Morocco is a hague-apostille country since 2016. That means foreign civil documents need an apostille from your home country, then a sworn translation in Morocco. Get the apostille before you fly.
Personal civil documents
- Passport — valid 6+ months, plus 4 photocopies of the bio page
- Birth certificate — full long-form, apostilled
- Marriage certificate (if applicable) — apostilled
- Divorce decree (if applicable) — apostilled
- Children's birth certificates — apostilled
- Family book / livret de famille (French nationals)
- 20+ passport photos, 35×45 mm, white background
Background & ID
- Criminal record from your country of residence — apostilled, issued within 3 months. UK: ACRO Police Certificate. US: FBI background check. France: Bulletin n°3 du casier judiciaire.
- National ID card (EU citizens)
- Driving licence + International Driving Permit (1968 Vienna Convention version)
Education & work
- University diplomas — apostilled if you'll work or study
- School records for children — last 2 years, in French or Spanish ideally
- Employment contract (if relocating for work) — translated
- Reference letters from previous employers (if seeking work)
- CV in French
Financial
- Bank statements — last 6 months
- Pension certificate (retirees) — translated, ~6,000 MAD/month minimum for retirée residency
- Proof of income / tax returns — last 2 years
- Letter of solvency from your home bank
Health
- Vaccination records (yours and children's)
- Recent prescriptions in original packaging
- Medical history summary from your GP — useful for new doctors
- Travel/health insurance card valid from arrival
Pets
- EU pet passport or equivalent
- Rabies vaccine (more than 21 days, less than 12 months old)
- Vet health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, endorsed by the official authority
- ISO microchip
Apostille — practical notes
UK: Legalisation Office, ~£30/document, 5 working days online or same-day premium in Milton Keynes.
US: Each state's Secretary of State for state-issued documents; US Department of State for federal documents.
France: Cour d'appel of the document's region — free, 2–4 weeks.
Spain: Ministerio de Justicia or college of notaries — free to €15.
Once in Morocco, all apostilled documents must be translated into Arabic or French by a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté), 150–400 MAD per document.
FAQ
- Do I really need to apostille everything?
- For residency, marriage, school enrolment and property purchase — yes. For tourism, no. When in doubt, apostille.
- How long does an apostille stay valid?
- There's no expiry on the apostille itself, but Moroccan authorities usually want criminal records issued within 3 months. Birth and marriage certificates are accepted regardless of issue date.
- Can I get documents apostilled after arriving in Morocco?
- Only by sending them back to your country (or its consulate, where available). Slow and expensive — do it before you fly.