Mixed Marriage Process in Morocco
I don't believe it would be beneficial to lie so I am going to be very honest.
Marriage can be challenging regardless of who you marry but marring someone from another culture and faith is like throwing oil on a fire.
We fight a lot because both of us are not push overs.
I think after being married for 15 years we have both learned to become better negotiators.
That does not mean anyone is fully backing down, but that means that we have learned to better tolerate our differences.
I could write a novel or better a comedy television serious on the complexities of this type of marriage.
My husband was asked by another Moroccan male friend how we managed to say marriage for long considering the religious and cultural differences. My husband told him that he was a very patient. When he told me this a burst in to laughter as patient is the last world I would use to describe him as hyper and volatile would be much more accurate.
I think my experiences being marriage to a Moroccan Muslim more conservative man as a Canadian Christian more liberal woman ( of significant Arab Christian descent) has help me gain skills that could easily help me work in conflict resolution for the UN.
If you want the marriage to last you will have to work that much harder. This type of marital situation is not for the faint of heart.
I am not going to lie and pretend like my husband is up helping me wrap Christmas gifts and painting Easter Eggs lol. Nor am I fasting for Ramadan or walking around covering my hair. There are things we do separately to respect or tolerate ( something respect is not the best way to put it) each other's wishes.
The first 5 years were stressful especially having a child together. I think one of the main things that have help is trying out best to keep other people out of our marriage. On both sides you always encounter nosey people that try to stick their nose in our marriage and family life. Both people need to firm in telling other people trying to get involved it is none of their business. Lots of people friends, strangers and family that have tried to cause trouble and if you want your marriage to work you need to be confident enough to directly tell them it is not their place to get involved in issues between a husband and wife.
If is not easy. I think both of us did not really take in to consideration all of serious issues we were going to face being married together.
Also there are legal realities too. I am not Muslim and got married under Sharia law. As a 24 year old from another culture, religion and country I had no idea what that meant. This is part of my on going apprehension about moving to Morocco. I am older and wiser now and don't want to carelessly put myself in a less favourable situation.
I think a lot of people have delusions about different cultures ex Moroccan family life is so wonderful. It is not. Similar to every place on earth there are issues. Not all families and marriages are the same any place in the world. This is not a Disney fairy story ... this is real life.
I know if my husband and I were both trying to get married 100 years ago in Syria we would have likely both killed by our respective families in the name of honour. So taking that in to consideration we have things a lot easier : ). Mix marriages have the potential to move the world forward.... if the couple is willing to do the work.
If often do wonder if the Moroccan government makes the process so difficulty to ensure people are taking the marriage seriously. Marriage is a big deal. If you are not willing to deal with the burdens associated with being married then why should one get to enjoy the blessings.
I wanted to mention ... Arabs like Brits and Europeans are "know it all's too" : p .
That is another things.Â
New world vs the old world. As someone from the "new world"/ colonies for at least 2 generations we don't have the same obsession with "tradition" and formality. So a lot of the old world mindset seems strange.
I also think in many cases the person used does need to take some accountability for their out foolishness.
I have talked to many people on both sides of this situation and in fairness if I was desperate enough the idea of looking for a way out would be tempting. Thankfully I have never been in that position so it might not be that fair to judge.
If it seems to good to be true it probably is. Their are dishonest people everywhere and there have ALWAYS been.
I heard from a friend recently how the Moroccon dating process is initiated and how intrinsically calculated each movement is. The approach; the timing, the whole drama of declaring love. In modern tradition now; most Moroccon women are aware of how the young man snares his victim.
Further to say; Moroccon women are known to complain of Arab men for their lack of romance and fulfilling an open love with no boundaries. So how do these same breed of men go to become Romeos to women outside their country? How can men in that country who are apparently in the minority to a staggering 10/1 ratio, need to go out their own locality or city and marry a woman 30 years older? They say love is blind.
Again this is a class issue. If someone with a lower economic status is aggressively pursuing you have the common sense to be very cautious.
