Confirm you’re free to get married in Morocco
What British nationals need to do to get married in Morocco, including what documents you need.
Check eligibility and the documents you need
Check the laws in Morocco to make sure you can get married. There’ll be certain local conditions you have to meet. Contact a Moroccan marriage office (adoul) to make sure you understand all the requirements to get married in Morocco, including what documents you need.
To get married in Morocco:
- your partner must be a Moroccan national
- if you’re a man you must be Muslim or convert to Islam
- if you’re a woman you must be Christian or Jewish – getting married will not change your religious denomination
Your marriage will be recognised in the UK if:
- you follow the correct process according to the law in Morocco
- it would be allowed under UK law
Keep a copy of your Moroccan marriage certificate as evidence of your marriage. You may want to get it translated into English, especially if you want to use it outside Morocco. Find a qualified translator.
Marital status affirmation
British nationals need a marital status affirmation and a certified copy of their passport to get married in Morocco.
Once you’ve received your marital status affirmation and certified copy of your passport you will need to get them ‘legalised’ (which confirms the signature and/or seal is genuine) by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Morocco. You should allow enough time to do this between your embassy or consulate appointment and your marriage ceremony.
Your marital status affirmation will be issued in both English and French. You’ll need all documents translated into Arabic to take to the court in Morocco. Find a qualified translator.
Marital status affirmations are issued in place of a previous document called a certificate of no impediment (CNI). Some Moroccan courts still ask for a CNI so you should ask your local marriage office (adoul) which document you need.
How to get a marital status affirmation
- Apply online and pay £50 for your marital status affirmation and £25 for the certified copy of your passport (£75 in total).
- Book an appointment at the British Embassy Rabat or British Honorary Consulate in Marrakech.
- Attend your appointment where you can check all the information in the affirmation and make any corrections.
- Make your declaration and sign your affirmation.
You’ll need to bring the originals of the documents you upload to your appointment. If you do not do this, the embassy or consulate may not be able to issue your affirmation and you’ll need to reschedule your appointment.
During your appointment, you must check that all the information is correct. It’s your responsibility to make sure your documents are correct.
You must get married within 3 months of getting your affirmation or you’ll need to reapply and pay again.
Apply for a marital status affirmation online
To apply online you’ll need:
- your UK passport
- your partner’s Moroccan passport or national identity card
- proof any previous marriages have ended (this must be legalised in the UK)
- a credit or debit card to pay for your affirmation
Make sure you have all details and documents with you before you start your application. The application will time out if you’re inactive for 20 minutes. You can either scan your documents or take photos on your mobile phone.
It’ll take about 35 minutes to apply and pay for your affirmation online.
Apply for a marital status affirmation.
If you’ve been married before
You’ll need one of the following:
- a legalised decree absolute or final order – or the equivalent in the country where it was issued
- your partner’s death certificate and marriage certificate
You’ll need to bring the original of the documents you upload to your appointment. If you do not have the original documents, you can order a UK decree absolute or final order. You can also order a UK death certificate.
If any of your documents are not in English or French you’ll need translated versions to take to the court in Morocco. Find a qualified translator.
If your divorce, civil partnership dissolution or annulment took place outside the UK, you’ll need evidence that you or your ex-partner lived in or were a national of that country at the time.