A Moroccan abroad married to a non-Moroccan who settles in Morocco quickly discovers that the couple does not fall under a single file. The foreign spouse must obtain their own residence permit, and each family member files separately: there is no family card in Morocco. The good news is that the spouse of a Moroccan benefits from a more favourable regime than ordinary law. Where a foreign national must show four years of lawful, uninterrupted residence to claim the residence card, the spouse can obtain it from the first application, subject to the lawfulness of entry and stay (article 17, 1° of law 02-03). This guide sets out that regime, the documents required, the role of the apostille for foreign records, and renewal.
Costs & fees
| Apostille of the marriage certificate | varies by country and authority | The competent authority varies by country and by document. |
| Sworn translation into Arabic | Official source unavailable | Carried out by a sworn translator in Morocco. Rates are not set by any published scale. |
| Residence certificate | Check with the commune | Issued by the local authority, for both spouses. |
| Stamps and file fees | Official source unavailable | To be checked with the police services at the time of filing, amounts change. |
Timeline
Check the lawfulness of entry and stay
Article 17, 1° of law 02-03 provides that, subject to the lawfulness of the stay and of the entry into Moroccan territory, the residence card is issued to the foreign spouse of a Moroccan national. The documents required to prove the marriage should be checked with the police services.
Have the marriage certificate apostilled in the country that issued it
A French marriage certificate must be apostilled before being produced in Morocco. The authority competent to issue the apostille varies by country and by document: check the Hague Conference (HCCH) website or the local authorities.
💡 Tip: The apostille is requested from abroad and takes time. Starting it several weeks before departure avoids a deadlock on arrival.
Have the records translated into Arabic by a sworn translator in Morocco
Once apostilled, the record must be translated into Arabic. The translation must be done by a sworn translator in Morocco, not by a translator in the country of origin.
⚠️ Warning: A translation made abroad, even by a professional recognised there, is regularly refused.
Gather the common documents
The file generally requires copies of the passport pages showing identity, the entry stamp with its date and the visa where the country is subject to one, a residence certificate for both spouses showing they lawfully reside at the same address, and the card application form completed in two copies, available from the police services.
💡 Tip: The joint residence certificate is the document couples most often forget. It is obtained from the local authority.
File the application with the competent services
The application is filed with the police services of the place of residence. Each family member files their own file, including adult children.
⚠️ Warning: There is no unified family residence card in Morocco. One file per person, without exception.
Residence card for the foreign spouse: article 17, 1° of law 02-03
The favourable regime rests on article 17, 1° of law 02-03: subject to the lawfulness of the stay and of the entry into Moroccan territory, and unless a derogation applies, the residence card is issued to the foreign spouse of a Moroccan national. The text of the law does not make its issue conditional on a length of marriage.
💡 Tip: Keep evidence of joint life throughout the period, it serves to establish the lawfulness of the marriage.
File the renewal before expiry
The renewal application is filed with the police services. The deadline to respect before the current permit expires should be checked with them.
In depth
The spouse regime, what it changes in practice
Ordinary law requires four years of lawful, uninterrupted residence in Morocco before applying for the residence card. The spouse of a Moroccan escapes that wait: article 17, 1° of law 02-03 provides for the issue of the residence card to the foreign spouse of a Moroccan national, subject to the lawfulness of the stay and of the entry into Moroccan territory.
Registration card and residence card, two different things
Law 02-03 provides that any foreign national over eighteen staying in Morocco must hold either a registration card or a residence card. The first is the ordinary residence permit, the second is the long-term one. The spouse of a Moroccan aims for the second, but may pass through the first depending on the situation.
What the Apostille Convention changes
The Apostille Convention has been in force for Morocco since 14 August 2016 (accession on 27 November 2015). Since then, foreign public records intended for Morocco are apostilled rather than legalised through a chain of authorities.
What this guide does not replace
The exact documents and fees vary by processing service and city. This guide gives the legal framework and the recurring sticking points. For a specific file, the directory lists professionals in Morocco.
❌ Common mistakes to avoid
- ✕Overlooking the lawfulness of entry and stay: article 17, 1° of law 02-03 makes it the condition for issuing the residence card to the spouse.
- ✕Having the marriage certificate apostilled by an authority that is not competent. The competent authority should be checked before applying.
- ✕Having the record translated abroad. The Arabic translation must be done by a sworn translator in Morocco.
- ✕Translating before apostilling. The order is fixed, the apostille applies to the original record.
- ✕Expecting a single family file. Each person files their own application, adult children included.
- ✕Forgetting the joint residence certificate for both spouses, one of the most regularly missing documents.
- ✕Filing the renewal at the last minute. The deadline before expiry should be checked with the police services.
🔗 Official links and resources
Law 02-03 on entry and residence of foreign nationals in Morocco (text, adala.justice.gov.ma)
Reference text, including articles 16 and 17 on the residence card.
Hague Conference, Apostille Convention status table
Status table of the Apostille Convention: date of entry into force for Morocco and for each State.
Hague Conference, Apostille Convention
Competent apostille authorities, by signatory country.
General Secretariat of the Government, Official Bulletin
Official Bulletin and published legislation.
❓ Frequently asked questions
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