A Singapore Government Agency Website
View all results

Register and Download Digital Death Certificate

Back to top

A death in Singapore will be automatically registered once a doctor certifies the death online. There is no need for the next of kin to register the death at a registration counter.


Information and Documents Required
tooltip button

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.


    The next of kin will need to produce the deceased’s identification document (e.g. NRIC, FIN card or passport) to the doctor or hospital to facilitate the death certification.

    The certifying doctor will need to minimally provide the following death particulars:

    • Name of deceased
    • Sex of deceased
    • Identity document number of deceased
    • Date of birth of deceased
    • Date of death
    • Time of death
    • Place/Address where death occurred
    • Cause of death

    Note: The deceased’s NRIC will be automatically invalidated in ICA’s system once the death is registered. To prevent misuse, the next of kin may destroy the invalidated NRIC of the deceased (e.g. punch a hole or cut into half).


    Procedure

    Deaths at hospitals

    The doctor at the hospital will certify the death online and the death will be automatically registered.

    Deaths at home

    The next of kin will need to engage a doctor to certify the death. The doctor will certify the death online and the death will be automatically registered.

    Note: The doctor will issue a manual document known as Confirmation of Death if the system is unavailable. The doctor will subsequently certify the death online and the death will be automatically registered.

    The Confirmation of Death is accepted by NEA and Town Councils for funeral, burial or cremation-related applications. If there is difficulty using this document to apply for the Permit to Bury/Cremate, the next of kin or funeral service provider should contact NEA 24-hour hotline at 6225 5632 for assistance.  


    Fees

    There is no fee for death registration and issuance of a digital death certificate.


    Download Processing Time and Download of Death Certificate

    After the doctor has certified the death online, the next of kin will have to download the digital death certificate at My Legacy website within 30 days.

    The certifying doctor/hospital will provide the following information to the next of kin to download the digital death certificate:

    • Death Certificate number (or Confirmation of Death document number)
    • Deceased’s Identification Document number
    • Date of Death

    Only the following next of kin or person authorised by the next of kin may download the digital death certificate from My Legacy:

    • Spouse
    • Parent
    • Child
    • Sibling
    • Grandparent
    • Grandchild
    • Aunt/Uncle
    • Niece/Nephew

    You will be required to declare your relationship to the deceased before you can download the digital certificate.

    You may contact 6589 8707, a 24-hour dedicated hotline, if you have any query relating to the death registration process and digital death certificate. Alternatively, you may contact ICA at ICA_DPU_RBD@ica.gov.sg. 

    Note: ICA no longer issues physical death certificates from 29 May 2022. Digital death certificates will be issued only for deaths that are certified by a doctor from 29 May 2022.  The next of kin is advised to save the digital death certificate in his/her personal device for future retrieval.