Permanently returning to Morocco from France is a decision that requires dozens of administrative, legal and financial steps. Unlike a simple domestic move, a departure abroad involves specific rules for each contract: reduced or standard notice periods, overpayment risks, and declaratory obligations with tax and social administrations. This guide walks you through methodically closing your administrative life in France before your return to Morocco.
Terminate your rental lease
The legal notice period for a residential lease (law of July 6, 1989) is 3 months in non-tight zones, or 1 month in the following cases: tight zone (official list on service-public.fr), professional relocation (including abroad), involuntary job loss, health condition requiring a change of residence, RSA or AAH recipients. For a departure to Morocco, professional relocation or the foreign country criterion (legitimate reason) may apply depending on the courts. The notice period starts from the date the landlord receives the letter. Recommended method: registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt (LRAR) or electronic registered letter (LRE via AR24.fr or Maileva). The deposit must be returned within 1 month if the exit inspection matches the entry inspection, within 2 months if deductions are justified. Any overrun gives the right to a penalty of 10% of the monthly rent per month of delay.
💡 Tip — Ask your landlord to take time-stamped photos of the exit inspection: they constitute evidence in case of dispute over the return of the deposit.
⚠️ Warning — Never vacate a property without having conducted the contradictory exit inspection: without this inspection, the landlord can withhold the entire deposit without having to justify the damages.
Cancel energy, water, internet and phone contracts
EDF/Engie (electricity/gas): cancellation possible by phone, online or in your customer account. The final meter reading is taken within 2 weeks of departure, the account balance is refunded or charged within 4 to 6 weeks. Remember to provide a return address or Moroccan bank details. Veolia/Suez (water): same process, notify closure and address for final invoice. Fixed/ADSL operator: since the Chatel law (2005), the cancellation period is a maximum of 30 days after notification. Online cancellation available for Orange, SFR, Bouygues, Free. Mobile operator: 1-month notice (portability possible if you keep a French number for international use from Morocco). Home insurance: to be cancelled after the exit inspection, not before. Keep coverage until the last day of occupancy.
💡 Tip — Keep your French phone number by porting the line to an eSIM (Airalo, BreezIM) or an online operator (Free Mobile) for calls and SMS in euros from Morocco.
Close or adapt your bank accounts
Closing a bank account in France is a legal right exercised on simple written request (letter or online). The bank has 30 days to execute the closure. Before closing: cancel direct debits and standing orders (EDF, rent, subscriptions), wait for the last deferred charges (bank card), recover savings (Livret A, LDDS to close or transfer). Account to keep: it is strongly advised to keep at least one French account (ideally a free online bank: Revolut, N26, Fortuneo, Boursorama) for purchases in euros, Social Security reimbursements in transit, or occasional returns to France. The banking mobility law (Macron law 2017, Agir scheme) requires banks to transfer direct debits and standing orders free of charge to a new account.
💡 Tip — Transfer your savings to your Moroccan account via international SEPA transfer (free on Revolut, low cost on Wise) rather than withdrawing cash.
⚠️ Warning — Close your French bank account only after confirming receipt of all pending reimbursements (Social Security, CAF, taxes, deposit) and after the actual move.
Notify CAF and Social Security of your departure
CAF (Family Allowances Fund): notify your departure from France immediately on caf.fr (section 'Report a change'). Any benefit paid after the actual departure date is an overpayment that will need to be reimbursed. CAF may request proof of departure (transport ticket, proof of residence in Morocco). Social Security / Carte Vitale: notify your departure to your local CPAM office. The carte vitale technically remains valid for a short period after departure but its use is no longer legal once non-resident. Under the France-Morocco Social Security Convention of 1965 (amended in 2017), contribution periods in France can be combined with Moroccan periods for opening pension rights. Request a pension insurance career statement before your departure.
💡 Tip — Download the Ameli app and retrieve all your reimbursement data before closing your Ameli account: records may become inaccessible after deregistration.
⚠️ Warning — Failing to notify CAF of your departure is considered social benefit fraud if you continue to receive allowances from abroad. The statute of limitations is 5 years.
Departure tax return and vehicle
Income tax: you are taxable in France on income received from January 1st until the date of your departure (transfer of domicile). File a 2042 income tax return the following year for this period (box 8UU 'domicile outside France'). Notify your departure on impots.gouv.fr (secure messaging, section 'Report a move abroad') to close your tax file. If you have French-source income after departure (rents, dividends from a French company), you remain taxable in France on these income streams only as a non-resident. Vehicle: if you are taking your car to Morocco, compile an ANTS file for deregistration and re-registration. Technical inspection less than 6 months old is mandatory for export. Upon arrival in Morocco, customs declaration with ADII (Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration) within 30 days for permanent import (temporary admission possible for 6 months, renewable).
💡 Tip — If you are permanently leaving France and selling financial assets (PEA stock savings plan, life insurance), check the redemption conditions and tax implications before your change of residence: some products become less advantageous for non-residents.
⚠️ Warning — Exit tax (Article 167 bis of the CGI) applies if you have held more than 50% of a company or have unrealized capital gains exceeding 800,000 euros during the 10 years prior to your departure. Consult a tax lawyer before leaving if this applies.
❌ Common mistakes to avoid
- ✕Leaving without having conducted the contradictory exit inspection, thereby losing all right to contest the landlord's retention of the deposit.
- ✕Continuing to receive CAF benefits (housing allowance, family allowances) after permanently leaving France, which constitutes fraud punishable by 5 years imprisonment and 375,000 euros fine.
- ✕Closing all French bank accounts before receiving all pending reimbursements (Social Security, tax overpayments, rental deposit), making their recovery very complex.
- ✕Not declaring French-source income (rents, dividends) received after departure, wrongly believing they are no longer taxable in France once non-resident.
- ✕Taking your car to Morocco without checking applicable customs duties: without active MRE status and the corresponding duty-free allowance, the permanent import of a vehicle can cost 30 to 40% of its market value.
🔗 Official links and resources
Service-Public.fr - Lease Termination
Legal conditions for terminating a rental lease, notice period and deposit return
CAF.fr - Report a move abroad
Procedure for notifying CAF of your departure from France and avoiding overpayments
Impots.gouv.fr - Non-residents and departure from France
Tax declaration obligations when permanently leaving France
ADII - Morocco Customs Administration
Importing vehicles and personal effects to Morocco, MRE duty-free allowance and customs procedures
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