married in morocco
Morocco

How to get married in Morocco as a foreigner in 2023: a step-by-step guide

So you’ve met a wonderful Moroccan citizen, and you’re wondering how to get married in Morocco as a foreigner. Buckle up, because the process is terrible.

marriage in Morocco

This guide will cover the basics: what paperwork is needed, how to work with an adoul, and what you’ll need to bring from your home country.

Please note: I’m an American, and the requirements will vary slightly by country. Your best bet is to look up the requirements outlined by your Embassy. Much of the advice in this guide will still apply, however.

How we got married in Morocco

We wanted to write this guide because we had such an awful time navigating the marriage process when we got married in Morocco. For context, I am an American citizen, and my husband is a Moroccan man. I had moved to Morocco before we started our process after being in a long-distance relationship for a while, so our situation was less rushed than most who are trying to marry during a visit or vacation.

A few of the reasons the process is so tricky is that it requires a lot of paperwork, a lot of running around, a lot of waiting, and if you don’t have everything exactly right, you will get turned away over and over again.

I’ll explain just one of the frustrating instances we had: My husband is from Khemisset (a small town) but lives and works in Kénitra. We went to the Adoul in Kénitra to ask them what paperwork he needed, but they told him that he had to get it done in Khemisset because that’s the city on his driver’s license. Which is weird, but okay? So he goes to Khemisset (2 hours away). And they tell him no, he has to do the process in the city where he resides.

We ended up having to do the entire process in Khemisset, despite living 2 hours away. This meant that for every step of the way, we had to drive for 2 hours each way. So when you start the process, know that there will be so much running around and traveling back and forth. We’re lucky to have a car, because this process is so much worse when trying to get everywhere by taxi or bus.

married in morocco
Me during the whole long process

A special note before you start your Moroccan marriage process

There is a lot of confusion and buck-passing when it comes to bureaucracy in Morocco. That, plus the fact that many things are still done analog (i.e., on paper and not online) means that the process is sloooooow and often beyond frustrating.

If it seems like you’re getting different answers from different people, that’s because you are. This is a common frustration for both Moroccans and foreigners who live here. You can go to a government building and get five different answers from five different people, and sometimes the answers will not make any sense and completely contradict other answers you’ve been given.

Because of all of the conflicting, contradictory, and confusing information, we highly recommend your very first step be getting an adoul.

How to start the process

The very first thing you should do is contact an adoul. What is an adoul? An adoul is the person who will review, approve, and submit all of your documentation to the judge. They are the gatekeepers of the marriage process, and they will draft and sign all of your final documentation and provide the marriage certificate.

Each adoul has slightly different requirements, which is why they should be step #1. Since they have the final say, going based on what they say is the best bet for getting all of your paperwork submitted to the judge. Every city has plenty of adouls, so find one that is nice, patient, and will work with you. Some adouls are scammy and will try and get as much money from you as possible. If you get that vibe, leave and find another one. Having a good adoul will be a tremendous asset in this long process.



How much does it cost to get married in Morocco?

Our total costs for marriage in Morocco came out to:

  • FBI background check: $100 USD
  • The U.S. Embassy Affidavit of Nationality and Eligibility to Marry: $50 USD
  • Notarized passport and the page containing your entry date to Morocco: $50 USD
  • Adoul: $70 USD
  • Hotel for the night so we could make our appointment in Casablanca: $45 USD
  • Transportation to Rabat/Casablanca/etc: $85-$100 USD
  • Translating the paperwork: $85 USD
  • Husband’s background check, birth certificate, residence documentation and work attestation: $10 USD
  • Pictures (8): $4 USD
  • Medical exam: $30 USD
  • Printing/copies: $10 USD

Total marriage cost: $554

Keep in mind that my husband negotiated the costs down significantly. The doctor wanted $60 but he negotiated it down by half. Our adoul wanted $100, we paid $60, etc. Negotiation is a normal part of Moroccan culture, but so is overcharging foreigners. Costs will go up significantly if the Moroccan resident is not negotiating.


What do you need to get married in Morocco?

