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Death that Occurred Overseas
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Eligibility

The deaths of Singapore citizens or permanent residents that occur overseas should be registered with the relevant local authorities.

The deceased’s next of kin will then need to report the death to the Registry of Births & Deaths in Singapore. A proxy can also do this if they have a letter of authorisation from the deceased’s family.

Documents Required
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You will need to provide original documents and official translations (for documents in languages other than English), as well as copies of the documents for ICA to retain.

ICA accepts:

  • Translations provided by the embassy of the country that issued the document
  • Translations produced by a notary public in Singapore or the country that issued the document
  • Privately created translations attested by the embassy of the country that issued the document, or notarised by a notary public in Singapore or the country that issued the document.

ICA does not endorse any private translation companies or entities. Insufficient documentation may result in non-acceptance of your application. You may be required to provide additional documents to support your application.

To report a death that occurred outside Singapore, you will need to provide the following original documents with copies for ICA to retain.

  • The next of kin’s identification documents
  • Import or export permit (if available)
  • Burial or cremation permit (if available)
  • The next of kin’s birth certificate or marriage certificate to prove their relationship to the deceased (if available)
  • A death certificate issued by the foreign authorities or a certified true copy of the death certificate
  • The deceased’s identification documents – for example, Singapore passport, Identity Card (IC) or citizenship certificate.

For all documents in languages other than English, you will need to provide a certified English translation made by Notary Public. Please click on the tooltip (exclamation mark “!” above) for more details.

Procedure

You can report a death at:

Registry of Births & Deaths
Citizen Services Centre
ICA Building
10 Kallang Road, Level 3 (next to Lavender MRT station)
Singapore 208718

Operating hours are 8.00 am to 4.30 pm on Monday to Friday, and 8.00 am to 12.30 pm on Saturday.

Longer-than-average waiting times are to be expected on the following peak times:

  • Monday, Friday, Saturday
  • School holidays
  • The day before or after a public holiday.
Fees

There is no fee for reporting a death.

Processing Time

Reporting will be processed on the spot and a letter of acknowledgement will be issued.