Morocco’s parliament approves key reforms to civil status law

Tuesday 11 November 2025 - 11:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco’s parliament approves key reforms to civil status law

Morocco’s House of Representatives has unanimously passed a new law aimed at simplifying bureaucratic procedures and making it easier for citizens to change their family names. The move is part of a broader effort to modernize the country’s civil status system and improve public services.

The chamber approved Bill No. 16.25 on Monday, which amends the current civil status law No. 36.21. The legislation seeks to bring government services closer to citizens and accelerate the processing of administrative requests, reflecting the evolving needs of Moroccan society.

Government spokesman and Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament Mustapha Baitas, who presented the bill, praised the unanimous support it received from both the Interior Committee and lawmakers. He emphasized that the reform will enhance service quality while fostering trust between the administration and the public.

“This bill fits within our framework to improve service quality and accelerate how we process requests that citizens submit to the High Commission for Civil Status,” said Baitas. “These new arrangements will improve the quality of services we provide to citizens and strengthen trust between the administration and the public.”

The High Commission for Civil Status, currently composed of three members, the historiographer of the kingdom as president, a judge appointed by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, and a representative of the Interior Ministry has faced significant challenges under the existing system. Procedures for changing family names have been particularly cumbersome, creating unnecessary administrative hurdles.

The reform addresses these issues by introducing new measures to streamline operations. Notably, it allows for the replacement of the commission’s president when he is unavailable, ensuring meetings can proceed without delay. This key change aims to prevent interruptions in the commission’s work and ensure faster resolution of citizen requests.

Baitas underscored that the new law aligns the civil status system with Morocco’s social evolution while enabling the government to respond more effectively to citizens’ needs. He further noted that the changes reflect an urgent need for modernization in a sector essential to public trust and service delivery.

The unanimous vote highlights a strong political consensus on the importance of these reforms, which are expected to significantly improve the efficiency of Morocco’s civil status procedures.