How to receive USD in Morocco
To receive US dollars in Morocco, give the payer the SWIFT details of your account at a Moroccan bank. Exporters must repatriate goods proceeds within 150 days of the customs declaration and services proceeds within 90 days, and may keep up to 70% in foreign currency or convertible dirham accounts; other companies receive dollars into dirham accounts. This guide covers the routes, the Office des Changes rules, what to give the payer, arrival times, published costs and provider options.
- Moroccan businesses receive dollars mainly by SWIFT wire into an account at a Moroccan bank, under the exchange rules the Office des Changes sets out in the IGOC.
- Proceeds from exports of goods must be repatriated within 150 days of the customs declaration, and proceeds from services in full within 90 days of performing the service.
- Exporters may keep up to 70% of repatriated proceeds in foreign currency or convertible dirham accounts, or 85% for categorized operators and registered aeronautics and space companies, and surrender the balance on the foreign exchange market.
- Crédit du Maroc's tariff in force from 9 March 2026 lists its export transfer commission at 1.5 per thousand, minimum 100 dirhams, and export documentary credit notification at 1.25 per thousand, minimum 50 dirhams.
- WorldFirst states that its Africa offering, including a USD account, is available in Morocco, while Wise and Airwallex do not list Morocco.
- Helm does not currently provide USD account details to companies based in Morocco, and crypto trading has been banned there since 2017 while draft Bill 42.25 is finalized.
How to receive USD in Morocco: the short answer
A Moroccan business paid from abroad receives US dollars through a Moroccan bank in almost every case. The payer sends an international wire to the company's account. An exporter may then keep part of the proceeds in a foreign currency or convertible dirham account, and the rest is sold for dirhams. A company that does not export receives the dollars into its dirham account, where they are converted on arrival.
The rules come from the Office des Changes, Morocco's foreign exchange authority, and are set out in its General Instruction on Foreign Exchange Operations (Instruction Générale des Opérations de Change, or IGOC), overhauled in 2026. They set how quickly export proceeds must come home, how much may stay in foreign currency, and when a resident needs authorization for an operation abroad. Bank Al-Maghrib, the central bank, supervises the banks that apply them.
This guide is written for the businesses that are paid in dollars from outside Morocco: exporters of phosphates, automotive parts, textiles, agrifood and fish; outsourcing, software and engineering firms; and freelancers who invoice foreign clients. The sections below cover each route, the IGOC rules, the details to give a payer, arrival times, published costs, platform options and the position on crypto. Helm does not currently provide USD account details to companies based in Morocco; the final section explains where it fits on the other side of the trade. For the account side of the same question, see our guide to a USD business account in Morocco.
The ways to receive US dollars in Morocco
The table compares the routes. It is not a ranking: which route a business can use depends first on whether it exports and on its exchange status.
| Route | How the payer pays | What arrives | Who can use it | Main rule to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exporter's account at a Moroccan bank | International wire by SWIFT | Dollars; up to 70% kept in a foreign currency or convertible dirham account, the rest sold for dirhams | Resident exporters of goods and services | Repatriation within 150 days (goods) or 90 days (services) |
| Dirham account receiving dollars | SWIFT wire in USD | Dirhams, converted at the bank's rate | Any resident company | No dollar balance kept |
| Foreign provider's receiving account | ACH, Fedwire or SWIFT, depending on the provider | Dollars held by the provider | Depends on the provider | Export proceeds must still reach Morocco within the IGOC deadlines |
| Export documentary credit or collection | Buyer's bank pays against shipping documents | Dollars through your Moroccan bank | Exporters of goods | Documents must match the credit exactly |
Sources: Upsilon Consulting summaries of the IGOC 2026 (export rules and exchange status). As published on 29 October 2026.
SWIFT is the international network banks use to send cross-border payments, identified by an 8 or 11 character bank code. ACH is the low-cost US domestic bank transfer system, and Fedwire is the Federal Reserve's real-time system for US dollar payments. A convertible dirham account is a dirham account whose balance can be converted back into foreign currency, unlike an ordinary dirham account.
An exporter of goods sold on open account or by documentary credit uses its Moroccan bank, which handles both the proceeds and the documents. A service exporter is paid by wire into its Moroccan account and must have a written contract for each service. A provider abroad can be a collection point, but it does not change the deadline: the money must reach Morocco within 150 or 90 days.
