Morocco draws a large number of British visitors through its cities, coastal resorts, and trekking routes, and the country also has a longstanding Moroccan-British community with family connections in both directions. This guide answers the questions families ask after a death in Morocco.
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Send us the detailsFor the full process and consular detail, see our complete guide to repatriation from Morocco. This article focuses on the practical questions.
The parquet and timelines
Every death in Morocco passes through the parquet, the office of the public prosecutor, which must clear the body for release before any repatriation can proceed. For an expected natural death certified by a attending doctor, clearance tends to move without complication. A sudden or unexplained death will take longer, as the parquet may order a forensic examination first.
Once clearance is issued, the documentation then needs authentication by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which adds another step before the body can travel.
The Casablanca route
International cargo for human remains operates mainly from Casablanca. A death in Marrakech, Agadir, or Fez therefore usually involves a domestic transfer to Casablanca before the flight to the UK. A coordinator familiar with Moroccan logistics handles this transfer alongside the documentation.
Embalming and Muslim families
Many British deaths in Morocco involve Muslim families, and some prefer that embalming is avoided. Whether an alternative sealed and refrigerated container can be used depends on the specific airline and route. A coordinator with experience of Moroccan cases can advise on what the relevant airline permits.
For further guidance, see our articles on Muslim repatriation requirements and ghusl and documents needed to repatriate a body to the UK.