Yes, you can buy property in Morocco without being there for the signing, by giving someone a power of attorney.
But in 2026 the rules for property powers of attorney are stricter than most online guides say.
The document must be in authentic form, it must be registered in Morocco’s new national register before it can be used, and a power signed abroad must be properly authenticated.
Quick answer
A power of attorney for a Moroccan property deal must be specific to the property and drawn up in authentic form, which since July 2026 means before a notary or adouls. Since 1 June 2026 it must also be entered in the national electronic register of powers of attorney. If you sign abroad, ask your Moroccan notary first which route they accept: a Moroccan consulate, or a local notary plus an apostille. Never sign a general power that lets someone receive or move your money freely.
This article is general educational information based on current published sources, not legal advice. These rules changed twice in 2026, so confirm the exact form with the Moroccan notary handling your purchase before you sign anything abroad.
Can you buy property in Morocco without travelling there?
Yes. Foreigners regularly complete purchases through a representative who signs the final deed at the notary’s office on their behalf.
This is useful when you cannot take time off work, when the signing date moves, or when you are buying from far away.
The representative can be a family member, a friend you trust, or a professional, but not the seller’s agent or anyone with an interest in the sale.
Many buyers still travel for the viewing and the preliminary agreement, then use a power of attorney only for the final signature.
That is usually the safer balance: you see the property and meet the notary yourself, and you delegate only the formal last step.
What changed for property powers of attorney in 2026?
Two reforms now apply to every power of attorney used for a Moroccan property transaction.
The power must be in authentic form
Article 4 of the Real Rights Code (Law 39-08) requires deeds that transfer property or other real rights to be drawn up in a formal deed, on pain of nullity (Law 39-08, article 4, Bulletin Officiel no. 7158).
A 2017 amendment extended this formality to the powers of attorney used for these deeds, to fight forged powers used to steal property.
In July 2026, Law 41.25 rewrote article 4 again: transfer deeds, sale promises and the related powers of attorney must now be made by authentic act, and the option of a deed drafted by a specialist lawyer was removed (analysis of Law 41.25, BO no. 7526 of 16 July 2026, Arabic edition).
In practice, an authentic act in Morocco is one received by a notary or by adouls, the traditional notaries.
A power typed at home and signed in front of a friend is therefore not enough.
The power must be registered
Since 1 June 2026, powers of attorney covering real property rights, whether for a sale, purchase, donation or mortgage, must be entered in a national electronic register, under Law 31.18 amending the Code of Obligations and Contracts (Hespress, 1 June 2026).
The register lets notaries and the land registry check that a power exists, has not been changed and has not been revoked.
Legal commentators describe registration as a condition for the power to take effect, so a power that is not registered may be refused on the signing day.
Who files it and where depends on how and where the power was made, so this is a question for your notary, not something to guess.
| Rule | Since | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Authentic form for property powers | 2017, tightened July 2026 | Sign before a notary or adouls, or an equivalent route your notary accepts |
| National register of powers | 1 June 2026 | The power must be registered before it is used |
| Specific mandate | General civil law | Name the property and list exactly what your representative may do |
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How do you sign a power of attorney from abroad?
There are usually two routes, and the right one depends on your country and on what your Moroccan notary will accept.
Route 1: a Moroccan consulate
Some buyers sign before the Moroccan consulate in their country of residence, which Moroccan notaries generally recognise (Reaconsult, June 2026).
Consular services and delays vary, so ask the consulate in advance exactly which type of act it can prepare for a property purchase.
Route 2: a local notary plus an apostille
You can also sign before a notary in your own country and have the document authenticated so it can be used in Morocco.
Morocco joined the Hague Apostille Convention, in force for Morocco since 14 August 2016 (HCCH status table), so a public document from another member country can be accepted with an apostille instead of a full chain of legalisation.
There is an exception: Germany objected to Morocco’s accession (HCCH notification), so documents between Germany and Morocco may still need consular legalisation.
You will usually also need a certified translation into Arabic or French if the power is written in another language.
Whichever route you use, send the draft wording to the Moroccan notary first and get written confirmation that it is acceptable.
What should the power of attorney say?
A vague power is the biggest risk for you and the most likely to be refused.
Ask the notary to draft or approve wording that includes:
- Your full identity and your representative’s identity, exactly as on your passports.
- The exact property, with its land title number, address and description.
- The price agreed, or a maximum price your representative cannot exceed.
- The acts allowed, such as signing the final deed and receiving the keys, and nothing more.
- Payment rules: the funds go to the notary’s account from your own bank, not through your representative.
- A time limit, for example a few months, after which the power expires.
Do not give your representative the power to receive money, open accounts, sell, mortgage or sign new mandates unless there is a specific reason and your notary agrees.
