Tangier: Morocco's strait-side city, an hour by ferry from Spain

Community: The Tangier American Legation, a gift from the Sultan of Morocco in 1821, is the only U.S. National Historic Landmark in a foreign country. Today it holds a museum, a research library, talks and arts programs, and it's open daily (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends). It's a good place to start meeting people who care about the city.

Healthcare: The Mohammed VI university hospital opened in April 2023 in Gueznaya, on the city's edge, with 797 beds and a separate mother-and-child hospital that has its own emergency unit. The State Department notes that medical care in Morocco isn't free and the U.S. government won't pay your bills, so arrange coverage before you arrive. Hunter Schultz, our healthcare coach, can help you size up local care, and ExpatInsure sets up international coverage that travels with you.

Safety: As of its September 2026 update, the State Department rates Morocco Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, because of terrorism risk. Day to day, it calls petty crime a serious concern in major cities and tourist areas, so watch your phone and wallet around the port and medina.

LGBTQ expats: Consensual same-sex relations are a crime in Morocco under Article 489 of the Penal Code, punishable by prison and fines, and couples have been arrested for kissing or holding hands. That law applies in Tangier as everywhere else in the country, so weigh it before anything on this page.

Black Americans: Black American writers have a history here: Claude McKay lived in Tangier and revised a novel while he was here. We found no official guidance on what Black Americans face today. One Black American woman who studied Arabic in Tangier in 2016 wrote that her first week was brutal; the overall stay was one of the hardest times of her life mentally. That's a single account, years old, so talk with Black Americans living in Tangier now before you decide.

Limited mobility: Moroccan law bans discrimination against people with disabilities, but the old city is a different matter: one cruise line rates its walking tour of the medina and Legation as not recommended for guests with physical limitations. If you use a wheelchair or walk with difficulty, look at newer neighborhoods, check entrances and elevators in person, and plan on taxis.

Remote work and schools: Spaces runs three coworking centers in Tangier, including ones on Boulevard Pasteur and in the Tangier Free Zone, and Regus has another on Rue Sidi Amar. For families, the American School of Tangier teaches preschool through grade 12 and has offered an American program since 1950; it's an Assisted Overseas School, meaning it gets support from the U.S. State Department.

Retirement: Retirees who stay past the 90-day visitor limit apply for a residence card in person at the local police, and the State Department says first-time applicants need a criminal record check from the U.S., so request it before you move. Compare retirement visa options or read our full Morocco guide.