The information here is meant to help members of the bereaved family understand the procedures needed to register the death, arrange for a funeral, and carry out burial or cremation for the deceased.

When a death occurs, the family will have to obtain a Certificate of Cause of Death (CCOD). With the CCOD, the family may register the death.  This will have to be done within 24 hours of the death.

Upon registration of the death, the CCOD will be retained by the death registration center and a Death Certificate will be given to the family.  You will  need this Death Certificate to place an obituary in the papers, engage a funeral director, and when you make arrangements for cremation or burial.

Step 1: Obtain Certificate of Cause of Death (CCOD)

When a death occurs, a doctor at the hospital can certify the cause of death if the cause of death is known and the cause is natural. He will then fill up the CCOD and hand it to the ward nurse. The family can obtain the CCOD from the ward nurse by producing the identity card of the deceased.

If the doctor is unable to determine the cause of death, or a death has been the result of or has been contributed by an unnatural event (e.g. surgical complication, a fall prior to admission), the doctor is under the requirement of the law (Criminal Proceedings Code to refer the case to the Police/Coroner. In such cases, the body will be sent to the Centre for forensic Medicine (CFM) Mortuary (located at Block 9 Singapore General Hospital) in a Police Hearse. The hospital will arrange for this to be done. The family will be told by the Police when to go down to the CFM Mortuary (usually the next day).

What to bring to CFM:

• All medical documents relating to the deceased
• All medicine consumed by the deceased
• Identification papers of the deceased and informant e.g.
• NRIC/Passport/Certificate of Registration of Birth/FIN card.

Step 2: Engage a Funeral Director

After the Certificate of Cause of Death has been obtained, the family may engage a funeral director who will…

• collect the body from the hospital mortuary
• send the body for embalming (if required), and
• deliver the body to the location of the wake.

• any Police Divisional Headquarters, Neighbourhood Police Centre, Neighbourhood Police Post 
  or
• the Registry of Births & Deaths (3rd floor, ICA Building, 10 Kallang Road).
  Tel: 63916100.  Working hours: 8am – 5pm (Mon-Fri), 8am – 1pm (Sat)

• Certificate of Cause of Death
• Identification papers of deceased and informant e.g. NRIC/Passport/Certificate of Registration of Birth/FIN card.

Office hours refer to: 

• Mondays to Fridays, 8:00am to 4:30pm
• Sat, Sun and Public Holidays, 8:00am to 12:30pm.

Step 1: Obtain Certificate of Cause of Death (CCOD)

Contact your family doctor who has been attending the deceased. If the family doctor is able to certify the death, he will issue the CCOD on the spot. If he is unable to certify the death, call the Police for the body to be sent to the Centre for Forensic Medicine (CFM) Mortuary (located at Block 9 Singapore General Hospital) in a Police hearse. The family will be told by the Police when to go down to the CFM Mortuary (usually the next day).

If you do not have a family doctor, contact the Police who will come to your house. The Police will contact the Forensic Death Investigator (FDI). The FDI will come to your house to certify the cause of death. If death can be certified, the FDI will issue the CCOD on the spot. If death cannot be certified, the Police will arrange for the body to be sent to the CFM Mortuary in a Police Hearse. The family will be told by the Police when to go down to the CFM Mortuary (usually the next day).

Step 2: Engage a Funeral Director

After the Certificate of Cause of Death has been obtained, the family may engage a funeral director who will…

• collect the body from the hospital mortuary
• send the body for embalming (if required), and
• deliver the body to the location of the wake.

Step 3: Register the Death (this could be done simultaneously with Step 2)

Prior to registration, the family should decide whether the body will be cremated or buried as this information is required when registering the death.

• The family will have to register the death at:
  any Police Divisional Headquarters, Neighbourhood Police Centre, Neighbourhood Police Post 
  or
• the Registry of Births & Deaths, 3rd floor, ICA Building, 10 Kallang Road.
  Tel: 63916100 Working hours: 8am – 5pm (Mon-Fri), 8am – 1pm (Sat)

If the body is referred to the CFM Mortuary, the death will be registered at the CFM Mortuary.

• What to Bring to Register a Death:
  Certificate of Cause of Death
• Identification papers of deceased and informant e.g. NRIC/Passport/Certificate of Registration of Birth/FIN card.

Office hours refer to: 

• Mondays to Fridays, 8:00am to 4:30pm
• Sat, Sun and Public Holidays, 8:00am to 12:30pm.

Step 1: Obtain Certificate of Cause of Death

Contact your family doctor who has been attending to the deceased. If you do not have a family doctor or if the family doctor is not available, contact any of the neighbourhood doctor who is willing to make a house call.

If the doctor is able to certify the death, he will issue the CCOD on the spot. If he is unable to certify the death, call the Police for the body to be sent to the Centre for Forensic Medicine (CFM) Mortuary (located at Block 9 Singapore General Hospital) in a Police hearse. The family will be told by the Police when to go down to the CFM Mortuary (usually the next day).

If you are unable to contact a doctor, call the Police. The body will be sent to the CFM Mortuary in a Police hearse. The family will be told by the Police when to go down to the CFM Mortuary (usually the next day).

Step 3: Register the Death (this could be done simultaneously with Step 2)

Prior to registration, the family should decide whether the body will be cremated or buried as this information is required when registering the death.

• The family will have to register the death at:
  any Police Divisional Headquarters, Neighbourhood Police Centre, Neighbourhood Police Post 
  or
• the Registry of Births & Deaths, 3rd floor, ICA Building, 10 Kallang Road.
  Tel: 63916100 Working hours: 8am – 5pm (Mon-Fri), 8am – 1pm (Sat)

If the body is referred to the CFM Mortuary, the death will be registered at the CFM Mortuary.

• What to Bring to Register a Death:
  Certificate of Cause of Death
• Identification papers of deceased and informant e.g. NRIC/Passport/Certificate of Registration of Birth/FIN card.

• Port Health Office
  4545 Jalan Bukit Merah. Singapore 159466.
  Tel: 6222 2585   Fax: 6222 8543.
• Airport Health Office
  Singapore Changi Airport
  Tel: 6543 2515   Fax: 6543 1973 

• Death Certificate issued by the country where death occurred (copy of English 
•  translation is required if the death certificate is in ethnic languages), 
• Cause of Death Certificate or a Statutory Declaration
• Sealing Certificate for the coffin 
• Embalming Certificate, where applicable 
• Coffin Export Permit from the country exporting the body 
• Air Waybill (Air Consignment Note) if by air 

Death Registration

The death will also have to be reported to Singapore ‘s Registry of Births & Deaths , Citizen Centre, 3rd Storey, ICA Building personally by the next-of-kin of the deceased. If the next-of-kin is unable to report the death personally at ICA Building , a letter of authorization will be required.

Documents Required:

• Death Certificate issued by the foreign authorities (copy of English
  translation is required if the death certificate is in ethnic languages)
• Coffin (Import/Export) permit
• Permit to Bury/Cremate
• Deceased’s Singapore identity card, passport, Citizenship Certificate (if any), and
• Informant’s identification documents.

B. Foreign National
For Cremation

• Foreigners are allowed to be imported into Singapore for cremation. A Coffin (Import) Permit is required to import a body into Singapore. A funeral director should be able to assist you in the procedures.
• A Permit to Cremate will also be issued together with the Coffin (Import) Permit. If the application is by the funeral director, the permit will be granted provided the next-of-kin gives a letter of authorization for the funeral director to apply for the permit.
• Foreigners cremated in Singapore are not entitled to purchase niches in government – operated columbaria. They may however purchase niches at private columbaria.