Keep the power narrow: if anything changes, such as the price or the property, sign a new one.
What did I learn from a deal that waited for an absent owner?
From my experience
On my first successful purchase in Marrakech, the owner lived in America. His brother opened the property for us, we called the owner during the viewing, and we agreed the price by phone. The owner then came back to Morocco about a month later to complete the sale at the notary. In the meantime, I paid around €1,000 as a guarantee deposit. It worked out, but a lot rested on trust. Today, I would want the seller’s authority confirmed in writing, and any power of attorney checked by the notary, before paying anything.
The lesson works both ways.
If the seller is abroad and someone else is acting for them, ask the notary to verify that person’s power of attorney, its form and its registration before you pay a deposit.
If you are the one abroad, your power must be just as clean, because a weak document can delay the signing or let someone misuse it.
Our guide to paying a property deposit in Morocco explains how to protect that first payment.
How should the money move when you are not there?
Your representative signs, but your money should not pass through them.
Transfer the funds from your own bank account to the notary’s account, so there is a direct and traceable record in your name.
This matters later too, because the bank proof of the foreign currency you brought in is what supports a future transfer of the sale proceeds out of Morocco.
Read our guide to the convertible dirham account before you send anything.
Ask the notary for a receipt, a copy of the signed deed and confirmation once the sale is registered in your name.
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What are the warning signs with a power of attorney?
| Warning sign | Safer alternative |
|---|---|
| Someone offers to sign everything for you with a general power | Use a specific power for one property and one transaction |
| The agent or seller suggests their own contact as your representative | Choose someone independent who answers only to you |
| You are asked to send the money to your representative | Pay the notary directly from your own account |
| The power was prepared without the Moroccan notary seeing it | Send the draft to the notary before signing it abroad |
| Nobody mentions the national register | Ask who will register the power and when, before the signing date |
Forged or misused powers of attorney are exactly why Morocco tightened these rules, so treat any pressure to skip steps as a red flag.
Our list of red flags to avoid property scams in Morocco covers other tricks to watch for.
What is the step by step process?
- Choose your notary in Morocco and confirm they handle remote buyers.
- Sign the preliminary agreement yourself if possible, with clear conditions.
- Ask the notary for the exact power of attorney wording and the signing route they accept.
- Sign the power at the consulate or before a local notary, then get the apostille and translation if needed.
- Send the original to the notary and confirm that the power is registered in the national register.
- Transfer the funds from your own bank account to the notary’s account.
- Your representative signs the final deed, and the notary registers the sale.
- Revoke the power in writing once the purchase is complete, if it has not already expired.
For the full role of the notary, see our guide to buying property in Morocco through a notary.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner buy property in Morocco without being present?
Yes. A representative can sign the final deed using a specific power of attorney in authentic form, registered in the national register of powers. Confirm the exact form with your Moroccan notary first.
Is a power of attorney signed in my country valid in Morocco?
It can be, if it is made before a notary and authenticated, usually with an apostille, and translated if needed. Because of the 2026 reforms, ask the Moroccan notary to approve the wording and route before you sign.
What is the national register of powers of attorney?
Since 1 June 2026, powers of attorney for property transactions must be entered in an electronic register so notaries and the land registry can check they are genuine and still valid.
Can my representative receive the money for me?
Avoid it. Pay the notary directly from your own bank account, and keep the power limited to signing the deed for one property.
Can the seller use a power of attorney too?
Yes, and it is common when sellers live abroad or when several heirs own a property. Ask the notary to check that each power is in the right form, registered and specific to the sale.
What is the safest next step?
Contact the Moroccan notary before you prepare anything abroad, and ask three questions: which signing route they accept, the exact wording they need, and how the power will be registered.
Keep the power specific, short and limited in time, and keep all money flowing from your account to the notary.
If you need help finding someone you can work with in English, our guide to an English speaking notary in Marrakech is a good place to start.
Already considering a property?
See the 14 Day Buyer Plan: $299 →Get 14 days of personal buyer support, three private calls and WhatsApp support.
Get help reviewing up to three properties before you commit money.
Anis is the founder of Buy Property Morocco, a research-based resource created to help foreign buyers understand the real process of buying property in Morocco safely.
He focuses on the practical details most buyers only discover too late: title deed checks, notary steps, compromis de vente risks, transfer taxes, foreign banking rules, repatriating money after a sale, and avoiding common mistakes when dealing with agents or sellers.
Anis has personally bought 4 properties in Morocco and shares practical guidance based on real experience, not theory.
If you are seriously considering buying property in Morocco and want private guidance before you send money, pay a deposit, or sign anything, you can book a buyer safety call here:
