Death Certificates Application in South Africa

A death certificate is a critical document issued by the Department of Home Affairs to legally confirm a person’s death, essential for estate administration and legal purposes.

Death Certificates South Africa 2025

Table of Contents

Overview

In South Africa, a death certificate is an official document issued by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) that legally confirms a persons death. Its a critical document for various administrative, legal and financial processes.

Death certificates are issued after registration and include unabridged versions with full detail. Abridged may be available but unabridged is standard for official use.

For the latest information, visit the Department of Home Affairs website (www.dha.gov.za) or contact a local office. Application can often be initiated online via the eHome Affairs portal.

Reporting and Registration Points

A person’s death must be reported to any one of the following people:

  • Specific officers at the Department of Home Affairs (DHA)
  • South African Police Service (SAPS) members, especially in areas where the Department of Home Affairs has no offices
  • South African mission, embassy or consulate, if the death occurred abroad
  • Funeral undertakers who are appointed and recognised by the law.

A Death Report will be issued after a death has been registered. These designated persons may also issue burial orders. No burial may take place unless authorised by way of a burial order.

Registration Details (SA & Foreign)

Registering a death that occurred within South Africa

According to the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992 (Act No: 51 of 1992):

  • A notice of death must be given within 72 hours by the informant (person reporting the death i.e. family member or a representative appointed by the family through a letter of authority)
  • A notice of death (Form DHA-1663) issued by a medical practitioner
  • A notice of death (Form DHA-1680) issued by an authority other than a medical practitioner i.e. Traditional Authority

Registering a death that occurred outside South Africa

  • Deaths of South African citizens that occur outside South Africa must be reported to the nearest South African embassy or mission abroad
  • An apostilled/authenticated death certificate or any other documents issued by the authority of the country where the death occurred
  • A copy of the ID document or Passport of the deceased
  • A copy of the ID document, or passport and visa or permit of the informant

Note: If the deceased is to be buried in South Africa, the embassy or consulate will assist with the repatriation documentation of the body to South Africa.

Eligibility & Requirements

Eligibility for Obtaining a Certificate:

  • Any person, if the death is registered with DHA.
  • For foreigners dying in SA: Handwritten certificates, longer processing.

Documents Required for Copy Application:

  • Form DHA-132 completed in black ink.
  • Copy of previous certificate, deceased’s ID/passport.
  • Proof of payment and self-addressed envelope for postal applications.
  • For registration: Notice of Death (DHA-1663) submitted by informant.

The Full Registration Process

The core process involves several steps, starting with the reporting of the death:

  1. Reporting the Death:
    • A medical practitioner (doctor) who attended to the deceased must complete a Notification of Death/Still-birth Form (DHA-1663) certifying the cause of death.
    • If death was due to unnatural causes (accident, suicide, etc.), the matter is reported to the police. A forensic pathologist determines the cause, and the DHA-1663 form is completed by the relevant authority.
  2. Submission of DHA-1663 Form:
    • The DHA-1663 form and the deceased’s Identity Document (ID book/card) are submitted to the nearest DHA office or a designated funeral undertaker.
    • Many funeral undertakers are authorised to capture death registrations directly into the DHA system.
  3. Issuance of a Burial Order (DHA-1663A):
    • Once accepted, the DHA issues a Burial Order (DHA-1663A). Burial or cremation cannot take place without this order.
  4. Issuance of the Death Certificate:
    • The abridged death certificate is usually issued quickly, often on the same day as registration. It contains basic details.
    • An unabridged death certificate (full death certificate) can be requested later, providing comprehensive details (marital status, parents’ names, cause of death) often required for estate administration.

How to Apply for Copies:

  • Complete Form DHA-132.
  • Submit by post or in person to DHA office/embassy.
  • Processing: Up to 12 months or longer, especially for manual records.

Who Can Apply for Copies?

  • The next-of-kin (spouse, parent, child, sibling) of the deceased.
  • An executor of the deceased’s estate.
  • A funeral undertaker acting on behalf of the family.

Documents Required (for the family/undertaker):

  • The deceased’s original Identity Document (ID book/card).
  • The completed DHA-1663 form (Notification of Death).
  • The applicant’s (next-of-kin or undertaker’s) ID.

Dead/Alive Cases (Erroneous Death Registration)

A person who is alive but discovers that they have been recorded as being dead in the National Population Register, must report this as soon as possible to the nearest Home Affairs office for an urgent investigation and corrective action.

Required documents for correction:

  • Identity document
  • Sworn statement/ Affidavit from the South African Police Service (SAPS)
  • One ID photo

Why is a Death Certificate Important?

A death certificate is essential for:

  • Estate Administration: To wind up the deceased person’s estate, access bank accounts, claim life insurance, and transfer assets.
  • Social Benefits: To claim funeral benefits, pension funds, or other social grants.
  • Legal Purposes: To prove death in legal proceedings.
  • Burial/Cremation: To obtain permission for burial or cremation.
  • Updating Records: To update various government and private sector records.

Issuance & Fees

An abridged death certificate will be issued free of charge on the same day of registration of death.

An unabridged death certificate/vault copy can be obtained by lodging an application and paying the fee of R75.

  • First issue (Abridged): Free.
  • Abridged copies: R20.
  • Unabridged copies: R75.

Key Points to Remember

  • It is a criminal offence to bury or cremate a body without a valid burial order.
  • If the original ID of the deceased is not available, the registration can still proceed, but an affidavit might be required explaining its absence.
  • It’s advisable to obtain several certified copies of the unabridged death certificate, as various institutions (banks, insurance companies, etc.) will require them.