Fiche de police in Morocco: what every host needs to know (and how to take it online)

Every guest who sleeps in an apartment, riad or hotel in Morocco must be declared. That is the purpose of the fiche de police (police registration form) — officially the bulletin individuel. For many managers it is still a paper chore: copying passports at arrival, filling in forms by hand, handing them over to the authorities and filing everything. Here is what you need to know, and how to save precious time by taking guest registration online.

What is the fiche de police for?

The fiche de police lets the authorities know who is staying where, and when. It applies to every accommodation that hosts paying guests: hotels, guesthouses and riads, but also apartments and villas rented for short stays.

In practice, the host must:

• record the identity of every adult guest at arrival;
• fill in one form per person;
• send the forms to the authorities, following the procedure of your city (at the police station or gendarmerie, electronic submission…);
• keep a record of the stays.

The practical details (deadline, accepted format, online platform) vary from city to city and change over time. Check with the police station or local authority your property depends on.

What information goes on the form?

The bulletin individuel covers the guest's identity and stay:

For Moroccan guests, the national identity card is the expected document. Children travelling with an adult are usually listed on the adult's form.

Why paper doesn't work anymore

On the ground, paper registration keeps causing the same problems:

1. Late arrivals: the guest arrives at 11 pm, tired, and still has to find their passport and fill in a form.
2. Mistakes: unreadable handwriting, an incomplete passport number, a swapped date.
3. Self check-in: with a key box or a smart lock, nobody is there to copy ID documents.
4. Filing: binders full of forms to keep and to find again in case of an inspection.

Online registration: how it works

The answer is to collect the information before arrival, online. With Hosteo's online registration:

• every reservation automatically gets a private link, sent by email and WhatsApp a few days before arrival;
• the guest fills in their details (and those of the other adults) on their phone, in French, English, Arabic or Dutch;
• they take a photo of the front and back of their ID document;
• they sign the rental agreement and the house conditions on screen;
• you check the documents in one click, and the fiche de police is generated automatically: four forms per A4 page, with your logo and address, ready to print or submit.

The result: at arrival, all that's left is handing over the keys. And for self check-in, you already know who is arriving, with verified ID documents.

Good practices

• Send the link early (3 to 5 days before arrival) with an automatic reminder the day before.
• Check every document before arrival: readable photo, same name as the booking, valid expiry date.
• Keep only what you need: ID documents are sensitive personal data. Store them in a secure tool rather than on a phone or in a WhatsApp group.
• Keep a record of the forms you submitted, in case of an inspection.

In short

The fiche de police is a simple but time-consuming obligation. By collecting guest details and ID documents online before arrival, you save time, avoid mistakes and give your guests a smoother arrival — while staying compliant.

This article is for information only and is not legal advice. Obligations and procedures may vary depending on your city and type of property.