When I came to Morocco, I had an FBI background check and all my identity documents (passport, birth certificate, ID, etc.). Some people will need to get proof of income or religion, but I wasn’t working at the time, and I never had proof of baptism, so I wrote out a letter stating my faith and they accepted that.

Marriage requirements for Morocco

married in morocco
The looooooong list of requirements, according to the US Embassy

Everything you will need to get married is on this massive, massive list provided by the U.S. Embassy in Morocco. But again, this is the U.S. process. You’ll need to go to your embassy’s website for other nationalities.

Embassy guidelines for various countries


Step-by-step instructions for getting married in Morocco

Again these specific instructions are American-centric and the instructions for your country vary slightly based on your Embassy.

  1. Get your background check in your home country.
  2. Make an appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Casablanca – do this well in advance as their appointments aren’t always available last minute, and you will not get in without an appointment. They are very strict about this.
  3. Find an adoul and ask for a specific list of documentation they require
  4. Find a translator in the city you’re staying in. There’s an approved list of translators; this is how we found ours.
  5. Bring all the necessary documents from your home country (birth certificate, proof of occupation, FBI background check, divorce certificate, etc.).
  6. After your appointment in Casablanca, head to Rabat to get your paperwork notarized. This was free but keep in mind that your spouse cannot go to the notary with you, so have your papers ready to show them. If you can’t speak Arabic, they’ll know what to do with the documents if you hand it to them.
  7. Start collecting the rest of the papers. I know that sounds dumb, but it’s just a matter of chipping away at the list. Go get the local’s background check, residency cards, passport photos, write the letter you intend to marry, etc. It’s a slog, but the adoul should ensure you know what to get.
  8. Get everything translated. This will take about a week.
  9. Turn all the things into the adoul. Wait for them to tell you you did something wrong, and then fix the thing you did wrong.
  10. Repeat this as many times as needed.
  11. Finally, they will turn the papers in to the courts. You’ll speak to a judge. They’ll ask you weirdly personal questions.
  12. Your paperwork will go back to the adoul, and they’ll draft up the marriage contract, and then you sign. It probably won’t be in anything but Arabic, which can be slightly terrifying, but you can take it and get it translated after if you want.
  13. Once it’s signed, they’ll process it and give you your marriage certificate. This took us one day but I’ve known people who had to wait a few weeks.

Marriage in Morocco
Marriage in Morocco

How long does the marriage process take in Morocco?

Our marriage process took several weeks once we began collecting the documents in earnest. It will depend on what documents you bring with you, your husband’s or wife’s work situation, if you are doing the process in the city where you are staying, if you have been divorced, and other factors. The document translation alone took a week, and we had to go back and forth to the translator’s office several times.

Some people wonder if you can get married in Morocco in a week or two, and I would say maybe? But it isn’t easy. My husband was working during the whole process and we didn’t have endless hours and hours to spend sitting in various government buildings waiting for people to do their jobs. You need at least three weeks to get it all done, and that’s with some healthy pre-planning and getting all of your documents ready before the foreigner even arrives in Morocco. Getting the adoul will make the process go much faster, as well as having an appointment at the Consulate because those need to be scheduled weeks in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions about foreign marriage in Morocco

Do you have to convert to Islam to be married in Morocco?

Women do not have to be Muslim to marry a Moroccan man, but men DO have to be Muslim to marry a Moroccan woman. If you are not Muslim and want to marry a Moroccan woman, you will need to convert or marry outside of the country. Islamically, Muslim men can marry Christians and Jewish women according to the Quran.

What is a mahr? Is it required?

A mahr is a “dowry,” or an amount given by the man to the woman. The adoul will ask if there was a bride price and if it was paid. It can be as much or as little as you want, but the money goes to the woman and is hers alone to decide what she wants to do with it.

Will the adoul translate my marriage paperwork before/after I sign it?

Nope! You will sign it in Arabic and your copy will be in Arabic. At no point in the process will the document be translated for you by the Adoul. If you want to know what you’re signing, it’s best to hire your own translator because otherwise you’re just trusting your significant other is accurately and adequately translating.

