FOR THE PUBLIC

Death Occurs

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.

Scenario A: If the death occurs in a hospital

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 law (Criminal Procedures Code) to refer the case to the police or coroner. In such cases, the body will be sent to the Mortuary@HSA (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 Mortuary@HSA (this is usually on the next day).

What to bring to Mortuary@HSA

  • All medical documents relating 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.

At the Mortuary@HSA

  • The coroner will review the case and determine if an autopsy is required.
  • The Police Investigator will arrange for the family to view and identify the deceased’s body in the presence of the coroner.
  • The family will be informed of the coroner’s decision and the time to claim the body for the funeral.
  • If the autopsy reveals that the death is unnatural, the Police will need to conduct further investigations into the cause of death and the family will need to assist. Once investigation is completed, the family will be told by the Police to attend a coroner Inquiry at the Subordinate Courts.

Mortuary@HSA operating hours:

Monday to Friday:8:00am to 4:30pm
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays:8:00am to 12:30pm

Scenario B: If the death occurs at home

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 Mortuary@HSA (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 Mortuary@HSA (usually on the next day).

What to bring to Mortuary@HSA:

  • All medical documents relating 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.

At the Mortuary@HSA

  • The Police Investigator will arrange for the family to view and identify the deceased’s body in the presence of the coroner.
  • The coroner will review the case and determine if an autopsy is required.
  • The family will be informed of the coroner’s decision and the time to claim the body for the funeral.
  • If an autopsy reveals that the death is unnatural, the Police will need to conduct further investigations into the cause of death and the family will need to assist. Once the investigation is completed, the family will be told by the police to attend a coroner’s inquiry at the subordinate courts.

Mortuary@HSA operating hours:

Monday to Friday:8:00am to 4:30pm
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays:8:00am to 12:30pm
After the Certificate of Cause of Death has been obtained, the family may engage a funeral director who will
  • collect the body from the home/hospital mortuary,
  • send the body for embalming (if required), and
  • deliver the body to the location of the wake.

The family will have to register the death at

3rd floor, ICA Building
10 Kallang Road (S) 208718
Tel: 6391 6100

Working hours:
8:00am – 5:00pm (Monday to Friday)
8:00am – 1:00pm (Saturday)

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

What to bring to register a death:

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

Scenario C: If the death occurs overseas

If death had occurred overseas, it should be registered with the relevant foreign authorities where the death occurred.

For Cremation or Burial

The body of a Singapore Citizen/Permanent Resident may be brought back to Singapore for cremation or burial. However, a Coffin (Import) Permit is required to import a body into Singapore. A funeral director should be able to assist you in the procedures.

More information on Coffin (Import) Permit is available here.

For Cremation

  • Deceased foreigners are allowed to enter 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.
  • Deceased foreigners cremated in Singapore are not entitled to purchase niches in government-operated columbaria. They may however purchase niches at private columbaria.

For Burial

  • Foreigners are allowed to be imported into Singapore for burial only if the immediate next-of-kin is a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident. NEA does not approve the import of foreigners to Singapore for burial due to the limited size of its burial grounds.
  • 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 Bury 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.