China - Register a Death

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Procedure

Under the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance, you need to register a death from natural causes within 24 hours. In most cases, the registered medical practitioner who attended the deceased person during his or her last illness will sign and issue a Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death (Form 18). You will need to take it to the death registry for registration of the death.
For a death resulted from unnatural causes such as poison or violence, the case will be reported to the Coroner. The Coroner may conduct a post-mortem examination or an inquest to determine the cause of death. When the cause of death is determined, the Coroner will inform the Registrar of Deaths to register the death. The Registrar will then notify the family member of the deceased in writing after the death is registered.

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Required Documents

The applicant has to produce his/her Hong Kong identity card or valid travel document as identification document.

Office Locations & Contacts

Chief Immigration Officer (Births, Deaths and Marriage Registration) Operations
3rd Floor, Low Block
Queensway Government Offices
66 Queensway, Hong Kong
Tel. No.: 2867 2781

Immigration Department
Immigration Tower,
2nd Floor, Immigration Tower,
7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai,
Hong Kong
Working Hours:
Mon - Fri 8:45 am - 4:30 pm
Sat 9:00 am - 11:30 am
Closed on Sundays and public holiday
Fax: (852) 2877 7711
E-mail: [email protected]

General Enquiries
Hotline: (852) 2824 6111
Fax: (852) 2877 7711
Email: [email protected]

Eligibility

Provide eligibility criteria's for going through this procedure.

Fees

Registering a death does not incur a fee

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Download Form
Download
Download

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

The Coroner usually takes 1 to 6 months to determine the cause of death. If the cause of death is determined by the Coroner and made known to the Registrar, the death will be registered within 1 week and you will be notified by letter.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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Instructions

There is no specific procedure for registering a death in China, and the process varies around the country. Some parts of the country are administered by the Ministry of Health, and in these areas a death certificate must be issued. In these regions a death certificate is needed to arrange a burial. Death certificates can be issued by a hospital or a public security bureau.

Required Information

• Age and gender
• Marital status
• Address of their permanent residence
• Place and cause of death
• Education and job

Need for the Document

Registering the death of someone close to you is the first and key obligation you need to fulfil for the deceased whether the cause of death was natural or unnatural.

Information which might help

You can apply for a certified copy of the death entry at any of the other Deaths Registries in china after you have received the Registrars notification on the completion of death registration.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

http://english.gov.cn/2005-10/09/content_75326.htm
http://www.researchhongkong.org.uk/hong-kong-vital-records/hong-kong-birth-marriage-death-certificates
http://www.immd.gov.hk/en/forms/forms/bdr62.html

Others

Death registration services for natural deaths are also available in some designated police stations.