The death of a loved one abroad is a profoundly painful ordeal. For Moroccan families, repatriation of the body to Morocco is an absolute priority, often governed by strict deadlines and complex administrative formalities to manage urgently. This guide takes you step by step so that the procedures are as painless as possible.
Declare the death and obtain the death certificate
The first step is to declare the death at the town hall of the place of death within 24 hours (in France). The French death certificate is the foundational document for all subsequent procedures. Obtain at least 10 original copies. In parallel, immediately contact the relevant Moroccan embassy or consulate to declare the death of a Moroccan national. The consulate issues a Moroccan consular death certificate, essential for procedures in Morocco. If the deceased was registered with the consular registry, the procedures will be simplified.
💡 Tip — Systematically request certified true copies of all documents — the originals will be retained at certain stages and you will need them in several copies simultaneously.
⚠️ Warning — The legal deadline for declaring a death is 24 hours in France. Beyond this deadline, administrative complications may arise.
Obtain the non-contagion certificate and transport authorisation
For any international transport of a body, an approved doctor must issue a certificate certifying that the deceased did not die from a contagious disease. This certificate is required by all airlines and Moroccan authorities. In France, it is the civil registry doctor (sworn doctor) who issues it. The international body transport authorisation is then issued by the prefecture of the department where death occurred. This document officially authorises transport out of French territory. Both documents must be translated into Arabic and legalised if requested.
💡 Tip — Funeral directors specialising in Muslim repatriations (they exist in all major French cities) generally handle all these prefectural procedures on your behalf.
Prepare the coffining and approved coffin
The coffin used for international transport must be approved: double-walled (wood + hermetically sealed zinc), in accordance with international body transport conventions. The mortuary care and coffining must be carried out by a licensed funeral company. In France, any funeral company is qualified, but some specialise in Muslim rites (Islamic mortuary care, body orientation). The zinc coffin is mandatory for air transport — without it, no airline will accept the body.
💡 Tip — Choose funeral directors experienced with repatriations to Morocco — they know the document specifications and airline requirements (Royal Air Maroc, Air Arabia, Transavia).
Obtain the body visa (mortuary laissez-passer) from the consulate
The Moroccan consulate issues the mortuary laissez-passer (also called body visa), an essential document for the body to be accepted for entry into Moroccan territory. To obtain it, you must present to the consulate: the French death certificate + Moroccan consular death certificate, the non-contagion certificate, the international transport authorisation, a copy of the deceased's passport or ID card. The consulate may also add a death notation to the register of Moroccans abroad if the deceased was registered.
💡 Tip — Contact the consulate from the first hours following death to make an appointment — delays can be long and every hour counts to respect Islamic deadlines.
⚠️ Warning — Without the consular mortuary laissez-passer, the body will be refused upon arrival in Morocco.
Book air transport
Transport of a body is special cargo (IATA code HUM). Royal Air Maroc, Air Arabia Maroc and Transavia regularly provide this service. Contact the airline's freight service (not passenger service). Documents to provide to the airline: consular mortuary laissez-passer, prefectural transport authorisation, non-contagion certificate, coffining certificate. Family members can travel on the same flight. The cost of coffin transport varies between 800 and 2 500 € depending on the airline and Moroccan destination.
💡 Tip — RAM has a dedicated service for repatriation of Moroccan bodies from Europe. Call their cargo/freight service in Casablanca or Paris directly for better responsiveness.
Reception in Morocco and local administrative procedures
Upon arrival in Morocco, port or airport authorities (health service) conduct a document check. The body is then handed over to the family or the appointed Moroccan funeral company. Burial must take place as soon as possible according to Islamic rites. The family must then declare the death to the Moroccan civil registry (court of first instance at the place of burial) to obtain an official Moroccan death certificate, essential for subsequent inheritance procedures.
💡 Tip — Appoint a relative or notary in Morocco to handle reception and local procedures if you cannot travel immediately.
❌ Common mistakes to avoid
- ✕Not contacting the consulate from the first hours — consular delays can delay the entire process
- ✕Using a coffin not approved for international transport — guaranteed refusal by the airline
- ✕Forgetting to declare the death to Moroccan civil registry upon arrival — without a Moroccan death certificate, inheritance procedures will be blocked
🔗 Official links and resources
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