Its head office is in Rabat and is one of the so-called "ministries of sovereignty", which report directly to the king of Morocco, alongside the ministries of the interior and religious affairs.

1-56-097 of 26 April 1956, four months after the formation of the government of Mbarek Bekkay, first Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco.

The ministry is headed by the Secretary of State, currently Mounia Boucetta since April 2017.

As of 2017, the ministry manages and staffs 91 embassies, 53 consulates-general and several Permanent Missions.

The ministry obtained its current name following a cabinet shuffle in 2019.