Register and Download Digital Death Certificate

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

Information and Documents Required

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 National Environment Agency (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 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 and save it in his/her personal device for future retrieval.

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

Watch this video on how you can download a digital death certificate at My Legacy website.

If you encounter any issue when downloading the digital death certificate, you may approach the certifying doctor to obtain an alternative document that can be used to apply for a burial/cremation permit.

For enquiries relating to application for burial/cremation permit, you may contact NEA for assistance.

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 us via the enquiry form for assistance.

Note: ICA no longer issues physical death certificates from 29 May 2022.