Documents from Morocco
Do not assume an apostille is enough for Germany. Morocco joined the Hague Apostille Convention (in force 14 August 2016), but Germany objected to the accession (HCCH status table: Morocco "A**", HCCH; Higher Regional Court Cologne, as of 25 November 2024: legalisation required). Between Germany and Morocco no apostille applies: legalisation is needed.
How the Embassy describes it
- First pre-authentication in Morocco, in two steps: the court of first instance, then the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Then the German Embassy legalises it. Applications go through TLScontact. Fee: €36 per document plus the TLScontact fee (Embassy Rabat leaflet on legalisation, as of 20 August 2026; fee since 1 July 2025 under AABGebV Annex 1, item I.7.1).
- Processing time and exceptions: not confirmed.
- Do not pay intermediaries to "legalise" papers: Avoiding scams.
Documents you will usually need
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid beyond the planned stay. |
| Baccalauréat, diplomas, transcripts | Copies and translation if the office asks. Same procedure question as above. |
| Birth and marriage certificates (acte de naissance, acte de mariage) | Needed for family cases. Legalised civil-status documents older than six months are often not accepted in some procedures, see Family. |
| Police record (casier judiciaire) | Only if a German office asks; not checked. |
| Employment certificates, CV | Translations; private papers are usually not legalised. |
Translations
- Documents in Arabic or French: whether German offices accept French without translation is not confirmed; ask the office. German translations are normally by a sworn translator.
- Recognition bodies can be stricter than the Embassy. Ask first, then pay.
A question this page does not answer? Contact us. Free orientation only, no legal advice for individual cases.