Since the reform of the Moroccan Nationality Code in 2007, Moroccan nationality can be transmitted by either the Moroccan father or mother. A child born abroad to a Moroccan parent is Moroccan by birth and must be registered in the Moroccan civil registry via the competent consulate. This registration is the key to enabling the child to obtain their official Moroccan documents.
Costs & fees
| Registration in the consular civil registry | Free or fiscal stamp ~50 MAD | Depending on the consulate; most do not charge |
| Certified translation of the foreign birth certificate | 50 to 100 EUR | FR-AR or EN-AR translation by a sworn translator |
| Apostille of the foreign birth certificate | Variable by country | Some countries issue apostilles for free, others charge 20 to 100 EUR |
| Moroccan passport for the child (if requested) | 200 to 400 MAD | Cost of the Moroccan biometric passport |
Timeline
Gather the required documents
To register a child born abroad in the Moroccan civil registry, you must gather the following documents: the official birth certificate from the foreign country (original and certified copy), legalized and apostilled, translated into Arabic by a sworn translator if the original language is not Arabic or French; the Moroccan passports of both parents (or the Moroccan parent if the other is foreign); the parents' marriage certificate apostilled and translated if necessary; the Moroccan family booklet if available; and two ID photos of the child. If the parents are not married (under Moroccan law), additional documents may be required to establish parentage.
💡 Tip — Prepare the file from the birth of the child, ideally in the first few weeks. The foreign birth certificate is easier to obtain quickly while fresh.
⚠️ Warning — If parents are divorced or separated, check with the consulate what additional documents are required to establish parentage and custody.
Have the foreign birth certificate legalized and apostilled
The birth certificate from the foreign country must be apostilled or legalized to be recognized by Moroccan authorities. In France, the apostille is issued by the Public Prosecutor's Office of the competent judicial court (by department) or the Court of Appeal. The procedure is free or low-cost (a few euros in stamps). In other countries, the apostille may be issued by the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a designated authority. Inquire with local authorities in your country of residence about the specific procedure. The apostilled document will then need to be translated into Arabic by a Moroccan sworn translator or one accredited by the consulate.
💡 Tip — In France, you can request the apostille directly from the town hall or judicial court in your place of residence. The procedure generally takes 1 to 2 weeks.
⚠️ Warning — Make sure the apostille complies with the 1961 Hague Convention (apostille stamp on the document). A simple town hall legalization without an apostille is not sufficient.
Attend the competent Moroccan consulate
Book an appointment on rdv.consulat.ma selecting the service 'consular civil registry registration' or 'birth declaration'. The competent consulate is the one at the place of residence of the Moroccan parent (or both parents if both are Moroccan). On the day of the appointment, present your complete file to the consular agent. Make sure all documents are complete, recent, and properly apostilled and translated. The consular agent records the information in the consular register and then forwards the file to the competent Moroccan authorities (birth or origin municipality of the Moroccan parent).
💡 Tip — If the consulate is saturated and you cannot get an appointment quickly, some consulates accept file submissions by registered mail with acknowledgment. Check with your specific consulate.
⚠️ Warning — The child's registration must be done at the consulate of the Moroccan parent's place of residence, not necessarily the consulate closest to your current home.
Register the child in the Moroccan civil registry
After submitting the complete file, the consulate proceeds with the preliminary registration of the birth in its consular registers, then forwards the file to the competent Moroccan authorities for final registration in the Moroccan civil registry records. This process generally takes 6 to 14 weeks in total. Once registration is confirmed, the child has a Moroccan civil status number (CIN number). You can then request a copy of the Moroccan birth certificate from the consulate or directly from the competent Moroccan municipality. This Moroccan birth certificate is the official proof of the child's Moroccan nationality.
💡 Tip — Request written confirmation of registration from the consulate and keep the assigned file number to track processing progress.
Apply for a Moroccan passport for the child if necessary
Once the child is registered in Moroccan civil registry records, you can apply for a Moroccan passport for them. This is done at the Moroccan consulate by booking a separate appointment on rdv.consulat.ma for the 'passport' service. For a minor child, both parents (or the legal parent in case of documented sole custody) must be present or provide notarized power of attorney. The Moroccan biometric passport for children is valid for 5 years. It is not mandatory if the child already has a passport from the birth country, but it can be useful for procedures in Morocco.
💡 Tip — If you plan to travel to Morocco with your child regularly, the Moroccan passport facilitates entry and procedures there, especially for the CNIE at 18 years old.
⚠️ Warning — For children of separated or divorced parents, the agreement of both parents is generally required for passport issuance. A parental conflict can block the procedure.
In depth
The 2007 reform of the Moroccan Nationality Code was a major step forward by allowing Moroccan mothers to transmit their nationality to their children, which was previously not possible (only the father could transmit nationality). This reform also simplified procedures for children born to mixed couples. Important point: contrary to some misconceptions, Morocco officially recognizes dual nationality and does not require children to choose between their Moroccan nationality and that of their birth country. A child born in France to Moroccan parents can be both French and Moroccan without legal issues. For children adopted by kafala (traditional Moroccan adoption recognized in Morocco but not fully in France), automatic nationality transmission does not apply: specific procedures are required and legal advice is recommended.
❌ Common mistakes to avoid
- ✕Not registering the child within 30 days of birth, making regularization more complex with additional documents to provide
- ✕Believing the child will have to choose a nationality at 18 when Morocco officially recognizes dual nationality
- ✕Confusing the French apostille (for French documents) and the Moroccan apostille (for Moroccan documents): each document must be apostilled by the authorities of the country that issued it
🔗 Official links and resources
RDV Consulat - Civil registry registration
To book an appointment at the consulate for the child's registration
Consulat.ma - Birth declaration guide
Official information on consular birth declaration
Moroccan Ministry of Justice - Nationality Code
Official text of the Moroccan Nationality Code reformed in 2007
❓ Frequently asked questions
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