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Birth Registration
Morocco
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Morocco
Birth Registration
Procedure and Certificates
Procedure and Certificates
Place
Where must births be reported?
Anywhere
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Registration may be place of occurrence of place of residence. The civil registration law should clearly state the place where births must be reported. Reporting in the place of occurrence usually makes the registration process faster and easier for the informant. The determination of the place of usual residence may be in fact complicated for some people who have more than one residence or often move. In addition, reporting at place of occurrence facilitates declaration or notification by a health facility.
Countries with electronic systems for civil registration may allow more flexibility and allow reporting from anywhere the civil registration system can be accessed.
What are the reporting periods for birth registration specified in law?
30 days
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
A clear deadline for reporting a birth, especially a short one, reduces the risk of misreporting or underreporting. The deadline is typically between 14 and 30 days.
A late birth registration occurs when a birth is reported after the legally specified time period, but within a grace period, usually one year after the vital event.
Delayed birth registration is the registration that occurs after the grace period has expired. Delayed birth registration may occur many years after the event, and may require additional evidence.
Informants must report births within 30 days of the day following the birth. This period is extended to one year for births of Moroccans residing abroad as set out in Decree 2.22.04.
Analysis of the legal instruments available to the reviewer did not identify any provisions relevant to this question
Law Source
Are there any fees or fine for late or delayed birth registration?
Unclear
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Fees are not effective in preventing late or delayed registration and may act as a disincentive for registration. If fees are charged for delayed or late registration, policymakers should consider having a fee-waiver process for those for whom fees are a hardship. More effective results to increase registration rates are observed through educational programmes aimed at the public. Some countries have opted to impose a penalty for failure to register or, more precisely, refusal to register, rather than impose a fee for late registration.
Analysis of the legal instruments available to the reviewer did not identify any provisions relevant to this question
Law Source
Information
What is the minimum information required for birth registration?
Minimum information required is in accordance with UN guidance and registrars have discretion to register birth without all information
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The information required for legal purposes is minimal, and usually consists of: given name; surname; date of birth; birthplace; sex; and names of both the parents. It is preferable that information on both parents is provided but registration should not be denied if the mother cannot or will not name the father. Registrars should be authorized to complete registration with the available information to strive for universal registration. Failure to provide statistical data elements such as the weight of the child, should also not prevent birth registration.
The birth declaration requests information about the newborn, including: place of birth, type of birth (single, twin, etc), name, date and time of birth, sex, and place of registration. It also requests data about the mother and father; however, the specific nature of this data is unclear. Law 36.21, Article 25 explicitly allows birth registration without paternal information. While it is unclear if a birth can be registered without any of the other requested information, the requested information about the newborn and mother would generally be known by the informant (e.g., the mother or father) and aligns with the minimum required UN information.
What evidence is required for on-time birth registration?
Birth notification issued by health facility or local authority, copy of the parents' marriage certificate or a recognition of paternity, full birth certificates of both parents or a full copy of the mother's birth certificate
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Registrars should require proof as to the veracity of the information to be registered. Proof or evidence required for registration must be sufficiently stringent to provide assurance of the accuracy of the information without being so burdensome so burdensome as to discourage or prevent registration. Documentary evidence is always preferred. For birth registration, the most common form of documentary evidence is the notification of birth (from health sector or local leader), but if this is not available, testimony or affidavits of witnesses may be substituted.
In addition to the birth notification issued by the health facility or local authority, the law requires the declarant to provide the registrar with either a copy of the parents' marriage certificate, or a recognition of paternity and the full birth certificates of both parents, if they are not married, or a full copy of the mother's birth certificate if she is unmarried. This is set out in Decree 2.22.04.
Are there additional or alternative documents required for late or delayed birth registration?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
While late and delayed reporting should be discouraged, the procedures should not be so restrictive as to prevent late and delayed reporting of events. Laws that require a court order for late or delayed registration present a significant barrier to registration. For late registration (within 1-year grace period), the provision of a notification of birth, or other evidence required for on-time registration, should be sufficient. For delayed registration (after 1 year), the law may require additional evidence such as a witness statement.
Does the registrar (local or other level) have the authority to correct minor errors (such as data entry errors and typographical errors)? If yes, are such changes free of charge?
Other (Approval by head of agency required. Law silent on fee.)
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The civil registration agency should have authority to correct errors such as obvious spelling, date or typographical errors.Providing the registration agency with authority to make these types of corrections relieves the applicant of having to spend time and money applying to courts. No fee should be charged for minor clerical errors.
The local civil registrar has no authority to correct minor errors on its own. Civil registrars may correct the spelling of surnames and first names on birth certificates only with authorization from the central authority (the Ministry of the Interior or its delegate). For other errors, civil registrars must obtain authorization from the Ministry of the Interior or its delegate, or the courts, depending on the type of error. This is set out in Law 36.21.
Does the registrar (local or other level) have the power to add omitted information (such as name of baby, in the case of late naming, and paternity information)? If yes, are such changes free of charge?
Other (Approval by head of agency required. Law silent on fee.)
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The civil registration agency should have authority to add information omitted in the original record, such as the late addition of a baby name within the time frame for late naming, or adding uncontested paternity information. Providing the registration agency with authority to make these types of amendments elieves the applicant of having to spend time and money applying to courts. No fee should be charged for adding omitted information
The local civil registrar has no authority to add omitted information on its own.Civil registrars may add surnames and first names on birth certificates only with uthorization from the central authority (the Ministry of the Interior or its delegate) is required. For other omissions, civil registrars must obtain authorization from the Ministry of the Interior or its delegate, or the courts, depending on the type of omission. This is set out in Law 36.21.
Is the original birth certificate provided free of charge?
Unclear
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Legislation should require the registrar, upon completion of registration, to issue an original birth certificate to the parents of the child free of charge. Ideally, the local registrar has the power to issue a birth certificate, as this will shorten the time frame for certificate issuance.
Law 36.21 Article 43 provides that a copy of the electronic civil status certificate is issued by the civil registry office to the person concerned, his ascendants or descendants, amongst others. This provision states that the fees for civil status extracts issued by the civil registrar are specified in accordance with the legislation in force. However, it appears that no other legislation or regulation explicitly addresses the fees associated with the cost of issuing certificates or extracts.
