Automatic death registration and the Digital Death Certificate
How ICA automatically registers a local death, who can download the Digital Death Certificate, the 30-day window, and the separate burial or cremation permit.
- ica
- death-certificate
- mylegacy
- paperwork
- singapore
A death in Singapore is automatically registered after a doctor certifies it online. The next-of-kin does not register the death at an ICA counter, and a funeral director does not register it on the family's behalf.
For the medical step first, see certification of death in Singapore. For the wider sequence, see what to do when a parent dies in Singapore.
Automatic registration
The doctor or hospital records the required death particulars during online certification. Once the doctor certifies the death, ICA registers it automatically and invalidates the deceased's NRIC in its system.
There is no fee for death registration or issuance of the Digital Death Certificate.
Download within 30 days
The next-of-kin must download the Digital Death Certificate from My Legacy within 30 days and save it on a personal device. The doctor or hospital provides:
- The Death Certificate number, or the Confirmation of Death document number.
- The deceased's identification document number.
- The date of death.
The certificate is unavailable for download after the 30-day window. After that, the next-of-kin may apply for a Death Extract, which is subject to the applicable fee.
ICA lists the eligible next-of-kin relationships and allows a person authorised by the next-of-kin to download the certificate. Follow ICA's current instructions if access is unclear.
Manual Confirmation of Death
If the online certification system is unavailable, the doctor issues a manual Confirmation of Death and later completes the online certification. ICA registers the death automatically after the online certification is completed.
NEA and Town Councils accept the manual Confirmation of Death for funeral, burial and cremation-related applications. Contact NEA if there is difficulty using it for a Permit to Bury or Cremate.
Body release and collection
Death registration and certificate download are separate from body release. The hospital, police or Mortuary at HSA tells the family when the body can be released. After release, a funeral director can collect it.
Permit to Bury or Cremate
The permit is a separate NEA application. The next-of-kin may apply through NEA's ePortal or authorise a funeral director to apply. The permit is required before applying for burial or cremation at government-managed facilities and for cremation at private crematoria.
If the Digital Death Certificate cannot be downloaded, first approach the certifying doctor for an alternative document that can be used for the burial or cremation permit. Contact NEA for assistance with the permit application.
Official sources
Verified 12 July 2026.
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