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Algeciras to Tanger Med Ferry: Documents, Car and Operators
With Balearia · 35 to 40 daily departures · 1:30 hours - 2 hours
To cross from Algeciras to Morocco by ferry, the route with the most departures is Algeciras–Tanger Med: it leaves from the Algeciras ferry terminal and arrives at the port of Tanger Med, about 40 km from Tangier. Several ferry companies operate it, including Baleària.
Morocco is not in the European Union: you need a valid passport, and so do children. A Spanish ID card (DNI) is not accepted. If you hold a Moroccan or Algerian passport and live in Spain, also bring your valid residence card.
With a car, you need a fixed-date ticket for the exact day, the vehicle registration document, insurance valid in Morocco and the temporary import form. The car that goes in must be the one that comes out.
Before you board back to Europe, Baleària checks that non-EU passengers are allowed to enter the Schengen area.
Algeciras to Tanger Med ferry timetable
Below you will find the real departures for the date you choose, with the ferry company, departure time and arrival time. It is one of the busiest routes across the Strait: there are departures spread throughout the day and, in summer, they run late into the night.
Local time in Spain and Morocco
The departure is shown in Spanish time and the arrival in Moroccan time. During Spanish summer time, Morocco is usually one hour behind: that is why it can look as if you arrive almost at the time you leave. Check the difference before you travel, because Morocco changes its clocks during Ramadan.
From Tanger Med to Algeciras
For the return, see the page for the Tanger Med Algeciras ferry.
There are no departures with these filters on this day.
There are no departures with these filters on this day.
There are no departures with these filters on this day.
There are no departures with these filters on this day.
There are no departures with these filters on this day.
There are no departures with these filters on this day.
There are no departures with these filters on this day.
Indicative schedules and subject to variation by the ferry company for operational reasons without prior notice.
How long does the ferry from Algeciras to Tanger Med take?
The crossing takes a little over an hour and a half to two hours, depending on the ship and the sea conditions. On top of that you need to allow for boarding and border checks, which can take longer in high season. The timetable shows the duration of each departure and the ship that sails it.
Who operates the Algeciras Tanger Med ferry
Several ferry companies cross the Strait and the offer has changed with the sale of the former Naviera Armas:
- Baleària: operates this route and I Love Ferry sells it. It bought Armas' operations in the Strait. It offers reclining seats and a cafeteria, and the Moroccan police form is handed in on board during the crossing.
- DFDS (with FRS Iberia): takes over from Armas on the Algeciras–Tanger Med line.
- AML (Africa Morocco Link): a Moroccan ferry company that crosses the Strait between Algeciras and Tanger Med.
If you have an old Armas ticket, it is still valid; to change it, check how this is handled depending on the ferry company. In the search you can see which company runs each departure on your date.
Algeciras Tanger Med ferry price
The price you see above is the lowest recent price for one adult without a vehicle, with the date on which we checked it. Your price depends on:
- The date: in summer, especially during the Operation Strait Crossing (Operación Paso del Estrecho), from mid-June to mid-September, demand is high.
- The vehicle: a car, van, motorhome or motorbike is paid separately, depending on its size.
- One-way or return: compare both options, but remember that the ticket must be a fixed-date one to enter the port of Tanger Med with a vehicle.
- Changes: on this route Baleària lets you change your ticket in advance at no cost.
Children, babies and discounts
Children and babies have their own fares: enter the age of each traveller when you search and the price is calculated automatically. This is an international route, so the resident and large-family discounts that apply on domestic routes do not apply. Children also need their own passport.
Algeciras Tanger Med ferry with a car
This is the most used route for crossing to Morocco with a vehicle. Enter the vehicle type, make and model when you search to see the exact price; what you declare must match your vehicle.
Fixed-date ticket for the exact day
To enter the boarding area with a vehicle at Tanger Med you need a fixed-date ticket for the exact date. Open tickets, tickets for another date or no ticket at all are not accepted: anyone who arrives without a valid ticket is redirected to an area about 7 km from the port to change or buy one. In Algeciras, in addition, you can only enter the pre-boarding area with a ticket whose travel date is within the next 24 hours.
Car papers for Morocco
- Valid vehicle registration document and driving licence.
- Insurance with the highest cover and valid in Morocco (green card or border insurance).
- Temporary import form (D16TER): you can fill it in and print it before you arrive and hand it in at customs at the border.