Office des Changes rules for money received from abroad
Upsilon Consulting, a Moroccan advisory firm, summarizes the IGOC 2026 export rules, citing Articles 86 to 105 and 229. The rules below apply to every resident exporter.
| Topic | Rule under the IGOC 2026 (as summarized) |
|---|---|
| Goods: repatriation deadline | Within 150 days of the registration date of the customs declaration |
| Services: repatriation deadline | In full within 90 days of performing the service |
| Retention in foreign currency or convertible dirham accounts | Up to 70% of repatriated proceeds, net of price reductions and export commissions |
| Higher retention | 85% for operators categorized by the Office des Changes and registered aeronautics and space companies |
| Balance | Surrendered on the foreign exchange market |
| Crediting after surrender | Currency already surrendered may be credited to the account, within the limits, for one year after surrender |
| Commissions to foreign agents | Up to 10% of the invoiced amount may be deducted |
| Price reductions to customers | Up to 5% of the invoiced amount (10% for aeronautics and space), with a customer document |
| Domiciliation | Not required for exports of goods or services |
| Documents | Commercial contract, invoices, customs declaration and bank repatriation forms, kept for inspection |
Source: Upsilon Consulting, Export in Morocco: currency repatriation and exchange obligations (IGOC 2026; published 1 June 2026, updated 5 October 2026). As published on 29 October 2026. Confirm current rules with your bank or the Office des Changes.
Surrender means selling the foreign currency to a bank for dirhams. Domiciliation means registering a transaction with a named bank; the IGOC does not require it for exports, but the bank still needs the documents behind each receipt.
Services need a written contract
For services, the IGOC requires a written contract that states the service, amount, invoicing currency, payment terms and schedule, which the exporter presents to its bank to collect and repatriate the proceeds. An outsourcing or software firm should therefore put every client relationship on a signed contract before the first invoice, and agree payment terms that let the client pay well inside 90 days of the service.
Who may hold foreign currency
The IGOC gives every person an exchange status. Moroccan residents hold dirham accounts, with foreign currency accounts only on an exceptional basis. Resident exporters hold foreign currency or convertible dirham accounts for the retained share of their proceeds. Investing abroad needs prior authorization from the Office des Changes, except within the annual investment allowance set by circular. Exporters that fail to justify non-recovery of proceeds face proceedings for breach of the exchange regulations.
What to give the payer
Most delays and short payments come from incomplete details on the invoice. Send the payer one set of details, in writing, and ask the payer's accounts team to save it as a vendor record.
| Field | What to give for a wire to a Moroccan bank |
|---|---|
| Beneficiary name | Company's registered name, exactly as on the account and the trade register |
| Account identifier | The account number in your bank's full format, from its bank details letter |
| Bank identifier | Bank's full name, branch, address and SWIFT code |
| Correspondent bank | The bank's US correspondent and its SWIFT code, as your bank instructs |
| Charges | OUR, so the full amount arrives |
| Reference | Invoice number, and the contract number for services |
Field list reflects standard SWIFT practice; confirm your bank's standard settlement instructions. As published on 29 October 2026.
A correspondent bank is a bank that holds an account for another bank and settles payments in its currency. A missing or wrong correspondent is a common reason a dollar wire is delayed or returned. OUR, SHA and BEN are SWIFT charge codes: OUR means the sender pays all fees so the full amount arrives, SHA means fees are shared and intermediary banks may deduct theirs in transit, and BEN means the receiver pays them all. Agree OUR in the contract for large invoices, so the amount credited matches the invoice and the repatriation file. The invoice number on the wire is what lets the bank match the receipt to the export, so ask the payer to quote it every time. Our guide on how to receive USD from overseas buyers shows how to set these details out on an invoice.
How long a USD payment takes to arrive
Arrival time depends on the rail the payer uses. For a Moroccan exporter it also matters for the IGOC deadline: a payment held in a correspondent queue, or in a provider's account abroad, has not yet been repatriated.
| Rail | Published timing | What affects it |
|---|---|---|
| SWIFT wire to a Moroccan bank | Depends on the number of correspondent banks in the chain; Crédit du Maroc lists a value date of two working days after receipt for an export transfer | Correspondent checks, missing details, Moroccan and US holidays |
| ACH (US account details) | About 80% of ACH volume settles in one banking day or less; Same Day ACH accepts payments up to $1 million each | Payer's bank cut-off and whether it uses Same Day ACH |
| Fedwire (US account details) | Real-time gross settlement; final and irrevocable once processed; business day runs 9:00 p.m. ET the previous day to 7:00 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday | Payer's bank hours and US public holidays |
Sources: Crédit du Maroc tariff brochure (rates in force from 9 March 2026); Nacha, "Significant majority of ACH payments settle in one business day or less" (28 August 2023) and Same Day ACH limit; Federal Reserve Financial Services, Fedwire Funds Service operating hours. As published on 29 October 2026. ACH and Fedwire apply to US receiving details held with a provider abroad.