Conclusion

Marriage in Morocco is not for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of time, a lot of planning, a lot of patience, and a lot of running around.

What are your thoughts on the process of marriage in Morocco as a foreigner? What advice would you give to others planning to get married in Morocco? Do you have any questions about getting married in Morocco? Share below! 👇

45 Comments

  • Justin

    Hello,

    Thank you for sharing your expierence, I grealt appreicate it. What paperwork did you have to get an apostille for? So far I have received an apostille for my birth certificate, record of no marriage, FBI background check, and passport. Do you know if I need an apostille for my employmen verification letter? I plan to send a copy of all my documents to my fiance in order to have them trasnlated before I come. Thank you!

    • Kate

      Hi Justin! I did not get anything notarized or apostilled before I got there. I got it all once I got there. I don’t know anyone who actually needed anything apostilled prior to arriving, which was a huge point of confusion for me as the US Embassy website talks about it: https://ma.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/notarial-authentication-apostille-services/

      If you have an adoul, you can ask them ahead of time. Worst case scenario, you can get it done at the US Embassy in Casablanca if needed, but I didn’t and I don’t know anyone that actually did. 🙂

      • Cora

        Thank you for this! Trying to figure out everything needed is very stressful. The adoul is a wonderful suggestion. I think that’ll help a lot actually.

        I saw one of your upcoming articles will be about staying in hotels unmarried. That’s a big question I have right now so I’m really looking forward to that article. I only recently learned that might be an issue. I had assumed we’d just stay together while doing all this and I don’t really want to be alone in a foreign country either. If we have to buy 2 rooms every night that’ll be more expensive. I’m curious if we could do some sort of Airbnb and rent it for a month. I don’t really know the rules or if Airbnbs are common there. Maybe the Airbnb would require marriage too. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Anyway, I’m looking forward to that one. Thank you!!! ❤️ Love your site!

      • April www.lovelustorbust.com

        This article is so detailed!! So many people have gone through this frustrating process, and your post I am sure will help them to be able to get through this much more smoothly.

        This is amazing and I will def include a link to this on my site Love Lust of Bust!!

  • Justin

    Thank you for your respone Kate, I grreatly appreciate it. My fiance’s lawyers had told us that I would need an apostille for all my documents I had no idea that I could get this done at the Embassy in Morocco. Do you know how long it takes to get an apostille at the embassy?

    • Maria

      Thanks so much for all of this helpful information! We are planning our marriage in Marocco soon, my fiance is from Marocco im from Europe and have problem about letter from employer. Because I am a student and I do not work. And what about the proof of income part? Should I take a document from my university that I am a student or better just to say that I am unemployed now?

  • Eri

    This was an interesting read. I am not thinking of getting married any time soon, but if do so, now Marocco is also an option 😉

    • Jessica

      Hello Kate.

