Time at Counter
30–60 min
⚠ Register within 7 days. Under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1957 (Act 299), deaths must be registered at JPN within 7 days. Late registration attracts additional fees and requires more documentation. Deaths not registered within 2 years require a court order.
Burial or cremation cannot proceed without authorisation. In Malaysia, a burial permit or cremation permit is required before the body can be interred or cremated. JPN issues this permit as part of the death registration process, or the local authority (Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan / PBT) issues it for certain cases. Do not arrange burial or cremation before confirming you have the permit.
Overview: How Death Registration Works in Malaysia
Death registration in Malaysia is governed by the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1957 (Act 299) and administered by the Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN). When a person dies, the law requires the death to be formally registered — this creates the official record in the National Registration system and enables the family to obtain a death certificate.
The process has two phases: first, getting the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death from the doctor or hospital, and second, bringing that certificate and supporting documents to JPN to complete registration and receive the official Sijil Kematian (Death Certificate).
For hospital deaths, the hospital usually assists with the medical certificate and may even have a JPN kiosk or liaison on-site. For deaths at home or in unusual circumstances, there are additional steps involving the police and government doctor.
Step 1 — Obtain the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death
Before you can register the death at JPN, you need the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (Perakuan Sebab Kematian / Borang Mati). How you get this depends on where and how the person died.
Death in a hospital or clinic
If the person died in a hospital or clinic, the attending doctor will issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death directly. The hospital's registration counter or ward staff will prepare this paperwork. Ask the nurse or ward administrator — they handle this routinely. You should receive it before leaving the hospital.
Death at home (expected / natural causes)
If the person was under a doctor's care and the death was expected (e.g., terminal illness), the family doctor can certify the death. Call the doctor who was treating the deceased. They will visit or issue the certificate based on their knowledge of the case. If no doctor can certify, call the police (999) — they will arrange for a government doctor to certify the cause of death.
Sudden, unexpected, or unnatural death
For sudden deaths, accidents, suicides, or any unnatural cause, you must call the police (999) immediately. The police will attend the scene, take a report, and arrange for a post-mortem examination if required. The coroner or government forensic pathologist will issue the death certificate after the post-mortem. This process can take several days to weeks, and the 7-day JPN deadline is extended accordingly while police investigations are ongoing.
⚠ Do not move the body before police attend for sudden/unnatural deaths. Moving or disturbing the body before police arrival at the scene of an unnatural death can complicate investigations and create legal issues for the family. Call 999 and wait for the authorities.
Step 2 — Gather Documents for JPN
Once you have the medical certificate, gather all required documents before visiting JPN. Having everything ready avoids a second trip.
Documents required
- Medical Certificate of Cause of Death — original, issued by the certifying doctor or hospital
- Deceased's MyKad (IC) — original; JPN will retain it. If lost, state this in your declaration.
- Deceased's birth certificate — if MyKad is unavailable (e.g., for elderly person who never had one)
- Your own MyKad — the registrant (person reporting the death) must present their IC
- Proof of relationship — marriage certificate (if registering spouse's death), your own birth certificate (if registering parent's death)
- Police report number — if death was sudden, unnatural, or occurred outside a medical facility
- Coroner's certificate or post-mortem report — for unnatural deaths, once issued by the forensic department
Foreign nationals who die in Malaysia: For non-Malaysian citizens, you will also need the deceased's passport and any visa/pass documentation. The relevant foreign embassy should be notified and their requirements may differ. Contact the embassy alongside JPN registration.
Step 3 — Register at JPN
Visit the nearest JPN (Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara) office with all your documents. Go to the death registration (pendaftaran kematian) counter. JPN offices are found in most district capitals; main branches are typically open Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm, and selected offices open Saturday mornings.
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Take a number and queue at the deaths registration counter (look for "Pendaftaran Kematian" signage or ask at the information desk).
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Submit documents to the JPN officer. They will verify all documents, interview you briefly about the circumstances, and enter the details into the system.
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Surrender the deceased's MyKad — this is mandatory. The officer will cancel it on the spot.
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Sign the declaration — you will be asked to sign a declaration confirming the details of the death and your relationship to the deceased.
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Collect the Sijil Kematian (Death Certificate) — JPN will print and issue the official death certificate immediately, usually within the same visit.
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Obtain burial/cremation permit — JPN will also issue the burial or cremation authorisation document at this step (see Step 4 below).
Same-day certificate. For straightforward registrations with all documents in order, the Sijil Kematian is typically issued on the same day at the counter. There is no waiting period for normal cases.
Step 4 — Burial and Cremation Permits
You must have official authorisation before proceeding with burial or cremation. The permit required depends on the religion and method of disposal.
Burial permit (Muslim)
For Muslim burials, the local mosque or Jabatan Agama Islam will issue burial authorisation once the death is registered. Funeral homes and mosque welfare committees typically coordinate this. Contact the mosque where the deceased prayed or the nearest surau/masjid as soon as possible — Muslim burial ideally occurs within 24 hours.
Burial permit (non-Muslim)
For non-Muslim burials in a public cemetery, contact the local authority (Majlis Bandaraya / Majlis Perbandaran / Majlis Daerah) for the area where the burial will take place. They issue the burial permit. If burial is in a private or religious community cemetery (e.g., Chinese temple cemetery, Christian church cemetery), contact the managing body directly.
Cremation permit
For cremations, contact the crematorium directly (most have in-house paperwork coordination) and the relevant local authority. You will need the JPN death certificate and, for sudden/unnatural deaths, the coroner's release order before cremation can proceed.
⚠ Coroner's release required for unnatural deaths. If the death is subject to a police investigation or post-mortem, the body cannot be released for burial or cremation until the coroner formally releases it. This release document must accompany all burial/cremation permit applications.
