What do I need to arrange if I want to marry in Morocco?
If you are a Dutch national planning to marry in Morocco, you will need to provide certain documents. And you may need to meet extra requirements.
Can I get married in Morocco?
Ask the organisation that you want to perform the marriage in Morocco if you are allowed to marry there as a Dutch national.
Same-sex couples cannot get married in Morocco.
You cannot get married at the Dutch embassy.
Requirements for getting married for Dutch nationals
If you are a Dutch national and you want to marry, you must meet the following requirements:
- You and your partner must be 18 or older. If you are under 18 and you marry abroad, the Dutch authorities will not recognise your marriage until you and your partner are both 18.
- You and your partner must not already be married to or have a registered partnership with someone else.
- If you are under guardianship, you will need the permission of your guardian or of the limited jurisdiction judge (‘kantonrechter’).
- The following family members are not allowed to marry each other or enter into a registered partnership with each other: parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and brothers and sisters.
What documents do I need to marry in Morocco?
To get married in Morocco you will need the following documents:
A certificate of legal capacity to marry shows that you and your partner are legally allowed to marry. To get this certificate, you will need to submit a number of other documents.
A declaration of marital status shows that you are unmarried. To get this document, you will need to submit a number of other documents.
More information about applying for a declaration of marital status
You can get a certificate of conduct from the Moroccan Ministry of Justice in Rabat. The document will be issued in French.
If you apply for a certificate of conduct (VOG) in the Netherlands, you must have it translated into Arabic and legalised with an apostille.
More information about having Dutch documents legalised for use abroad
To get married in Morocco you must have a declaration of faith drawn up by a notary (Adoul) in Morocco.
You can get an official copy of your birth certificate from the municipality where you were born. You must have the document translated and legalised with an apostille.
More information about having Dutch documents legalised for use abroad
To get married in Morocco you will need a valid passport.
To get married in Morocco you need a medical certificate stating that you are in good health. You can get this document from a doctor in Morocco.
If you are divorced, you will need an official copy of your divorce certificate. You must have the document translated into Arabic and legalised with an apostille.
More information about having Dutch documents legalised for use abroad
If you are a widow or widower, you will need an official copy of your deceased spouse’s death certificate. You must have the document translated into Arabic and legalised with an apostille.
More information about having Dutch documents legalised for use abroad
Is my marriage valid in the Netherlands?
There are 2 kinds of marriage in Morocco:
- informal marriages. This kind of marriage is not performed in accordance with Moroccan law. Informal marriages are not recognised in the Netherlands.
- civil marriages. Civil marriages are performed in accordance with Moroccan law and regarded as a contract. Marriage is proposed by one party to the contract and accepted by the other party. Civil marriages performed in Morocco are recognised in the Netherlands.
Do I have to register my marriage in the Netherlands?
You may need to register your marriage in the Netherlands. This depends on where you live.
If you live in the Netherlands, you must register your marriage with your municipality. You will need your marriage certificate to do this. First have your marriage certificate (in Arabic) translated (to French, English or Dutch) and legalised with an apostille.
More information about having documents from Morocco legalised
If you live outside the Netherlands, you can have your marriage certificate converted into a Dutch certificate by the municipality of The Hague. This is not mandatory, but it can be useful if you ever need an extract in the future.
More information about registering a foreign marriage certificate in the Netherlands