How to Register a Death and Get a Death Certificate in South Africa

When someone dies, almost nothing else can be settled — no funeral, no burial order, no bank account closure, no estate, no insurance payout — until the death has been registered with the Department of Home Affairs and a death certificate has been issued. This guide sets out the process in plain English.

The two documents people confuse

  • Notification of Death / Stillbirth (Form DHA-1663) — completed by a doctor, professional nurse, or a designated funeral undertaker. It records the fact and cause of death.
  • Death certificate (Form DHA-5) — the official Home Affairs certificate issued once the death is registered on the National Population Register.

An abridged death certificate is usually issued free of charge on the same day at the Home Affairs office. An unabridged death certificate, which includes the cause of death, must be applied for separately and is often required by insurers, pension funds, and foreign authorities.

Who may register a death

  • The spouse or a close family member of the deceased
  • A funeral undertaker appointed by the family (most families use this route)
  • A doctor, professional nurse, or traditional health practitioner who attended the death
  • A member of the South African Police Service where the death is unnatural

Where to register

  • Any Department of Home Affairs office
  • Health facilities with a Home Affairs desk
  • Approved funeral undertakers, who are designated to complete the DHA-1663 and lodge it
  • A South African embassy, high commission, or consulate if the person died abroad

Documents you need

  • The deceased's Smart ID card or green barcoded ID book
  • Completed Notification of Death (DHA-1663)
  • Your own valid ID as the person reporting the death
  • Where the death was unnatural, the SAPS case number and the report from the investigating officer
  • For a non-citizen, the passport and, if available, the permit or visa

Step by step

  1. Get the death certified. A doctor, professional nurse, or forensic pathologist confirms the death and completes the medical parts of the DHA-1663.

  2. Report the death. The undertaker or family member takes the DHA-1663, the deceased's ID, and the reporter's ID to Home Affairs or hands it to the designated undertaker.

  3. Home Affairs records the death. The deceased's ID number is marked as deceased on the National Population Register. This is what stops the ID from being used fraudulently.

  4. Collect the abridged death certificate (DHA-5). This is normally issued on the same day and is free.

  5. Get the burial order (BI-14). No burial or cremation may legally take place without it.

  6. Apply for the unabridged certificate if you need one. Complete Form BI-132 at Home Affairs and pay the prescribed fee. Allow several weeks.

  7. Report the estate to the Master of the High Court. If the estate is worth more than R250,000, a full estate process applies; below that, a simplified process under Section 18(3) of the Administration of Estates Act may be used.

Unnatural deaths

If the death was violent, accidental, sudden, or the cause is unknown, it must be reported to the SAPS. A forensic pathologist performs a post-mortem, and the death certificate is only issued once the cause of death has been determined. This can take significantly longer than a natural death, and the family should keep the SAPS case number safe.

Deaths outside South Africa

Report the death at the nearest South African mission. Bring the foreign death certificate, its sworn translation if it is not in English, and the deceased's South African ID or passport. The mission forwards the notification to Home Affairs so the National Population Register can be updated. Repatriating the body requires additional clearance from both countries' health authorities.

Common mistakes that delay things

  • Using a funeral parlour that is not designated by Home Affairs to complete the DHA-1663
  • The deceased's ID document being lost, which requires an affidavit and slows registration
  • Spelling of names on the ID not matching the notification form
  • Waiting for the death certificate before reporting the estate — you can start gathering estate documents immediately
  • Assuming the abridged certificate is enough for insurance; many insurers require the unabridged version

Frequently asked questions

How much does a death certificate cost? The abridged death certificate issued at registration is free. The unabridged death certificate carries a prescribed Home Affairs fee — confirm the current amount at dha.gov.za.

How long does it take? For a natural death with complete documents, the abridged certificate is usually issued the same day. Unnatural deaths take longer because a post-mortem must be completed first.

Can I bury someone before registering the death? No. A burial order (BI-14) is required for any burial or cremation, and it is only issued once the death has been reported.

What if the person died at home? Call a doctor or the SAPS. If no doctor can certify a natural cause, it is treated as an unnatural death and referred for a post-mortem.

Who can collect the death certificate? The person who reported the death, a spouse, a next of kin, or the appointed undertaker, on presentation of their own ID.

Do I need the death certificate to claim a policy or pension? Yes, in almost all cases — and most funds ask for the unabridged version plus the letter of executorship or the Master's Section 18(3) letter.

Sources

  • Department of Home Affairs — Death certificates and registration of death (dha.gov.za)
  • Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992
  • Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965, Section 18(3)
  • Master of the High Court — Deceased estates (justice.gov.za)

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current fees and forms with the Department of Home Affairs before you apply.