- If the car is not yours, a transfer-of-use document validated by the Moroccan Embassy or consulate in Spain.
The car that goes in must be the same one that comes out, and its temporary stay is limited: up to six months a year, and three consecutive months at most. If your car has Moroccan or other foreign plates, check the customs rules on the official Moroccan Customs portal.
Travelling to Morocco with a dog
You can travel with your dog with Baleària: add it when you book. For Morocco it needs a passport or animal health certificate, a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and, depending on the country of origin, a rabies antibody test, with the sample taken at least 30 days after vaccination and at least three months before the trip. If anything is missing, the authorities may refuse entry and propose quarantine, return to the origin or euthanasia. On board: a pet-friendly seat (up to 8 kg with a carrier), a calm cabin area or a pet-friendly cabin. More in travelling by ferry with a dog.
On board: Moroccan police, luggage and what you cannot take
On a short crossing you travel in a reclining seat or in the common areas, with a cafeteria and shop. During the crossing, Moroccan police staff collect the police form you have filled in: pay attention to the announcements on board.
With a car, the vehicle deck is closed during the crossing: keep your documents and medicines with you. Baleària prohibits bringing alcoholic drinks on board, as well as weapons and fireworks. Medicines should be in their original packaging and with a prescription if you need them: some anxiolytics and painkillers may be considered illegal in Morocco.
The ports of Algeciras and Tanger Med
Port of Tánger Med
How to get to the port of Algeciras
Ferries to Morocco leave from the ferry terminal in the port of Algeciras, next to the town centre. With a car, follow the signs for boarding to Tanger Med inside the port and have your boarding pass to hand.
Arrival time: outside the Operation Strait Crossing, Baleària asks for at least 60 minutes on foot and 2 hours with a vehicle. During the operation it recommends about 2 hours in Algeciras. Access control is stricter on those dates.
Arriving at Tanger Med: how to get to Tangier and other cities
Tanger Med is a new port on the coast, about 40 km from the city of Tangier. When you disembark you go through passport control and customs. With a car, you drive straight onto the road towards Tangier, Tetouan and the rest of Morocco. Without a car, there are buses and taxis to Tangier and other cities.
If your destination is central Tangier and you travel without a car, the Tarifa Tanger Ville ferry drops you at the city port, and it is the most practical for going and coming back on the same day.
Documents to travel to Morocco by ferry
With a Spanish or other EU passport
- Valid passport for all travellers, children included, preferably with more than six months of validity. The ID card is not valid to enter Morocco.
- No visa for tourism: the maximum stay is 90 days per six-month period.
- Moroccan police form: print it, fill it in and hand it to the Moroccan police on board. You can download it from the Baleària website.
With a Moroccan passport or dual nationality
Bring your valid Moroccan passport and, if you hold dual nationality, the other passport too. If you are unsure which one to use to enter and leave, ask at your consulate before travelling. With a Spanish passport, Morocco requires a passport.
Residents in Europe with a passport from another country (Moroccan, Algerian or other)
- Bring your valid passport and your valid residence card or European residence permit.
- Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa, eVisa or electronic authorisation to enter Morocco. The European residence card or the Schengen visa do not automatically replace the entry permit for Morocco. Check it on the official Acces Maroc portal.
- To return to Europe: before you board back, Baleària checks, through the European eu-LISA platform, that you have a valid permit to enter the Schengen area (a visa or ETIAS authorisation, as the case may be), and may refuse boarding. Non-EU nationals entering Schengen are registered with a photo and fingerprints. If your residence card has expired or is being renewed, check with the ferry company first.
Children
Children need their own passport. If they travel alone, with only one parent or with another adult, they may be asked for travel authorisation, a family book, a birth certificate or a document proving parentage or custody.
With a vehicle
The car papers are in the “with a car” section.
I Love Ferry tips for crossing from Algeciras to Tanger Med
- A fixed-date ticket with the right date. It is the most common reason someone cannot enter the port of Tanger Med with a car.
- If your date is not certain, change it in advance. On this route changing in advance is free with Baleària; during the Operation Strait Crossing, up to 48 hours before.
- Print the police form before you arrive. It saves you time on board.
- If you have a non-EU passport, check your residence card now. It is what the ferry company looks at to let you return to Europe.
- Avoid weekends in July and August. There are longer queues at the port and limited car spaces.