      I’m a Canadian and married to my Moroccan husband in Fez..I arrived here on November 4th abd still now today November 22nd. We still haven’t get out marriage certificate and I need to fly back to Canada on December 3rd. I have all documented notarized and anthericated in Canada before I came..my passport. Canadian citizenship. Employment letters. Bank letters. Police records check. Single status certificates. Doctors check up certificates.etc . So before I came i emailed all to my husnand to have it translate to Arabic..and the second I arrived here we made the appointment to the embassy and the embassy only can give us appointment om Friday for interview .this skrrady taking us 5 days..and after the interviewed on Friday and told us to picked up the 2 papers on Tuesday. The certificate of nationality and the declaration of single status..its so ridiculous only the embassy ww jave to go bavk 3 times..ok then off to the police station…oh plus also have to go to the translation again for the two papers from the embassy..thrn to fez and check my hudnand background history and needs 8 passport pictures for him and me and notarized and stamps..then we see our lawyer in fez and she gathered all our documents abd she said the police needs the medical check up in morocco not the one from Canada..so off we went looking for doctors..abf most doctors akrrady closed at 5pm abd we have to search the next day..thrn we have to doctor certificate abd we have to go translate again. So have to wait slot 3 days for the police interview abd they say ww also need to take blood test to see if I’m pregnant or not. So off we webt to look for the lab and take blood test..abd have to wait the next day to get results. This is so ridiculous going back abd forth back abd forth abd waiting..and cause akoy of money..all the paperwork abd blood test and doctor certificate and the lawyer ..so finally today is November 22nd we have the police interviewed this morning and now they told us to wait till next Monday and they will pass it to the judge snd the judge will interview us after then pass on to the adoul. Abd the police saying this week the adoul In moricco is not working and hopefully next Monday we can see thr adul abd sign the wedding certificate..but I say I’m leaving next Saturday on December the 3rd abd the police say I don’t think I have enough time..it take a week or more for the adoul to distribute the certificate of marriage..I’m so frustrated I’m here fir 1 month abd it’s still not finished..going back and forth and everything is waiting..webt to the embassy 3 times..to the police 4 times and the court and adul few times..and I still have to do the wedding reception..I told my husband if we are to marry in Canada it’s done long time ago..Canada don’t need to police. The embassy, the judge and the court..all we need yo do is marry I’m city hall. Quick abd easy process not like in morocco..the waiting is so frustrating..oh one thing I woukd like to ask yoi do you have to say the shehada to the adoul in order to have our marriage certificate even though we are Christian..because I heard people told me if I say the shehada in front of the judge or adoul thar will make me an automatically an Muslim..is this true. Please response .

      Regards.
      Jessica

      • Kate

        Hi Jessica! I asked my Canadian friend and unfortunately, there isn’t a “fiance” visa for Canada. He’d have to go over as a tourist, which is remarkably difficult for Moroccan citizens to do. We went through the huge run-around too and it’s INCREDIBLY frustrating! I didn’t have to say any shehada, I signed a paper stating I’m Christian and that sufficed. Our process took several months because we were having to do all that running around while working full-time, which made it all basically impossible!

        • Jessica

          Hi Kate,

          Yes we got married yesterday finally..my husband have to paid a lawyer and the adoul to rush things.. we went for the interviewed in the police on Monday basically they just asked my family and how many siblings do I have..and eat they do in Canada..same question for my husband and asked about his family and siblings..then the police say the Adoul isn’t working until next Monday but I say i can’t I’m flying back to Toronto soon. So my husband go the lawyer who handles our works and called the police and told them to pass on our file to the judge quickly..so on Tuesday we got the call from the police and the lawyer telling us to go to the court and the judge asked us a few questions abd pass along to the adoul.
          So yesterday we signed 3 signature and my husband in front of the adoul..and next Monday we will pick up our marriage certificate..our reception will be this Sunday .we will be so busy..then next Thursday I will be flying back to Canada.
          And I don’t need to say the shehada too because I have the affidavit that I’m a chistian and I notarized it and anthericated before I come..so they accepted just like you I wasn’t baptized.
          Anyway this procedure tool us almost a month going back and forth. This isn’t for faint of heart. Alot of running around and the waiting.
          And yes as soon I goes back to Canada I will apply for visitation visa fir him..thrn when he come I will apply permanent resident for him..thats how it works in Canada.
          What do you mean fiance visa in United States??is this mean he can stays in United States for 3 months then must get marry in the states? One question I would like to ask you..did you convert to Islam..I don’t plan too..and do you eat pork or not?
          Thanks Kate

          Regards
          Stephanie

        • Mohamed

          Hi All,

          Islam Allow muslim men to get married to women who belong to the “People of the Book” which could encompass christians and Jews but on the other hand Islam does not allow the woman to get married to a non-muslim.

          I would like to ask, how long does it take to translate a document in morocc. Can it be done in a few hours? Should the document be authenticated before being translated or it can be done before?

          • Kate

            Ours took several days, I think 4-5 days but it can take longer. You may find someone who can expedite but it’s a very tricky process to translate from Darija, so I’d anticipate a few days.

