To register a death, the following documents are required:

1. Certificate of Cause of Death issued by doctors or authorised officers from the Ministry of Health
2. Identification documents of the deceased (NRIC & Passport)
3. Identification document of the informant (NRIC or Passport)

Once the registration of death is completed, a death certificate will be given to the family.
The death certificate is necessary for placing an orbituary in the papers, engaging a funeral director, as well as making arrangments for cremation or burial.

A) If the Death Occurred in a Hospital, a doctor at the hospital can certify the cause of death if the cause of death is known and the cause is natural. If the doctor is able to certify the death, a CCOD will be issued on the spot.

If the doctor is unable to certify the death, he may refer the case to the Police. Under such circumstances, the body will be sent to [email protected] which is located at Block 9 of Singapore General Hospital.
The following is required at [email protected]:

1. Identification papers of both the deceased and informant (Eg: NRIC / Passport / Certificate of Registration of Birth / FIN Card)
2. All medical documents relating to the deceased
3. All medicine consumed by the deceased

At the [email protected], the Police Investigator will arrange for the family to view and identify the deceased’s body in the presence of the Coroner. The coroner will review the case and determine if an autopsy is required.

Should the autopsy reveal that the death is from unnatural causes, the Police will conduct further investigations. Upon completion of the investigation, the family will be advised by the Police to attend a Coroner Inquiry at the Subordinate Courts.

Otherwise, the family will be informed of the Coroner’s decision as well as advised on a time to claim the body for the funeral.

B) If the Death Occurred at Home, you will need to contact your family doctor or any neighborhood doctor who is willing to make the house call.

If the doctor is able to certify the death, a CCOD will be issued on the spot.

If the doctor is unable to certify the death, you will have to call the Police. The Police will come to your house along with a Forensic Death Investigator to certify the cause of death.

If the death can be certified, the Forensic Death Investigator will issue the CCOD on the spot. Otherwise, the Police will arrange for the body to be sent to [email protected] which is located at Block 9 of Singapore General Hospital.

The following is required at [email protected]:

1. Identification papers of both the deceased and informant (Eg: NRIC / Passport / Certificate of Registration of Birth / FIN Card)
2. All medical documents relating to the deceased
3. All medicine consumed by the deceased

At the [email protected], the Police Investigator will arrange for the family to view and identify the deceased’s body in the presence of the Coroner. The coroner will review the case and determine if an autopsy is required.

Should the autopsy reveal that the death is from unnatural causes, the Police will conduct further investigations. Upon completion of the investigation, the family will be advised by the Police to attend a Coroner Inquiry at the Subordinate Courts.

Otherwise, the family will be informed of the Coroner’s decision as well as advised on a time to claim the body for the funeral.

A Coffin (Import) Permit is required to import a body back into Singapore. It would be advisable to engage a funeral director to assist you with the procedures.

Application for the Coffin (Import) Permint can be done at the following offices:

Port Health Office
4545 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 159466
Tel: 6222 2583

Airport Health Office
Singapore Changi Airport
Tel: 6543 2515

For the issuance of the Coffin (Import) permit, the following documents are required:

• Death Certificate issued by the country where the death occurred, Cause of Death Certificate or a Statutory Declaration (Do note that copy of English translation is required if the documents are in ethnic languages)
• Sealing Certificate for the coffin
• Embalming Certificate, where applicable
• Coffin Export Permit from the country where the body is being exported
• Air Waybill, if by air

If the application is by the funeral director, the Permit to Cremate/Bury will be granted provided the next-of-kin gives a letter of authorisation for the funeral director to apply for the permit. The coffin permit costs $10 whilst the Permit to Bury/Cremate will be issued along with the coffin permit at no extra charge.

Do note that prior written approval has to be obtained from National Environment Agency, Environmental Health Department for the import of a body of an HIV-infected Singapore citizen.

The next-of-kin of the deceased will be required to report the death at Singapore’s Registry of Births & Deaths which is located at Citizen Centre, ICA Building. Should the next-of-kin be unable to report the death personally, a letter of authorisation will be required.

To register a death that has occurred overseas, the following documents are required:

1. Death Certificate issued by the foreign authorities (copy of English translation is required if the death certificate is in ethnic languages)
2. Coffin (Import/Export) permit
3. Permit to Bury/Cremate
4. 1) Deceased’s NRIC, passport, Citizen Certificate (if any), and
5. Identification document of the informant (NRIC or Passport)

Do note that foreigners cremated in Singapore are not entitled to purchase niches in Government operated columbaria. They may however purchase niches at private columbaria such as The Garden of Remembrance.