Marrakech – Canada has selected Morocco as the exclusive testing ground for its groundbreaking digital visa pilot program, making the North African kingdom the first and only country chosen for this modernization initiative.
The Government of Canada launched the digital visa testing phase on November 27, inviting a small group of approved Moroccan visitor visa holders to receive electronic versions of their travel documents. This pilot marks a major departure from the traditional practice of placing physical visa stickers in passports.
The digital visa system stores travel authorization electronically in Canada’s immigration systems, linking it directly to travelers’ passport numbers. Approved participants receive both the new digital format and the standard physical counterfoil during this testing period.
Canadian immigration officials designed the program to accelerate processing times, reduce administrative backlogs, and strengthen security measures while maintaining existing entry requirements, including biometric checks and admissibility assessments.
The digital format eliminates the need for passport submission and mailing procedures. It also improves verification processes and allows travelers to share only necessary information with airlines and border officials.
Choosing Morocco for the pilot program speaks to the robustness of bilateral relations and the increasing influx of Moroccan travelers to Canada.
The Moroccan community in Canada numbers between 104,000 and 300,000 people according to different estimates, with the 2016 census recording 104,000, while Moroccan authorities suggest the actual figure reaches 300,000, including naturalized citizens and their descendants.
Montreal serves as the primary hub for Canada’s Moroccan diaspora. Each year, over 5,000 young Moroccans pursue studies in Canada, traditionally favoring Quebec but increasingly choosing other provinces.
Immigration trends show that Moroccans maintain a strong representation in Canada’s naturalization process. During the first half of 2025, 1,835 Moroccans obtained Canadian citizenship, accounting for approximately seven percent of all new citizenships granted in that period.
Canada’s broader immigration framework targeted 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 under its Immigration Levels Plan.
The country issued several hundred thousand temporary visas across visitor, study, and work categories, though international student permits decreased from over 650,000 in 2023 to roughly 500,000-580,000 in 2024, representing a 10-20% decline following new caps and stricter regulations.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) department is coordinating with other federal agencies to ensure digital travel documents meet Canadian and international privacy and security standards. Officials stress the pilot follows all government privacy and security protocols.
Feedback from pilot participants will guide future development of digital immigration documents and test compatibility with third-party systems, including airlines. The program aims to make travel to Canada faster, safer, and more convenient while reducing printing and mailing costs.
The pilot’s success could determine Canada’s approach to modernizing immigration services and potentially expanding digital visa availability to other countries.
