Demander un devis ↗Guide · Filming in Morocco
Filming permits in Morocco: who to ask, and when
Permits are the item that pushes back the most schedules, and almost never the one people plan for. A full crew waiting two hours in front of a door costs more than a day of preparation.
A permit cannot be obtained in a hurry: it depends on someone who has other things to do. The only variable you control is when you ask.
Who to ask, depending on the location
Your own premises
The site management, and the person who actually handles access — rarely the same person.
A shared building
The building manager, in addition to your own management.
An industrial site
The HSE manager before anyone else: they decide what can be filmed.
A private venue open to the public
The operator. Their quiet hours are often better than a closure.
Public space
The competent authority for the location. Lead times vary: ask early.
The people on camera
An image-rights release, prepared in advance and not during the shoot.
The right order
List locations before writing the script
A location refused after writing brings down entire sequences.
Identify the real decision-maker
It is not always the first person who answers.
Ask in writing, with details
Dates, times, crew size, equipment, areas concerned.
Plan a fallback for each sensitive location
A shoot that depends on a single access point is a fragile shoot.
Drones follow their own chain
It is not one permit, it is several
A flight meant to be filmed is not only a matter for the owner of the location. It requires the agreement of the authorities of the territory flown over, of the body that regulates audiovisual activity, and notification of the competent security forces. Obtaining one does not replace any other.
The audiovisual side goes through the CCM
As soon as aerial images serve a film, a commercial, a music video or a documentary, the Centre Cinématographique Marocain (Moroccan Cinema Centre) is involved, in addition to the flight permit itself.
The decision is local
It is taken at the level of the province concerned. Two cities, two files: a shoot flying over several places cannot be handled in a single request.
One permit per mission
The principle is a written agreement tied to a specific flight, with its dates and perimeter. A postponed shoot does not automatically carry the permit with it: this is what surprises people most.
Count in weeks, not days
Published procedures mention about ten days minimum before the shooting date. That is a floor, not a forecast: a file submitted at the last minute leaves no margin if a document is missing.
Plan a ground-level equivalent
An area can stay closed to flights for reasons that have nothing to do with your file. A shot list that depends on a single aerial shot is a risky shot list.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a permit to film with a drone in Morocco?
Yes, and it is not a single formality: flights are regulated, the decision is taken at the level of the province concerned, and as soon as the images serve an audiovisual project the Centre Cinématographique Marocain is involved as well. In Morocco a drone is a regulated professional tool, not an accessory you take out on the day of the shoot.
How far in advance should you apply for a drone permit in Morocco?
Published procedures mention about ten days minimum before the shoot. In practice, applying at the scoping stage rather than during preparation takes the same effort and removes the risk: it is the only parameter you really control.
Does one drone permit cover several shoots?
No. The agreement is tied to one flight, with its dates and perimeter. A second site, or a postponed date, is handled as a new request — which is what breaks schedules when people learn it too late.
Do people visible in the background need to give consent?
Recognisable people must have given their agreement. The simplest way is to inform teams in advance and plan areas where no filming takes place.
Who handles these steps?
They are shared: the client knows the internal contacts, the production company knows what to ask for and in what form. The split is decided at the scoping stage, not the day before.
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