Marrying when you live abroad

Moroccans living abroad have two routes: marry under the law of the country they live in, then lodge the act at the consulate; or marry before a consulate's adouls. A summary of the official texts.

Updated 28 October 2026

Marrying under the law of your country of residence

Article 14 of the Family Code lets Moroccans living abroad marry under the local administrative procedures of their country, if the Code's conditions are met: offer and acceptance, capacity, a wali where required, no impediment, the sadaq not dropped, and two Muslim witnesses present.

Lodging the act at the consulate within 3 months

Under Article 15, as amended by Law 65.21 (Official Gazette, 29 July 2021), a copy of the act must be lodged within three months of the marriage at the Moroccan consulate of the place of residence or of the place of marriage. Where there is no consulate, it goes to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within the same deadline. The act is then sent to the civil registry and the family section of each spouse's place of birth.

According to Idarati, lodging at the consulate is free and immediate, with: a request, the consular registration certificate, both spouses' birth certificates, the full marriage act (translated into Arabic if it is in neither Arabic nor French), each spouse's ID card and passport, proof of residence, and the foreign spouse's certificate of conversion to Islam where relevant.

Idarati: lodging a civil marriage act with the consular services (in French)

Marrying before the consulate's adouls

Two Moroccans can also marry before a consulate's adouls. Idarati gives 300 dirhams in consular fees plus 30 dirhams, about 60 days, and these documents: consular registration certificate, the request for the family judge's authorization, national ID cards, birth certificates, each fiancé's administrative certificate and prenuptial medical certificate, a divorce or death certificate where relevant, proof of residence.

Idarati: adoul marriage at the consulate between two Moroccans (in French)

The administrative certificate for fiancés living abroad is also issued at the consulate: 50 dirhams plus 10 dirhams, on the spot, with the ID card or passport, a full birth certificate less than 6 months old and a sworn statement.

Idarati: administrative certificate for fiancés living abroad (in French)

Sources

Family Code, version updated 29 July 2021 (PDF, in Arabic)

Read on 28 October 2026. Fees and delays can change: check with your consulate.