If someone lacks common sense and life skills then this is what could happen.
I also want to remind that not all Moroccan people are "poor"... but it is the poor ones that are most likely to be chasing after you.
Moroccan people tend to me very welcoming. It is similar in Arab culture as well. Someone interested in getting to know you even as a friend is going to "invite you/ treat you" they are not going to expect you to pay. When you are the one opening up your wallet you are dealing with someone that is likely poor or does not respect you much.
Also if the man if the man is not "broke" and aggressively pursuing you it may be just to fool around because people from better families don't just marry anyone and they also have loads of local options. If they want to marry you they are very protective of your reputation as it reflects on them.
Love is not all that blind ... it is more like some people are so desperate that they forget their sense.
We submitted photos. I am pretty detailed orientated when it comes to following instructions. If the wanted one piece of proof I provide 20 etc.
When applying you need to think about why they would doubt the marriage and what their fears are and provide proof or a way to disprove their concerns.
You need to be way a head of them as they ask every and anything purposely to catch some one off guard.
To prepare I drilled by husband with possible questions like he was on trail to prepare and thankfully it worked.
At least in Canadian embassy the interview is hard and you need the confidence to answer those questions bang on to give them to reason to doubt you.
It was a lot of work and it paid off.
I am glad I did not use a immigration lawyer and took care of everything myself. No one would have put the level of thought and effort in to putting the application together better.
Scary process .... very happy we survived it.
If you could not afford to get married which by most norms includes having a wedding party to celebrate your marriage then how can you afford to sponsor a foreign spouse?
So thank you so much for this well detailed article on the the process and struggles of getting married over here
- my husband employer doesn't have a stamp, is it okey with the moroccan authorities if the letter of employement containing all the information needed is only signed by the director without a stamp?
- i learned from one of the comments up below that the local police in morocco sends back the file to the British embassy which is quiet odd ans requiers more time ( my husband can only take 7 working days off) , is there anyone married lately under the moroccan law who faced the same thing?
- do i need a person to translate for the judge during the interview ? For the adoul also during the qiran?
- the honorary embassy in marrakech seem to deliver the same documents as the one in rabat. Anyone here used there services?
I know its alot of questions, i apologize for my writing im francophone
Recently got married in marrkech
You can do your criminal record check online on morocco ministry of justice and get it sent to your city in Morocco
You need to fill the form and upload your photo
Gets done in a day
- employment letter
As long as it says he employed and has the company logo and details on the letter it’s fine
- Don’t need shaada as long as you have a Muslim name or it say it’s on your birth certificate
- you can use the British consular for same service in marrkesh make a appointment
- all documents need to be translated so find a good translator
- did the police sent you file back to the embassy ? And how long the hole procesdure took you?
- i checked the police website for the police chefk and it says then even foreigners can get the criminal check on line ( the one you get normally feom the ministery of justice in rabat) , do you ave any idea abt it?
- if my finace get his documents from the embassy in marrakech do we need to go stamp it in the ministry of foreigner affairs in rabat or we can do it somewhere in marrakech?
Do the criminal record check online on morocco judicial service and when you complete it online they will ask you which city choice the send the criminal record check to and than you choose your city and pick it up from the local court,
You don’t need to go Rabat
- to get it signed if your are in Marrakech do not go Rabat but go to agadir, the dp it within minutes, where as in Rabat it’s much busier and they will make you wait,
Be there for 10am in agadir ministry of foreign affairs
The guy will come in at 11am but at least your will be first to be seen ,
Please note
You can’t get it signed in Marrakech
If you go to family court in Marrakech
You will meet a lady called Salma
She will ask where is our gift
Give her some money or she will delay the whole process
We are getting mixed information.Â
Thanks
Sorry if this question has already been asked somewhere!
Can you tell me which documents need to be translated into arabic? I have got most of the documents, the police certificate from pakistan, from the netherlands, salary slips, statement of profession etc. Do I need all of them translated in arabic? And then get the translated versions attested or the original versions attested?