      • saad

        Hi dear,

        I am really happy to hear your story…. I am also getting married soon in Morocco….I have couple of questions if you may advise me.
        I am from Canada but my birth certificate is from a different country so how would I certify it.? I am also divorced so where do I certify my divorce certificate copy.?

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  • Crystal

    I am heading to Morocco (Khemisset) on December 26, 2022 from the U.S. and hopefully getting married! I have known my fiance for almost 8 years. Anyways, I do not work because I am in college to get my Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Any idea what to do about the proof of income part? I do have my 1098s from 2017-2021 from my finanicial aid refunds, I finished my bachelor’s Degree in February 2022. Also, how do I do the affidavit that I am Christain? Our notorial appointment is on Janurary 3, 2023. I am also sending what documents I have to my finance to get translated. I really apperciate any help that you can give! I am also going to advise him to go ahead and get the Adoul as well.

    • Kate

      Kanhdar ghir chwiya dl arbiya –

      Hey there! Congratulations on your marriage. My husband is from that city, and we go quite often.

      As far as the financial part goes, they go based off your previous year’s tax returns. So if you file in 2023, they will go based off of 2022 tax attorney, and you need to make a minimum income amount, I think it’s either 17,000 or 22,000.

      If you don’t make that because you’re a student, you can have a cosponsor, but they will be held financially liable If it doesn’t work out, and at any point if he goes on government assistance in his first ten years in the US, the cosponsor will have to pay that assistance. It’s quite a risk and a gamble even for the spouse who is applying so finding a cosponsor can be difficult.

      You will need to register your marriage in the city that’s listed on his ID, not where he’s living (if they’re different places). Our adoul was in Khemisset, and she was absolutely wonderful, and I would highly recommend her. She had a fast turnaround for everything and made sure our paperwork got straight to the judge as fast as possible. Send me an email if you’d like her information.

      As far as the Christian affidavit, they just had me sign something there, I didn’t have to bring anything, but if you have a baptism record or something, it doesn’t hurt to bring it, I just never got anything like that so I signed a piece of paper.

      Congratulations again on your marriage! That’s very exciting. Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.

  • Ben

    Hello

    Thank you for sharing information about marriage in Morocco. I am a Canadian male marrying a Moroccan female. Is there anyone who can help us speed up the process with the police, can you suggest the bane of an Adul who is based in Agadir Morocco who we can approach in this regard?

  • Mohamed

    Hi Kate. You did a wonderful and chronological job for the whole world to learn. Kate I wanted your guidance. I am Australian and can obtain the certificate of No impediment to marriage in Australia without going to the consulate in Rabat. Is that a good option of it is a MUST to obtain it from the Australian consulate in Rabat? This is inorder to gain time and send it to my Fiance for translation purposes.

    • Kate

      I wish I had more information about the Australian process, but I do not. I suggest reaching out to your adoul to see what they’d suggest. I know I had to get mine from the US Consulate with no exception because it needed to be notarized.

  • Shaik Azeez

    Hi Kate, I am planning to get married in Agadir, I am from Indian and living in the UK and most of my documents are arranged, My fiances went to the Adoul office and they asked for my 6 months bank statement which I found very unreasonable request and I am really not comfortable to provide as well. secondly, they want police clearance from the UK currently resident apart from my home country, Lastly is there any expiry of the document like 90 days because my bachelorhood certificate is coming close to 90 days and this is really bothering me.

    • Kate

      I did not have to provide any bank statements. I would push back on this or find another adoul, as that seems suspicious. As far as the 90-day expiration, this was a big frustration for us. They are quite strict on the documents expiring and we had to start over on a few docs during our process.

      • Shaik Azeez

        Hi Kate, Can we go to any Adoul office or they have allocated accordingly to the municipality or area, Lastly once we arrange all documents how long it took to get marriage permission from Adoul , is there any website on which i can look for adoul

    • Liz de Oliveira

      Hi Kate- I’m a UK citizen currently in a relationship with a Moroccan man. One of the requirements for the Moroccan authorities seems to be a certificate of good health. I’m disabled and not in great health. Is this a barrier or do they mean more like things that you don’t have TB etc or a terminal illness?

