Morocco
Rules and procedures for acquiring citizenship
The most recent reform to the Citizenship Code, introduced by Mohammed VI was enacted in 2007.
The acquisition of Moroccan citizenship at birth
Morocco grants citizenship to mixed couples’ children born to a male
or
a female citizen and a foreign national,
whatever the birthplace (art.6)19. Henceforth, children born to a Moroccan mother and a foreign father will receive the
citizenship of both of their parents. They are dual citizens at birth, as is the child born to a Moroccan father and a
foreign woman. The 2007 reform retains the grant of the citizenship to the child born in Morocco to unknown parents
(art.7), but does not extend it to the child born in Morocco to two stateless parents.
The acquisition of Moroccan citizenship after birth
There is a right for the child born in Morocco to foreign parents also born in Morocco to become a citizen after the
entering into force of the initial citizenship code, if he/she usually and regularly lives in the country and presents a
declaration within the two years before coming of age (18 years old). An option also exists, at any age, for the child
born in Morocco to foreign parents if the father, born there at any time, is from a country where the majority of the
population is Muslim and speaks Arabic and if he belongs to this community. Furthermore, the Citizenship reform has
introduced the possibility for a child, born abroad to unknown parents, to become a national after five years or to opt for
citizenship on his or her own two years before coming of age (art.9-2).
The acquisition of Moroccan citizenship by marriage
Women are unable to transmit their citizenship to their husband, and marrying a Moroccan woman does not give any
priority in terms of naturalisation or access to citizenship. It may be considered as an element of integration to be taken
into account in naturalisation. Only men can transmit citizenship through marriage. Morocco has strengthened the
conditions needed for a foreign woman to obtain citizenship where the period required before being allowed to submit
an application for Moroccan citizenship is five years (art.10), i.e. equal to the period required for general naturalisation.
Adult foreign nationals wishing to obtain Moroccan citizenship are subject to the same residency requirement be they
men or women, though not the same procedure. The residence still has to be regular and usual, and the declaration still
has to be made during the marriage. Yet, if the marriage ends after the declaration, it has no effect on the right to obtain
citizenship.
The acquisition of Moroccan citizenship by naturalisation
Applicants are required to be of age (art.11); to have had his/her usual and regular residency in Morocco for at least five
years; to be sane of body and spirit (unless the physical or mental disability is due to a service to the state); to be of
good morals; to have a sufficient knowledge of Arabic; and to have sufficient means of living. Residency has to be
established when the declaration is made, but now must still be established when the request is decided upon (art.11-1).
Becoming a national does not imply renouncing the subject’s previous citizenship. Dual citizenship is tolerated and,
indeed, widespread, provided that it is allowed by the origin country. Naturalisation can still be removed within one
year of the naturalisation act if conditions go unfulfilled (art.14). The naturalisation can be extended to the naturalised
citizen’s non-married minors, but children over 16 can repudiate citizenship from 18 to 21 years of age (art.18).
Morocco does not immediately grant new nationals all the rights linked to citizenship, and in particular it does not grant
political rights for five years following naturalisation. New nationals have to wait five years before being allowed to
benefit from voting and eligibility rights in political elections and also if they wish to work in the civil service (art.17).
It thus keeps a distinction between nationality and citizenship and requires naturalised nationals to prove that they
deserve full citizenship with associated rights, and a place in protected areas such as the political class and sensitive job
positions.
External citizenship
Moroccan legislation allows dual citizenship, since no provision hinders a Moroccan citizen from acquiring another
citizenship, nor demands authorization. A Moroccan acquiring citizenship abroad is said to be allowed to ask
permission to renounce his/her Moroccan citizenship (art.19-1). Likewise, a Moroccan citizen, even a minor, might be