Although losing someone close to you is hard, dealing with the issue of a death certificate is necessary. It is required by the law of South Africa to register the death of a citizen. To help you better understand death certificates in South Africa, we offer a complete guide on how to get a death certificate, how to check one online and more.
Types of death certificates in South Africa
When a citizen of South Africa has passed away, a death certificate must be applied at an office of the Department of Home Affairs. There are 2 types of death certificates:
Abridged death certificate
An abridged death certificate is a computer printout that shows the personal information and the date of death of the deceased. It is issued by the Department of Home Affairs and it is free of charge. Most countries accept an abridged death certificate when they require one.
Unabridged death certificate
An unabridged death certificate is the “full copy” of the death certificate. It contains all information about the individual who dies including the date of death, cause of death and so on. It provides much more details than the abridged version and there will be a fee if you apply for one. An unabridged death certificate is often needed for emigration purposes and certain visa applications.
How to get death certificate online
Unfortunately, a death certificate South Africa can not be obtained online. Whether you want to get an abridged death certificate or an unabridged one, you need to report the death in person only. See the following instructions:
Report the death
When someone passes away, the first thing you should do is to report his/her death. According to the law, you must report it to one of the below institutions:
- Specific officers at the Department of Home Affairs.
- South African Police Service Members.
- South African Missions, Embassies or Consulates, if the death occurs abroad.
- Funeral undertakers who are appointed and recognized by the law. Usually, deaths are reported by these funeral undertakers or religious organizations.
A form BI-1663 must be completed when you report a death. It is a notification of death or stillbirth. You need to involve different people to fill in different sections of this form. These people include:
- The person who reports the death.
- A medical practitioner. (In case a medical practitioner is not available in your area, you can also ask a traditional leader to complete the form.)
- A Home Affairs officer. (If a Home Affairs officer is not available, a member of the South African Police Service can do it instead.)
Apply for the death certificate
After you have reported the death to relevant institutions, you will receive the following 2 forms:
- Form BI-1680, which is a death report.
- Form BI-14, a burial order. It is a necessary document for a burial to take place.
With the submission of form BI-1663 (notification of death/stillbirth) as well as form BI-1680 (death report), the Department of Home Affairs will issue you an abridged death certificate. If you need a copy of the death certificate or want to apply for an unabridged death certificate, you can obtain it by completing form BI-132 and paying the relevant fee.
Can I get a death certificate outside South Africa
What if a South African citizen passed away outside South Africa? In this case, it is still necessary to get a death certificate. You can get one by reporting the death to the nearest South African Embassy or mission abroad. If you want to bury the deceased in South Africa, the embassy or mission abroad will help you with the paperwork and transfer the deceased back to South Africa.
How to check death certificate online in South Africa
The DHA (Department of Home Affairs) has introduced an alive status verification service since 2009. It is an online service that makes it easier for citizens to check their death certificate status without visiting a DHA office. There are 2 ways to check your status as follows:
Visit department website
1. Go to the DHA official website:www.dha.gov.za
2. Then, click “Check your status” on the top left.
3. Find ID status verification (alive/deceased) and put in your ID numbers.
4. Finally, click “Verify” to see your status.
However, the online status verification service is not available right now. You can contact the call centre at 0800 60 11 90 for assistance or keep an eye on the DHA website if it is not urgent.
SMS
Alternatively, you can check your status through SMS service.
1. Send a text message to 32551 using your mobile. The message should start with the letter “L”, followed by your ID numbers.
2. After the inquiry message is sent, you will receive a reply SMS confirming the alive/deceased status of the ID holders.
3. Every SMS you send costs R1. It is charged by your network service provider.
If a living person is registered as “deceased”, he must report it to a DHA office with an Affidavit from a police station as soon as possible.
How long does it take to get a death certificate
The DHA offices will issue a death certificate once they receive the receipt of form BI-1663 (the notification of death) and form BI-1680 (the Death Report).
In case you require a copy of a death certificate, it may take 2 to 6 weeks depending on how quickly they find the records in the archives.
How much is a death certificate at Home Affairs?
As we mentioned above, there are 2 types of death certificates. The abridged death certificate is issued free of charge at the DHA offices when the death is registered. For the unabridged one, it costs R75.00.
FAQ
Who issues a death certificate in SA?
In South Africa, a death certificate is issued by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
Should a death certificate be authenticated?
It depends on whether you need to use it abroad. To authenticate a death certificate means to legalize it so that it is recognized as an officially valid document outside South Africa.
What happens if we lose the death certificate?
In case you lose the death certificate, you should apply for a new one. Complete a form BI-132 in black ink and take it to a nearby DFA office.
How to check if someone is deceased in South Africa?
Normally, you can check one’s alive/deceased status both on the DHA website and through the DHA SMS service. However, the online service for status verification is suspended for now, you can check it using the SMS service only. Text an “L” followed by an ID number to 32551 to find out if someone is deceased.
Conclusion
We have delved into the process of obtaining a death certificate and how to check one’s alive/death status. If you follow the above instructions, it is not as complicated as you may think. We understand how devastating it is to lose a loved one. Hope assisting you in dealing with the death certificate makes it a little easier for you during difficult times.