Morocco: The procedure for issuing a birth certificate and the information on the certificate
In 5 January 2007 correspondence, the Vice-consul of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Montréal provided the following information on the issuance of birth certificates:
[translation]
All Moroccan citizens who are listed in the Moroccan vital statistics registries, either in Morocco or abroad (consulates and embassies) may obtain three types of birth certificate, depending on the need:
- a long form birth certificate containing all the information recorded in the vital statistics registries at the place of birth
- a birth certificate issued at the place of birth
- an individual record sheet issued instead of a birth certificate and delivered to the address in the family record book or on an old birth certificate
These documents are valid for three months.
According to the information on the Web site of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Montréal:
[Consulate General English version]
Birth certificates are issued to Canada born applicants only. The Consulate will issue an Individual record sheet (instead of the birth certificate) for other applicants, upon presentation of the applicant's father['s] vital statistics booklet or a Birth certificate in French even outdated. The Birth certificates are issued only at the applicant's birth place. (7 Dec. 2006)
Description of a birth certificate
The following is written in the upper left-hand corner of the birth certificate:
Royaume du Maroc
Ministère de l'Intérieur
Préfécture ou Province
Commune
Bureau de l'état civil
Acte no
Année : Hégirienne
Grégorienne
[Translation]
Kingdom of Morocco
Ministry of the Interior
Prefecture or Province
Commune (municipality)
Vital Statistics Office
Certificate number
Hegirian year
Gregorian year. (Morocco 5 Jan. 2007)
The title, "Extrait d'acte de Naissance" (Birth Certificate) is centred immediately after (ibid.). Under the title and justified to the left, the birth certificate displays the following information:
Prénom
Nom
Lieu de Naissance
Né(e) le
Correspondant au
À
Fils ou fille de
Et de
Mention marginale de décés
Extrait certifié conforme au registre de l'état civil par nous .... et ...
[translation]
Given name
Family name
Place of birth
Date of birth
Corresponding to
At
Son or daughter of
And of
Note of death
Copy of the vital statstics registry certified by us ... and ... (ibid.)
The seal of the vital statistics office appears in the lower right-hand corner of the birth certificate (ibid.). The date, location and signature of the vital statistics officer (officier de l'état civil) appear on the left-hand side (ibid.).
Description of the individual record sheet
"Royaume du Maroc" (Kingdom of Morocco) and "Ministère de l'Intérieur" (Ministry of the Interior) are listed vertically in the upper left-hand corner of the individual record sheet, followed by the prefecture or province, the commune (municipality), and the vital statistics office, in that order (ibid.). To the right of the information are the title "FICHE INDIVIDUELLE D'ÉTAT CIVIL(Individual Record Sheet) and the subtitle "Tenant lieu d'extrait d'acte de naissance application du dahir Chérifien du 24 choual 1333 (4 Septembre 1915) portent régulement de l'État civil" (Issued instead of the birth certificate by application of the Cherifian decree of 24 choual 1333 (4 September 1915) containing the vital statistics regulation) (ibid.). Below that are the bearer's given name, date of birth, place of birth, father's and mother's names, current address, and one line for any notes (ibid.).
The lower part of the individual record sheet is divided into two sections (Morocco 5 Jan. 2007). The following appears on the left-hand side:
L'Officier de l'État Civil de la Commune Urbaine de ............... Soussigné, certifie sur l'honneur l'exactitude des renseignements portés sur la présente fiche suivant le livret d'identité et d'État Civil No ...................... délivré par le bureau d'État-Civil de la Commune de .................................. de l'extrait d'acte de naissance No ...... de l'année .............. délivré par le bureau d'État-Civil de la Commune .......... en date du ....................... le .............. Signature et sceau du bureau.
[translation]
The vital statistics officer of the urban commune of ............... the undersigned, certifies the accuracy of the information contained in this sheet according to the identity booklet and vital statistics number ................... issued by the vital statistics office of the commune of .................................. the birth certificate bearing number ...... of the year .............. issued by the vital statistics office of the commune of .......... dated on this the ......................., the .............. Signature and seal of the office. (ibid.)
The bearer's name and current address are on listed the lower right-hand side (ibid.). The following appears below that: "Certifie l'exactitude des renseignements portés sur la présente Fiche" (Certifies the accuracy of the information contained in this sheet) (ibid.). The bearer's signature appears below that (ibid.). The following paragraph appears directly below the signature:
En application de l'article 366 du code pénal sera puni d'un emprisonnement de 6 mois à 2 ans et d'une amende de 120 à 1000 DH ou l'une de ces deux peines quiconque aura seulement établi ou fait usage d'une attestation ou d'un certificat faisant état de fait matériellement inexactes ou qui aura falsifié ou modifié une attestation ou un certificat originairement sincère.
[translation]
Under Article 366 of the penal code, any individual who draws up or uses an attestation or a certificate that contains materially incorrect information or who falsifies or modifies an originally accurate attestation or certificate will be liable to imprisonment of six months to two years and/or fined 120 to 1000 Moroccan dirhams [approximately CAD16 to CAD136 (Canada 11 Jan. 2007)]. (Morocco 5 Jan. 2007)
In 5 January 2007 correspondence, the Vice-consul of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco stated that the individual record sheet includes the bearer's signature and a note certifying that the information in the sheet matches that of the vital statistics office.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Canada. 11 January 2007. Bank of Canada. "Convertisseur de devises - taux du jour." <http://bank-banque-canada.ca/fr/taux/convertisseur.html> [Accessed 11 Jan. 2007]
Morocco. 5 January 2007. Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Montréal. Correspondence from the Vice-consul.
_____. 7 December 2006. Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Montréal. "État civil et notariat." <http://www.consulatduMorocco.ca/etatcivil_note.htm> [Accessed: 10 Jan. 2007]
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, including: Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in France, government of Morocco.