SIM card at Marrakech or Casablanca airport, or an eSIM? An honest comparison
Moroccan SIM cards at the airport are cheap per gigabyte and often free as a card. What they cost, the passport rule, and when a travel eSIM is still worth it.
If you want the cheapest data per gigabyte and do not mind a queue, buy a local SIM at the airport. In Casablanca, Maroc Telecom, Orange and inwi have kiosks in arrivals after customs, and the SIM card itself is usually free: inwi offered 10 GB with 600 minutes for 100 MAD in 2026. A travel eSIM costs more per gigabyte, and is worth it for a different reason: you land already online, without a queue or paperwork, and your own number stays in the phone.
What the airport SIMs cost
| Airport | What travellers reported in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Casablanca Mohammed V, T1 and T2 | kiosks after customs, reportedly open 24/7; SIM free; inwi 10 GB + 600 min for 100 MAD; Orange 20 GB for 100 MAD |
| Marrakech Menara | kiosks just outside, on your left after customs; Maroc Telecom 40 GB for 200 MAD, cash only |
| In town | Maroc Telecom around 50 MAD for 10 GB |
These come from recent traveller guides, not from the operators, so prices can differ on the day. We found no reliable source for the kiosks at Agadir, Fès and Tangier airports.
The passport rule
Since 2014, Moroccan prepaid SIMs must be registered to the buyer, and foreigners show a passport. In 2024 the regulator ordered unregistered SIMs deactivated. Street sellers who say "no passport needed" are ignoring the rule, and the SIM may stop working.
When a travel eSIM is worth it
- You land late or with family, and do not want to queue at a kiosk after the flight.
- You need to keep your own number for bank codes and calls, without swapping cards.
- You are on a short trip, where the difference in price is small next to the time saved.
- Your phone is locked or you do not want a physical card you might lose.
Our Morocco eSIM connects to Orange Maroc, with 5G in the cities since November 2025.
Quick answers
Is the SIM card free at Casablanca airport?
Recent traveller reports say the card is free and you pay for the data pack. Bring your passport.
Do I need a passport to buy a SIM in Morocco?
Yes. Prepaid SIMs must be registered, and foreigners use their passport.
Is an eSIM cheaper than a Moroccan SIM?
Usually not per gigabyte. A local SIM is cheaper; an eSIM saves the queue and keeps your own number in the phone.
Sources: Bewildered in Morocco (updated 11 August 2026), Travel Tom Tom (updated 12 March 2026), Agence Ecofin (2014), Le Petit Journal Marocain (10 July 2024), Orange Maroc. Checked 21 September 2026.