Death Registration

Every deceased person must be registered within 30 days of the death.

2.a) Death Registration Requirements (Burial order)

• Deceased’s near relative with national ID.
• Deceased person’s national identity document/passport/ birth certificate.
• Medical certificate of cause of death (form BD12) issued by the doctor who last attended the deceased.
• Post-mortem report (form 231) from the Pathologist or Police, where applicable.

Statutory fees

• Normal processing –       Free

 Processing time

• Normal application –       1 day

Issuance of Death Certificate

A death certificate is issued to the surviving spouse, children, parents or close relative in that order.

Requirements

• Burial order where applicable.
• Applicant’s national identity document.
• Where there is no burial order, one informant and two competent witnesses with national identity documents who were present at the time of death and should have attained 18 years of age at the time when the death occurred.
• A letter from a chief or headman or village head or farm owner or mine owner confirming that the person died in their area of jurisdiction.
• Hospital or clinic records where applicable.
• Marriage certificate where applicable.
• If customarily married, surviving spouse and deceased’s parent/near relative to depose affidavits confirming customary marriage.
• If separated, surviving spouse must produce marriage certificate and national identity document. Death certificate is issued to the wife since there’s no divorce order thus they are still married.
• If divorced, divorce order must be produced.
• If widowed, death certificate of the deceased’s spouse is required.
• Affidavits confirming that the applicant was nominated by the family to apply for the death certificate or an executor dative by the court or guardianship certificate where applicable.

Statutory fees

• Normal processing –       US$ 2.00

      Processing time

• Normal application –       1 day

1. Issuance of Duplicate Death Certificate

 Requirements

• Deceased death entry number or copy of Death Certificate
• US$1 search fee if the Death Entry Number not known.
• Surviving spouse
• Where surviving spouse is deceased, child, parents or near relative

Statutory fees

• Normal processing –       US$ 5.00
• Urgent –       US$10

Processing time

• Normal application –       1 day

                                    –       1 month (For applications submitted

through mail).

• Urgent                         –       1 day

3. Geographical Coverage

Central Registry, Provincial offices, District offices and Sub-offices

4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

1. Does a birth confirmation record expire?

1. A. A birth confirmation record does not expire. However, parents are legally required to register the birth within 42 days of the child being born. The birth confirmation record is typically used as supporting documentation for that registration; it remains valid but should be used promptly to complete the official birth registration process.
2. If the father of the child refuses to acknowledge paternity, how is the child registered?
3. The birth is registered in the mother’s maiden name, without the father’s particulars.

1. If the father is out of the country or elsewhere and his national identity document is available, can the brother sign on behalf of him?
2. In accordance with Section 12 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act [Chapter 5:02], no person is permitted to sign on behalf of the father. The law requires a joint request from the mother and the individual personally acknowledging himself as the father of the child.