  • Abdullah

    Hi. Can anyone tell me? My cause is different. We don’t have embassy in Morocco I live in Germany and we have embassy heir in Germany. Should I bring required documents from here from my embassy. Like proof of nationality or anyone who can help me for this?

  • Rene

    Hello Kate,

    Thank you for your write-up and your help to other people who like to get married in Morocco.

    I am one of those and am planning to marry a Moroccan girl later this year, who lives in Kenitra.
    I am looking for an adoul who can help us with that process.

    It sounds like you were happy with the one you used and he obviously has experience in these matters, since he arranged the paperwork for at least your marriage.

    Could you provide me with his name and phone number in an email to me.

    Also, if you still live in Kenitra, would you and your husband be interested for having a coffee with my finance and I?

    Thank you for your help.

    • Kate

      Hi there! Unfortunately, we were actually married in Khemisset so our adoul was in Khemisset. We tried to meet with an adoul here but they insisted we had to do the marriage process in the city listed on my husband’s ID. This page has a list of adouls, but I can’t personally vouch for any of them: https://www.telecontact.ma/liens/adouls/kenitra.php

      And we’d love to go for coffee if we’re in town! Send us an email from the About > Contact Us page on the website and if we’re in town when she visits, we can all meet for coffee 🙂

  • Christine Weiler

    Hi Kate,

    Thanks so much for all of this helpful information! Do you mind sharing a bit about what the medical exam was like? I am having a hard time finding information on it and have a lot of health anxiety, so I want to try to prepare ahead of time. I am also applying for my dual citizenship, do you think this will change the reqs at all? Thanks so much?

  • Sarah

    Hi, I do not belong to any religion/faith and I never have. My partner is Moroccan and I am British. I read above that he can marry a Christian or Jew but what if I am neither and have no faith can we still be married? This also flagged up when I looked on our government website to look at the online option for doing the affidavit and it asked me to complete a few questions first and I answered that I was female, British, No faith and that he is Moroccan, Male and we would marry in Morocco and it said that we can’t legally marry. Is this correct?

    • Kate

      This is a difficult question and one I would talk to your adoul about. Technically speaking, Muslims are not allowed to marry non-religious people within their religion, and over 99% of Moroccans are Muslim. It’s a red flag to whoever is processing your marriage application that Moroccan would want to marry a non-Muslim or someone who isn’t Jewish or Christian. Muslim men in Islam can marry Jewish, Christian, or Muslim women, but they cannot marry non-religious women. I didn’t have to prove my religion, but I did have to attest that I am Christian in front of the judge. I would definitely get an ad and consult with them about this issue, because it’s possible they may not process your marriage without it and it’s a lengthy, expensive process to not complete. I’ve never actually heard of somebody who wasn’t religious who went through the process, because, again, it’s so rare for Muslims to marry atheists or agnostics.

  • Niki

    Hi Kate, did you have any issues with not being employed at that time and needing to prove employment? Or were you simply able to state that that and move forward? Excellent information, my thanks for sharing your experience.

  • Allana

    Hi Kate,

    You are SO generous to provide all this information and advice! Thank you! I am an American, an older woman, planning to get married to a younger Moroccan man. That in itself is a red flag for everyone, but none the less, I am researching possibilities as we do have a lot in common. If we get married in Morocco, do you know if the U.S. will recognize the marriage or do we have to get remarried in the U.S.? Will my husband be able to get a VISA and come to live with me in America? Can he get a Green Card once he gets here? Thanks so much!

    • Kate

      You can get the marriage registered in the US and it’ll be recognized. Applying for the US visa, it’ll be recognized automatically. Once you’re married, you can file for his CR-1 visa right away. Best of luck 🙂

  • Lami

    Hello my friend
    Please, can you send me your email? I want to consult with you on some matters about mixed marriage between Canada and Morocco.
    Thank you very much

  • Sheikh Aslam

    Hi

    Thankyou for sharing. Can I ask about the visa status? Can I go to Morocco in tourist visa and get everything done? Or do I need any other visa?

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