeks, the timing of the withdrawal matters. It is better to withdraw the allowance 7 to 10 days before actual departure rather than several weeks in advance.
How to activate your rights in practice
Three practical steps for a Morocco-resident wanting to mobilise the new ceilings.
First, ask your Moroccan bank to activate the international bank card with the MAD 20,000 e-commerce allowance. Most banks (Attijari, BMCE, BCP, Credit Agricole, CIH, Societe Generale, BMCI) do this in branch upon presentation of CNIE and proof of address.
Second, keep the prior year's IR tax notice. It is the document that justifies eligibility for the additional MAD 400,000 travel allowance. Without the notice, only the MAD 100,000 base tier is available.
Third, for study fees abroad, prepare a complete file: enrolment certificate from the foreign institution, accommodation certificate (student housing or lease), copy of the student's passport, proof of family relationship with the originator.
Official sources and references
The Office des Changes publishes the full IGOC 2026 on its website oc.gov.ma. The complete circular is downloadable as a PDF. The Ministry of Economy and Finance finances.gov.ma covers the main measures in its policy notes.
For a specific MRE file question, the Office des Changes has an enquiry service reachable via the online form or by mail. Response times are typically 10 to 15 working days.
For MRE wanting to secure a specific arrangement (company set-up, investment, cross-border succession), specialist advice remains recommended: tax lawyer or licensed Moroccan certified accountant, alongside the public information.
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