Thanks for your advice.
Zulfiqar
On my birth certificate it said I was muslim so didn’t need any certificate of Islam
But don’t worry
If uournin morocco you can get one done by the adool
Easy process and of course their will be a charge
Good luck with your marriage
Every document they asked for needs to be translated
As you said I believe your from Netherlands I can’t advise you much as I am from U.K.
every government has their own policy
But most important
ALL DOCUMENTS WILL HAVE TO BE TRANSLATED
Walekumsalam and thanks for the response. I am working in the Netherlands but am originally from Pakistan. Wou8ld you by any chance know if I need to get the documents issued to me in the Netherlands attested by the Pakistani Embassy and the foriegn ministry of pakistan? And if yes, would the translation be attested or the original ones?
Its awfully complicated, thanks for your help.
jess1406 wrote:....In the UK the papers you need to get are:
-  A birth certificate issued within the last 3 months (this must be a FULL birth certificate – with information of mother and father)....
Did you simply order a certified copy of your birth cert from the GRO within the last 3 months before the document can be used in Morocco?
If your Pakistani citizen than get the documents from Pakistan embassy and if you are a Dutch citizen best to get documents
My one was from 1986 I didn’t order a new one
It’s best to send your copy of birth certificate to your partner and tell them to go to court and ask if they will accept this
If they say yes it’s all good than
ALL THE REQUIRED Documents NEEDs to be translated in ARABIC or you can’t marry her or him and will be
There is no option around it
I bet u should have no criminal record to get married.
i am AJAS from India working in Qatar. i am planning to get marry my Moroccan partner in this September....i have some doubts..
1, police clearance certificate. is this from Indian embassy in Qatar or from Qatar police.
2, employment certificate. it should attest in Indian embassy?
3, foreigner's citizenship certificate . is it saying i am a non residential Indian ? and need to attest this also from embassy
4, Islam certificate. is it also should be attest in Indian embassy ?
5, single status certificate. this certificate after attest in ministry of external affair. need to attest in any embassy?? India or morocco
6, birth certificate. i have my original birth certificate with me. i need any updated certificate and it should be attested ??
7, residential certificate its from Qatar foreign ministry. is it also should attest from any authority ??
Employment certificate should be attested by Indian embessy after getting attested by foreign affairs of Qatar
It’s a affidavit which shows that u are Indian National , get it attested by Indian embessy counselor will sign and get it attested by ministry of foreign affairs Qatar
U don’t have to do it cause ur name is Muslim and Adul will do it for you in morocco.
It should be attested by Morocco embessy also , however sometimes they don’t do it, which is crazy . But u can get it attested in Morocco also if the guy is understanding.
Birth certificate u should get it from your embessy in Qatar it’s easy they will see your passport and issue a certificate to u based on passport. Again attest it from foreign affairs.
You don’t need any residence certificate, your company letter which mentions your occupation and salary is enough.
Send me PM if u need some more clarifications.
I'm new to this forum. I have read all the detailed information on here.
Just have one question outstanding if you guys can help?
I have managed to get an appointment at The British Consulate Marrakech 1st August for myself for the two documents I require.
BUT will we need any appointments in Rabat before we go there?
When we go to submit our documents or for the Police check?
Is there any appointment my fiance can book before we go to Rabat, if so: HOW to do this as the Ministry of Justice in Rabat do not answer their phone.
Thank you for your reply.
Am I right in saying we will need to go to the family court in Rabat?
Where is it we need to go in Rabat for the Police Check?
Sorry to be a pain
You just have to go to the justice office it’s near the railway station , take your passport along with a photocopy of the passport including the entry stamp which was stamped at the airport. Just walk in there will be a guy sitting inside hand over the copies over to him and he will give u a slip which will mention the time when u can collect it usually a 4-5 hours later ,no need of appointment.
I don’t know much about hat papers do they ask for Europeans or UK . However this is what u should do to get that police clearance paper from Rabat.
Good luck pal
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