Real-time gross settlement means each payment is settled individually as it is processed, rather than in batches. For a SWIFT wire, the best way to avoid delay is to give complete details the first time, quote the invoice number, and ask the payer for the SWIFT confirmation, which carries a reference your bank can use to trace the payment if it does not arrive.
What it costs: published fees
Receiving dollars has three cost layers: the payer's bank fee, any correspondent deduction on the way, and your own bank's or provider's charges. Conversion adds a fourth for the share you surrender or choose to convert. The table shows charges that one Moroccan bank and two providers publish. Other banks set their own tariffs, so ask yours for its current brochure.
| Provider and item | Published charge |
|---|---|
| Crédit du Maroc: export transfer (transfert export) | 1.5 per thousand, minimum 100 dirhams |
| Crédit du Maroc: accessory fees, professional and business clients | 70 dirhams |
| Crédit du Maroc: export documentary collection | 1.5 per thousand, minimum 100 dirhams, plus a documentary commission of 1 per thousand on payment (minimum 100 dirhams) and a 150 dirham file fee |
| Crédit du Maroc: export documentary credit, notification | 1.25 per thousand flat, minimum 50 dirhams |
| Crédit du Maroc: export documentary credit, confirmation | 2% a year, minimum 50 dirhams |
| Crédit du Maroc: convertible dirham account maintenance | 50 dirhams a quarter |
| WorldFirst (Africa offering): receiving payments and holding currencies | Zero fees stated; sending and conversion priced in its portal |
| Payoneer: receiving into a non-local-currency receiving account | 1%, minimum $1 |
Sources: Crédit du Maroc, tariff brochure, rates in force from 9 March 2026 (amounts exclude VAT); WorldFirst, USD accounts in Africa; Payoneer fees page (updated 1 January 2026). As published on 29 October 2026. Provider conversion rates include a margin over the mid-market rate, which is a separate cost.
On an export transfer of MAD 500,000, Crédit du Maroc's 1.5 per thousand commission comes to MAD 750, plus the 70 dirham accessory fees. A percentage fee of 1% on the same amount would be MAD 5,000. For the share an exporter surrenders, conversion is usually the largest cost, so ask the bank for its rate before the proceeds are credited and compare it with a second bank on large receipts.
WorldFirst, Grey, Wise and other providers in Morocco
Platforms and fintechs, financial technology companies that are not banks, are common for agencies and freelancers. Each one sets its own country list and its own rules. The table records what each provider's own page states.
| Provider | What its own page states for Morocco | Point to check |
|---|---|---|
| WorldFirst | Its Africa offering is available across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Morocco, with a World Account that has local receiving accounts in 15+ currencies including USD | How funds reach your Moroccan bank within the IGOC deadlines |
| Grey | Provides virtual EUR, GBP and USD accounts with banking details that clients can pay into directly, alongside a Moroccan bank account | Whose name is on the account; how withdrawals reach Morocco |
| Wise | Morocco is not on the list of countries where customers can hold money | Not available for holding balances |
| Airwallex | Morocco is not on its list of supported business registration locations | Not available to Moroccan companies |
| Payoneer | Fees published globally; they depend on sender and recipient locations | Fees shown at registration and in the account |
| Helm | Does not currently provide USD account details to companies based in Morocco | Not available to Moroccan companies |
Sources: WorldFirst Africa; Grey, Moroccan businesses (last updated 17 October 2026); Wise country list; Airwallex eligible countries; Payoneer fees page; Helm eligibility. As published on 29 October 2026.
Whatever provider a Moroccan business uses, the IGOC still applies. Goods proceeds must reach Morocco within 150 days of the customs declaration and services proceeds within 90 days of the service, so plan each transfer from the provider to the Moroccan bank, and keep the provider's statement with the contract and invoice. A resident holding funds abroad should also check with its bank whether the rules on investment and assets abroad apply.
Freelancers and sole traders
A freelancer who exports services is subject to the same IGOC rule as a company: proceeds are repatriated within 90 days of performing the service. Moroccan residents hold dirham accounts, with foreign currency accounts only on an exceptional basis, so a freelancer's dollar receipts are usually converted on arrival. Keep a written contract with each client, as the IGOC requires for services, and quote it on every invoice.
Stablecoins
Some foreign clients offer to pay in USDC or USDT, digital tokens designed to hold a steady value of one US dollar. Morocco banned crypto ownership and trading in 2017, with the Office des Changes among the authorities enforcing it on the basis that virtual currencies breach the exchange rules, as reported by Morocco World News. Draft Bill No. 42.25, published in November 2025, would license crypto assets including stablecoins, but Bank Al-Maghrib's banking supervision report in July 2026 said it was still being finalized. Ask clients to pay by bank transfer.
