Family Residence Card (regroupement familial)

Overview

If your husband, wife or parent holds a Moroccan residence card - or is a Moroccan national - this is the route that lets the family live together lawfully in Morocco. It is the carte de sejour in the family-reunion (regroupement familial) category, granted to the spouse and minor children of a foreign resident card-holder, and to the foreign spouse and children of a Moroccan citizen, issued by the DGSN through the Service des Etrangers. The card follows the sponsor's status and is renewable rather than permanent, so on its own it does not lead to settlement; however, the foreign spouse of a Moroccan can often move toward the longer carte de residence sooner. Good to know: the card is tied to a genuine, documented family relationship and to the sponsor remaining in order.

Eligibility

Application pathway

1. 01

   Check the route fit

   Confirm the family relationship and that the sponsor's residence status (or Moroccan nationality) supports a family-reunion application.

2. 02

   Build the evidence pack

   Gather the relationship certificates, the sponsor's status documents, passports and proof of address.

3. 03

   Submit through the official channel

   Apply for the family-reunion residence card at the Service des Etrangers of the prefecture where the family lives.

4. 04

   After approval

   Keep the card valid in line with the sponsor's status and renew before expiry; a foreign spouse of a Moroccan may progress toward the carte de residence sooner.

Also explored by

Compare Kingdom of Morocco with

• 🇧🇼 Republic of Botswana
• 🇿🇦 Republic of South Africa
• 🇰🇪 Republic of Kenya

Related routes

• Work Residence Card (carte de sejour, salarie)

  For foreign nationals taking up a job in Morocco: this is the employment-based residence card (carte de sejour) you hold once a Moroccan employer has secured an ANAPEC-authorised work contract for you, letting you live and work in the country lawfully.

• Permanent Residence Card (carte de residence, 10-year)

  For long-term foreign residents of Morocco: the carte de residence is the longer, typically ten-year card you can apply for after years of continuous, regular residence, giving you a far more settled status than the renewable carte de sejour.

• Long-stay Visa (Visa D)

  For anyone planning to live in Morocco for more than 90 days: the long-stay Visa D is the entry visa you obtain before travelling, and it is the step that comes before you register for a residence card once you arrive.