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Morocco and Russia dual citizenship: can you keep both passports in 2026

9 min read ·

Morocco does not require giving up a previous passport and does not let its own citizens go without a government decree. The catch is elsewhere: Moroccan citizenship cannot be bought, only lived.

In short

Yes. The Moroccan Nationality Code does not require giving up a previous citizenship on naturalisation, and Russia allows a second citizenship provided you notify the Interior Ministry.

Previous passport on naturalisationKept
Country ruleNo need to give up your previous citizenship
Legal basisMoroccan Nationality Code
What Russia requiresnotify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
CheckedOctober 2026

Both countries allow a second passport, so the Russian one stays. But unlike Egypt or Jordan, Morocco has no citizenship or residence by investment. The route to a passport is years of lawful residence, language and income, and the decision stays with the government.

What Morocco requires on naturalisation

The Moroccan Nationality Code of 1958, as amended by Law 62-06 of 2007, allows naturalisation for a foreigner who has lived lawfully in the country for 5 years, speaks Arabic or Amazigh and has sufficient means of support. Citizenship is granted by government decree, and in practice cases take from 18 months to 4 years.

A simplified route through marriage exists only for the wife of a Moroccan citizen: after 5 years of the family living together in the country she files a declaration with the Justice Minister. If the minister stays silent for a year, it counts as a refusal. A foreign husband of a Moroccan woman has no special route and naturalises on general terms.

You do not have to give up your Russian passport. But you cannot leave Moroccan citizenship without a government decree: a Moroccan who obtains a second passport remains a Moroccan citizen.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

  • Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
  • Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.
  • Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
  • Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
  • A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

  1. Get Moroccan residence through work, business or family and live in the country lawfully for 5 years.
  2. Brush up the language: Arabic or Amazigh is required.
  3. Gather documents: proof of income, a criminal record certificate, translated certificates.
  4. Apply to the Justice Minister and wait for the government decree: usually 18 months to 4 years.
  5. Collect the Moroccan passport; the Russian one stays valid.
  6. Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

You must also notify the Russian Interior Ministry of a Moroccan residence permit, if you obtain one, within 60 days. A naturalisation decree can be revoked if the conditions were not met, so keep records of your residence and income for all the years.

What happens to children

Moroccan citizenship passes to a child from birth through either a Moroccan father or a Moroccan mother, wherever the child is born. Birth in Morocco by itself does not give citizenship, except in special cases. A child with Russian and Moroccan citizenship keeps both passports.

Taxes and military service

Moroccan tax residents pay tax on worldwide income on a scale from 0% to 37%. Russia has a double tax treaty with Morocco dated 4 September 1997, so the same income is not taxed twice.

Since 2019 Morocco has brought back compulsory military service: 12 months for citizens aged 19 to 25 under Law 44-18, by selection. For adult naturalised citizens this is usually not relevant, but it is worth considering for teenage children. A Russian citizen's military duty remains.

Common mistakes

  • Looking for Moroccan citizenship by investment. There is no such programme.
  • Counting on the marriage route for the husband of a Moroccan woman. It exists only for the wife of a citizen.
  • Failing to prove lawful residence for all 5 years.
  • Missing the notice to the Russian Interior Ministry about Moroccan residence or citizenship: the deadline is 60 days.

How to get Moroccan citizenship

The realistic route for Russian citizens is naturalisation after 5 years of lawful residence. Morocco has no fast route for money, and offers to buy a Moroccan passport are a red flag.

Requirements, timelines and costs are on the page Moroccan citizenship.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

The main risk is the five years you will have to prove

The law does not stop you from applying for Moroccan citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: gaps in lawful residence that reset the clock, undocumented income, an application without the required language, missed notices to the Russian Interior Ministry about residence and citizenship. Murblz support removes these risks: Murblz specialists build the route to residence, track residence periods, gather proof of income and run the application until the government decree. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first filing.

The support fee depends on the residence ground and family size; a manager will calculate it in chat.

Find out the support fee

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

More on this country:

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

FAQ

Can you hold Moroccan and Russian citizenship at the same time?
Yes. The Moroccan Nationality Code does not require giving up a previous citizenship on naturalisation, and Russia allows a second citizenship provided you notify the Interior Ministry.
Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Moroccan citizenship?
Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.
Does Morocco allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Naturalisation does not require giving up a previous citizenship, and a Moroccan who obtains a second passport remains a Moroccan citizen.
How many years do you need to live in Morocco for citizenship?
5 years of lawful residence. You need Arabic or Amazigh and sufficient income, and the government makes the decision.
Can you get Moroccan citizenship through marriage?
Only the wife of a Moroccan citizen, after 5 years of the family living together in the country. A foreign husband has no special route.
Does Morocco offer citizenship by investment?
No. Morocco has neither citizenship nor residence by investment.
Will a child get Moroccan citizenship?
Yes, if the father or mother is a Moroccan citizen. Birth in the country by itself does not give citizenship.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

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