Where Helm fits, and where it does not
Helm is a financial technology company, not a bank. Accounts are held with regulated partner institutions. Helm does not currently provide USD account details to companies based in Morocco. A Moroccan business that needs to receive dollars should use its Moroccan bank, or a provider that states it serves Morocco and works within the IGOC.
Helm accounts can receive and send USDC and USDT and convert them to USD only where local law allows. While the 2017 position stands and Bill 42.25 is not in force, that rules these features out for companies based in Morocco. Helm's general rules are on the eligibility page, and current availability questions can go to Helm's contact page.
Helm is relevant on the other side of the trade. A US or other foreign buyer with a Helm account can send international payments to Moroccan suppliers by SWIFT, with the rate, fee and expected arrival shown before sending, and quote the supplier's invoice number so the Moroccan bank can match the receipt to the export.
Checklist for receiving USD in Morocco
- Give payers the full SWIFT details of your Moroccan account, including the US correspondent bank.
- Put every service relationship on a written contract stating amount, currency and payment schedule.
- Diary 150 days from the customs declaration for goods and 90 days from performance for services.
- Ask your bank to credit up to 70% (or 85% if categorized) of each export receipt to your foreign currency or convertible dirham account.
- Agree OUR charges with payers for large invoices.
- Keep contracts, invoices, customs declarations and bank repatriation forms for inspection.
- Do not accept stablecoins while the 2017 ban applies.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
How can a business in Morocco receive US dollars?
A Moroccan business receives dollars by SWIFT wire into its account at a Moroccan bank. Exporters may keep up to 70% of repatriated proceeds in a foreign currency or convertible dirham account, and companies that do not export receive dollars into a dirham account, where they are converted.
How long do Moroccan exporters have to repatriate proceeds?
Under the IGOC 2026, as summarized by Upsilon Consulting, proceeds from exports of goods must be repatriated within 150 days of the registration date of the customs declaration, and proceeds from services in full within 90 days of performing the service.
How much of my export proceeds can I keep in dollars in Morocco?
Exporters may keep up to 70% of repatriated proceeds, net of price reductions and export commissions, in foreign currency or convertible dirham accounts. Operators categorized by the Office des Changes and registered aeronautics and space companies may keep 85%, and the balance is surrendered on the foreign exchange market.
Do Moroccan freelancers need a contract to receive payment from abroad?
Yes. For exports of services, the IGOC requires a written contract stating the service, amount, invoicing currency, payment terms and schedule, which the exporter presents to its bank to collect and repatriate the proceeds within 90 days.
What details does a foreign client need to pay my Moroccan bank account in USD?
The client needs your registered business name, the full account number, your bank's name, branch, address and SWIFT code, and the bank's US correspondent bank as your bank instructs. Ask the client to quote your invoice or contract number and to use the OUR charge code.
How much do Moroccan banks charge to receive a transfer from abroad?
Each bank publishes its own tariff. Crédit du Maroc's brochure, with rates in force from 9 March 2026, lists its export transfer commission at 1.5 per thousand with a 100 dirham minimum, plus 70 dirhams in accessory fees for business clients.
Can I use Wise or WorldFirst to receive USD in Morocco?
Morocco is not on Wise's list of countries where customers can hold money, as published on 29 October 2026. WorldFirst states that its Africa offering, including a USD account, is available in Morocco, and the IGOC repatriation deadlines still apply to export proceeds received that way.
Can a Moroccan business accept USDT or USDC from a client?
Morocco banned crypto ownership and trading in 2017, and the Office des Changes has enforced it as a breach of the exchange rules. Draft Bill No. 42.25 would license crypto assets including stablecoins, but it was still being finalized in July 2026.
Does Helm offer USD account details to Moroccan companies?
Helm does not currently provide USD account details to companies based in Morocco, and its USDC and USDT features are available only where local law allows. Foreign buyers with a Helm account can pay Moroccan suppliers by SWIFT.
References
- Upsilon Consulting: Export in Morocco, currency repatriation and exchange obligations (IGOC 2026)
- Upsilon Consulting: Exchange status in Morocco, resident, non-resident, MRE, foreign (IGOC 2026)
- Crédit du Maroc: Tariff brochure (rates in force from 9 March 2026)
- WorldFirst: USD accounts in Africa
- Grey: How Moroccan businesses receive payments from overseas customers
- Morocco World News: Bank Al-Maghrib confirms progress on crypto law (22 July 2026)
- Payoneer: Fees
- Nacha: Significant majority of ACH payments settle in one business day or less (28 August 2023)
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.