Death & Dying in Singapore

The law requires all deaths occurring in Singapore to be registered within 24 hours of occurrence.

Certificate of Cause of Death

A Certificate of Cause of Death will be needed to register a death.

If death occurs in a hospital or at home and a doctor is present, then the doctor will issue a Certificate of Cause of Death.

A death occurring at home, not attended by a doctor, should be reported to the Police who will arrange for an Authorised Officer from the Ministry of Health to examine the body. If they are satisfied that the death is due to natural causes the Authorised Officer will issue a Certificate of Cause of Death.

The death can then be registered.

If the Authorised Officer is not satisfied that death was of natural causes the case will be passed on to the Coroner's Office and an autopsy may be ordered. The coroner also has the authority to order forensic investigations. The death may then be referred back to the police homicide department for further investigation.

 Registering a Death

A death can be registered at:

• Any Neighbourhood Police Centre/Post
• Registry of Births & Deaths Citizen Services Centre
  At: 3rd Storey, ICA Building, 10 Kallang Road (Next to Lavender MRT station), Singapore 208718
  Tel: 6391 6343

If the death occurred at government or government-restructured hospitals, it can be registered at that hospital.

If the deceased's body is brought to the Centre for Forensic Medicine for examination, the next-of-kin may register the death at the centre.

The death certificate

The person making the registration must produce the following documents:

• Certificate of Cause of Death
• The deceased's identification documents (identity card or passport) for cancellation
• The informant's identification documents

The Registration Officer will verify the documents and print the Death Certificate. The informant should verify the particulars on the Death Certificate and sign it. The Death Certificate will then be issued.

There is no charge for registering a death.

• See the Citizen Services website for more information: Click here

The original Death Certificate contains the permit to bury or cremate

A body can be buried or cremated depending on the deceased's wishes and religion. Cremated ashes can be stored in government–owned or private columbaria niches.

Burial

There is only one cemetery in Singapore still open for burials, the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery. The burial period for all graves is 15 years. After this period the remains are exhumed and stored in columbaria niches. For those whose religion forbids cremation, remains may be buried in smaller, individual plots. Site reservation and payment has to be made in advance of the burial at the booking office.

• Choa Chu Kang Cemetery Booking Office 
  At: 910 Choa Chu Kang Road, Singapore 699819 
  Tel: 6793 7428 
  Fax: 6793 7400

Documents required before the burial are:

• Original death certificate
• Original permit to bury
• Proof of identity of next-of-kin and of the person applying for the burial (or if the applicant is not next-of-kin a letter of authorisation is required: Click here (PDF)

Cremation

Singapore has two private crematoria and one government-owned crematorium. Reservation and payment must be made before cremation.

Documents required before the cremation are:

• Original death certificate
• Original permit to bury
• Proof of identity of next-of-kin and of the person applying for the burial (or if the applicant is not next-of-kin a letter of authorisation is required: Click here (PDF)

Government-owned crematorium

• Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium Complex (Government-owned)
  At: 300 Mandai Road, Singapore 779393 
  Tel: 655 45 655 
  Fax: 6459 5228

Private crematoria

• Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
  At: 88 Bright Hill Drive 
  Tel: 6453 4046
  Fax: 6459 2258 
• Tse Toh Aum Temple
  At: 601 Sin Ming Drive
  Tel: 6454 7666

Columbaria Niches

Cremated ashes can be stored in columbaria niches. 

• The documents required are:
  
  Original death certificate
  Proof of identity of next-of-kin 
  If the applicant is not next-of-kin a letter of authorisation is required

Foreigners in Singapore

Once in possession of a Death Certificate a non-Singaporean should register the death with their respective Embassy or High Commission.

Repatriation of a foreigner

Repatriation of a body to a home country requires the help of the relevant local embassy or consulate. Consular officials can assist in having the remains returned, in obtaining appropriate documentation and in inquiring about Singapore exit requirements.

A relative or a formally appointed representative must instruct a funeral director in the home country of the deceased for a body to be repatriated. If the deceased was insured, it is necessary to contact the insurance company so that they can make the necessary arrangements. If there is no insurance cover, funds for repatriation will need to be met by the family.

In order for a coffin export permit to be granted the following documents are required:

• Death certificate
• Embalming certificate where applicable
• Sealing (of the coffin) certificate (obtained from a funeral director
• To apply for a coffin permit to export: Click here (applications are subject to approval from the Port Health Office)

Note: The deceased's passport must travel with the body.

Further Information

• Information from the Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA)