Kingdom of Morocco · family
Family Residence Card (regroupement familial)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
For the spouse and children of someone already settled in Morocco: this family-reunion residence card (regroupement familial) lets close family members live in Morocco on the basis of their relationship to a resident or to a Moroccan national.
- Processing time
- Indicative only - timelines vary by prefecture; confirm current processing on the official DGSN and Service des Etrangers channels.
- Government fees
- Indicative only - government fees and a fiscal stamp apply; confirm current amounts on the official DGSN page.
- Typical duration
- A renewable residence card tied to the family relationship and the sponsor's status; confirm current validity on the official page.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
In short
As of 25 July 2026, the Family Residence Card (regroupement familial) for Kingdom of Morocco is a sponsor-led Morocco immigration route. Sources: official Kingdom of Morocco government pages, reviewed 25 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/morocco/family-residence#answer
What is the Family Residence Card (regroupement familial) in Kingdom of Morocco?
Family Residence Card (regroupement familial) is a sponsor-led Morocco route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - government fees and a fiscal stamp apply; confirm current amounts on the official DGSN page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - timelines vary by prefecture; confirm current processing on the official DGSN and Service des Etrangers channels; typical duration is A renewable residence card tied to the family relationship and the sponsor's status; confirm current validity on the official page. This route does not lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) on 1 June 2026.
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
Typical criteria
- ✓A genuine, documented family relationship to a foreign national who holds a Moroccan residence card, or to a Moroccan national.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
- ✓The sponsor holding a valid residence status (or being a Moroccan citizen) and able to support the family.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
- ✓Lawful entry to Morocco and a family-reunion residence application at the Service des Etrangers.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
- ✓Evidence of a place of residence for the family.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
Common blockers
- !No documented qualifying relationship to a resident card-holder or Moroccan national.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
- !The sponsor losing or lacking a valid residence status.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
- !Insufficient evidence of accommodation or means to support the joining family.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·A marriage certificate or birth certificates evidencing the relationship, legalised as required.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
- ·The sponsor's residence card or proof of Moroccan nationality.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
- ·A valid passport with the appropriate entry visa for each family member.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
- ·Proof of address and means of support for the family.Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm the family relationship and that the sponsor's residence status (or Moroccan nationality) supports a family-reunion application.
Build the evidence pack
Gather the relationship certificates, the sponsor's status documents, passports and proof of address.
Submit through the official channel
Apply for the family-reunion residence card at the Service des Etrangers of the prefecture where the family lives.
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.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For Family Residence Card (regroupement familial), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.
- 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
- 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
- 3. Confirm what you may do. Check the conditions for your own permission, including work, and keep evidence of the qualifying relationship. The principal applicant’s conditions may differ.
- 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
- 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Morocco. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicant + sponsorUse official Family Residence Card (regroupement familial) route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Family Residence Card (regroupement familial).
Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN) · verified
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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.
Frequently asked questions
Can my spouse and children join me in Morocco?+
Yes. If you hold a Moroccan residence card, your spouse and minor children can apply for residence under family reunion (regroupement familial). The foreign spouse of a Moroccan national can also apply on the basis of the marriage. Confirm the current documents on the official DGSN page.
Does a family residence card lead to permanent residence?+
Not automatically. It is renewable and tied to the relationship and the sponsor's status. The foreign spouse of a Moroccan can often move toward the longer carte de residence sooner. Confirm the current rules on the official DGSN page.
What documents do I need to prove my family relationship for a Morocco family reunion residence card?+
For the regroupement familial card you provide a marriage certificate or birth certificates evidencing the relationship (legalised as required), the sponsor's residence card or proof of Moroccan nationality, a valid passport with the appropriate entry visa for each family member, and proof of address and means of support for the family. Confirm the current document list on the official DGSN page.
What happens to my family's residence card if I lose my own Moroccan residence status?+
The family-reunion card follows the sponsor's status, so a sponsor losing or lacking a valid residence status is a common blocker, and the card is tied to the relationship and the sponsor remaining in order. You keep it valid in line with the sponsor's status. Confirm the current rules on the official DGSN page.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in MoroccoHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Direction Generale de la Surete Nationale (DGSN)
Last checked: 1 June 2026