Morocco

In Morocco, to get a birth certificate parents must pay hospital fees and present both an ID and a marriage certificate. If uninsured mothers give birth in the hospital, they may be forced to pay large fees before receiving a birth notification. Some uninsured migrant mothers have preferred to leave the hospital quickly for fear of being arrested. In 2014, the CRC expressed concern about migrant and asylum seeking parents’ access to birth registration due to the fees. The CRC urged Morocco to ensure all children are registered and provided with an official birth certificate immediately without undue barriers, regardless of their parents’ status.

In 2023, the Human Rights Council of Morocco stated that the same regime applied to nationals and foreigners regarding birth registration. However, the CMW expressed concern about allegations of maternity hospitals withholding migrants’ birth certificates for non-payment of hospital fees. The CMW recommended that Morocco take steps to raise migrant communities’ awareness of proper birth registration procedure and ensure hospitals do not withhold birth certificates from migrants.