Why book the Algeciras Tanger Med ferry with I Love Ferry
- You see all the day's departures and choose the one that suits you best.
- You pay the ferry company's price and receive its booking reference.
- You enter your vehicle, pet and the age of each passenger before paying.
- If anything changes, a person from the I Love Ferry team in Jávea will help you.
Other ways to cross the Strait by ferry
- Tarifa Tanger Ville ferry: arrives in central Tangier, for passengers and vehicles only.
- Algeciras Ceuta ferry: a domestic route; from Ceuta you cross into Morocco by road.
- Motril Tanger Med ferry: if you are coming from eastern Andalusia.
- Almería Nador ferry: towards north-eastern Morocco.
- Barcelona Tanger Med ferry: a long crossing from Catalonia.
Frequently asked questions about the Algeciras Tanger Med ferry
Any questions about your ferry?
Here are the questions travellers ask us most. If yours is not here, our team of real people helps you before, during and after your trip.
See all the frequently asked questions >>How long does the ferry from Algeciras to Tanger Med take?
Between an hour and a half and two hours of crossing, depending on the ship and the sea. Add boarding and border checks, which can take longer in high season.
Which ferry companies run Algeciras Tanger Med?
Baleària, DFDS (with FRS Iberia) and AML cross the Strait. DFDS takes over from the former Naviera Armas on this line. In the search you can see which company runs each departure on your date.
Can I travel to Morocco with my ID card?
No. To enter Morocco you need a valid passport, children included. We recommend it has more than six months of validity.
I have a Moroccan passport and live in Spain: what do I bring?
Your valid Moroccan passport and your valid residence card. To return to Europe, the ferry company checks that you can enter the Schengen area; if your card has expired or is being renewed, check beforehand.
I have dual nationality: which passport do I travel with?
Bring both and ask at your consulate which one to use to enter and leave Morocco. With a Spanish passport, Morocco requires a passport; the ID card is not valid.
What papers do I need to take my car to Morocco?
Vehicle registration document, driving licence, insurance valid in Morocco and the temporary import form. If the car is not yours, a transfer-of-use document validated by the Moroccan Embassy or consulate in Spain.
Can I go to Tanger Med with a car without a fixed-date ticket?
No. To enter the boarding area with a vehicle you need a fixed-date ticket for the exact date. Without a ticket or with another date, you are redirected to an area about 7 km from the port.
Where is the port of Tanger Med?
On the coast, about 40 km from the city of Tangier. To get to central Tangier without a car, you can also cross from Tarifa to Tanger Ville.
Why does the arrival time look almost the same as the departure time?
Because the departure is in Spanish time and the arrival in Moroccan time. With summer time in Spain, Morocco is usually one hour behind. Confirm it before you travel.
How early should I arrive at the port of Algeciras?
Outside the Operation Strait Crossing, Baleària asks for at least 60 minutes on foot and 2 hours with a vehicle. During the operation, it recommends about 2 hours in Algeciras. The cut-off time is on your boarding pass.
Can you travel to Morocco by ferry with a dog?
Yes, with Baleària. Add it when you book. It needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and a passport or animal health certificate, and a rabies antibody test may be required.
Ferry deals to Tánger Med
Right now there are no offers on this route. When a ferry company launches one, you will see it here. View all offers >>
Ships Algeciras – Tánger Med
Nápoles
⚓ The Nápoles is a ro-pax ferry operated by Baleària with one of the most varied careers in the fleet: she has worked routes to the Balearics and across the Strait, and today she is the regular ship on the Málaga–Melilla route. Her chief c...
Ciudad de Mahon
⚓ The Ciudad de Mahon is a conventional ferry in the Baleària fleet working the routes between mainland Spain and Menorca, linking mainly Barcelona and Valencia with the port of Mahón. She is one of the company's highest-capacity vessels o...
Poeta Lopez Anglada
⚓ The Poeta López Anglada is a conventional ferry in the Baleària fleet working the Strait of Gibraltar, linking Ceuta with Algeciras in about 1 hour 15 minutes. She is one of the longest-serving and most recognisable ships on the Strait r...
Jaume I
⚓ The Jaume I is a fast ferry in the Baleària fleet working the routes along the Valencian coast and around Ibiza, covering mainly the links between Dénia, Ibiza and Formentera. With a length overall of 83 metres and room for more than 800...
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