Introduction
It is common for a Moroccan marriage certificate to be lost, misplaced, or kept by one of the spouses. In such cases, it is possible to request a duplicate from the competent Moroccan authorities.
This procedure concerns both Moroccan nationals and foreign residents who were married in Morocco.
This article explains the required documents, the steps involved, and the possible legalizations to obtain a duplicate that is valid and recognized abroad.
1. When to request a duplicate marriage certificate
A duplicate marriage certificate may be required in several situations:
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Loss, theft, or deterioration of the original certificate.
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Administrative procedures abroad, such as:
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marriage recognition,
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family reunification,
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nationality or naturalization applications.
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Judicial procedures requiring proof of marriage.
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Updating civil status records.
2. Competent authority
The Moroccan marriage certificate is registered:
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At the Family Court of the place where the marriage was celebrated.
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The duplicate is issued by this competent court, upon request by authorized persons.
3. Required documents
To obtain a duplicate marriage certificate, the following documents are usually required:
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A copy of the applicant’s identity document (passport or national ID card).
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A copy or photo of the marriage certificate, if available (this facilitates the search in the archives).
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Additional information may be required, such as:
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date and place of marriage,
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full names of both spouses.
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If the application is made by a representative in Morocco, a special power of attorney may be required.
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The signature on the power of attorney must be legalized by the competent authorities of the applicant’s country of residence.
4. Application procedure
A. Submitting the request
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The application can be submitted:
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In person at the Family Court.
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By a representative holding a special power of attorney.
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B. Issuance of the duplicate
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Once the application is validated, the duplicate marriage certificate is issued by the court.
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The timeframe depends on the availability of the archives and the volume of pending requests.
5. Legalization and recognition abroad
In some cases, the duplicate marriage certificate must be legalized to be accepted abroad:
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Countries that are parties to the Hague Convention: a Hague Apostille issued by the competent Moroccan Court of Appeal may be required.
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Countries that are not parties to the Hague Convention: legalization is carried out by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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In certain countries, it may also be necessary to have the document authenticated by the Moroccan embassy or consulate.
6. Certified translation
If the document needs to be presented to a foreign authority that does not accept Arabic:
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The translation must be carried out by a sworn translator.
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In some cases, the certified translation may also need to be apostilled or legalized.
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It is recommended to check the specific requirements of the requesting foreign authority in advance.
7. Practical tips
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Plan ahead if the document is needed for administrative procedures abroad.
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Check the exact requirements of the foreign authorities before starting the process.
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Request several copies if the document will be used for multiple purposes.
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If a translation or apostille is required, initiate these procedures in parallel to save time.
Conclusion
Obtaining a duplicate marriage certificate in Morocco is an official procedure that may be necessary for various administrative or judicial processes abroad.
By preparing the required documents and following the steps carefully, it is possible to obtain a valid duplicate recognized internationally.
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