Foreign pension funds require proof each year that the pensioner is still alive. This certificate, also known as a proof-of-life attestation, is issued at the district office, at the caïdat or at the consulate, on production of an identity document.
The procedure takes five minutes; what is at stake is considerable. Most funds suspend payment without any particular reminder as soon as the deadline has passed, and having it reinstated takes several weeks.
Documents required
The procedure, step by step
- Get hold of your fund’s form
Sent by post or downloadable from your online account. A generic certificate is sometimes refused.
- Attend in person with your identity document
The pensioner has to attend in person: that is the whole point of the document.
- Have it signed and stamped
Check that the date and the stamp are perfectly legible before you leave.
- Send it back on time
Through the channel required - post, online upload, or your personal account. Keep a copy and proof of postage.
Pitfalls to avoid
- Using a generic certificate when the fund insists on its own form.
- Sending the document at the last moment: it is the date of receipt that counts, not the date of signature.
- Keeping neither a copy nor proof of postage - you then have no way of challenging a suspension.
- Overlooking the fact that several funds each have their own calendar: a French pension and a Belgian pension do not fall due at the same time.
Official sources
A life certificate (certificate of existence) is issued by the competent local authority or by the consulate. No national portal issues it remotely: the pensioner’s physical presence is the point of the document. For French pension funds, the usual channel is the fund’s own form, signed in Morocco then returned. Moroccan consulates list the procedure on consulat.ma. General civil-status information also appears on service-public.ma.
Frequently asked questions
How often does it have to be provided?
Generally once a year, on a date specific to each fund. Some require it twice a year beyond a certain age.
What should I do if the pension has been suspended?
Send the missing certificate immediately and contact the fund. Arrears are normally paid retrospectively, but reinstatement takes several weeks.
Can a relative carry out the procedure?
No. The certificate attests that you are alive: your physical presence in front of the officer is the very basis of the document.
Last updated: January 2026 · Indicative estimate - check with the relevant administration.