Costs Summary
| Item |
Cost |
| Death registration at JPN (within 7 days) |
Free |
| Death certificate (Sijil Kematian) — first copy |
Free |
| Additional certified copies of death certificate |
RM5 per copy |
| Late registration fee (7 days to 2 years) |
RM10–RM50 (varies) |
| Late registration (over 2 years — court order required) |
Legal fees apply |
Get multiple certified copies. Obtain at least 5–10 certified copies of the death certificate at the time of registration. Banks, insurance companies, EPF, LHDN, lawyers, and government agencies each typically require an original certified copy. At RM5 per copy, this is cheap insurance against making multiple JPN trips later.
Timeline Overview
| When |
What Needs to Happen |
| Immediately |
Call 999 if sudden/unnatural death; otherwise contact the attending doctor |
| Same day / Day 1 |
Obtain Medical Certificate of Cause of Death from doctor or hospital |
| Within 24–48 hours (Muslim) |
Coordinate burial; obtain mosque/JAI authorisation after death registration |
| Within 7 days |
Register death at JPN; collect Sijil Kematian and burial/cremation permit |
| Within 2–4 weeks |
Notify banks, EPF, insurance, LHDN; begin estate administration |
| Within 6 months |
File for grant of probate or letters of administration if needed |
After Registration — What Else Needs to Be Done
Registering the death is only the first step. The following will need attention in the weeks and months after:
- Notify EPF (KWSP) — beneficiaries can claim the deceased's EPF savings. File a nomination claim if a nominee was named, or an estate claim otherwise. See the EPF guide for details.
- Notify insurance companies — life insurance, medical insurance, and takaful policies should be claimed promptly. Provide certified death certificate copies.
- Notify banks — freeze or transfer accounts. Joint accounts can typically be accessed by the surviving holder. Sole accounts require letters of administration or grant of probate.
- Notify LHDN (Inland Revenue) — file the deceased's final income tax return for the year of death. The estate may have tax obligations.
- Cancel MyKad and utilities — phone, TNB, Syabas/Air Selangor, and other utility accounts in the deceased's name should be transferred or cancelled.
- Estate administration — if the deceased left a will, apply for a Grant of Probate. If no will, apply for Letters of Administration via the High Court or Amanah Raya Berhad (for estates under RM2 million). See the Making a Will guide for context.
- SOCSO / EIS — if the deceased was an employee, surviving dependents may be entitled to SOCSO Invalidity Pension or Survivor's Pension.
Glossary
| English |
Bahasa Malaysia |
| Death certificate |
Sijil Kematian |
| Medical certificate of cause of death |
Perakuan Sebab Kematian / Borang Mati |
| Death registration |
Pendaftaran Kematian |
| National Registration Department |
Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN) |
| Burial permit |
Permit Pengebumian |
| Cremation |
Pembakaran / Penghembusan |
| Post-mortem / autopsy |
Bedah siasat / Autopsi |
| Letters of administration |
Surat Pentadbiran Harta |
| Grant of probate |
Geran Probet |
Pro Tips
- Go to JPN early in the day — death registrations are processed at regular counters which can get busy. Arriving by 8:30am typically means a shorter wait.
- Request at least 10 certified copies of the Sijil Kematian — at RM5 each, this saves multiple return trips. Banks, insurance, EPF, lawyers, and government agencies all need originals.
- For hospital deaths, ask the ward nurse about the JPN process — many major hospitals (Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Hospital Putrajaya, private hospitals) have JPN kiosks or dedicated death registration counters on-site, saving the family a separate JPN trip.
- Keep a copy of the police report — if police were involved, the report number is referenced in many downstream processes. Keep multiple photocopies.
- Don't delay notifying EPF — EPF nominations pay out quickly (often within a few weeks) once notified. This can provide immediate financial relief to the family while other estate matters are processed.
- Check if a will exists before distributing assets — distributing assets informally before letters of administration or grant of probate can create legal complications. Even if the family agrees informally, get proper legal documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for registering the death?
The nearest living relative has the primary duty — typically the spouse, adult child, parent, or sibling. If no relative is available, the person in charge of the premises (hospital administrator, nursing home manager) or any person present at the death may register it. Funeral homes can assist with paperwork but cannot register in their own name unless specifically authorised.
What if I miss the 7-day deadline?
If you register between 7 days and 2 years after the death, a late fee applies and you will need to provide additional documentation explaining the delay. JPN officers have some discretion here, especially for deaths in remote areas or during emergencies. For deaths not registered within 2 years, you need a court order — this involves legal costs and takes considerably longer. If you're close to the 7-day limit, go to JPN immediately even if your documentation is incomplete and explain the situation.
Can the funeral proceed before JPN registration?
For Muslim burials, the burial typically happens within 24 hours for religious reasons. The mosque and Jabatan Agama Islam can authorise this, and JPN registration follows immediately after. For non-Muslim burials and cremations, you generally need the burial/cremation permit from the local authority, which in turn requires the death certificate or medical certificate. In practice, most funeral homes are very familiar with this process and can guide families through it rapidly.
What if the deceased has no MyKad (e.g., elderly person with old IC or no IC at all)?
Bring whatever identity documents are available — old blue or red IC, birth certificate, or any government-issued document. JPN officers handle these situations regularly, especially for elderly Malaysians who may have older format ICs or incomplete records. A statutory declaration may be needed in some cases. Go to JPN and explain — they will advise on what additional steps are needed.
How do I get additional copies of the death certificate later?
You can request certified copies of the Sijil Kematian from any JPN office at RM5 per copy. Bring your own MyKad and be prepared to explain your relationship to the deceased. You can also request copies via the MyJPN portal (online, for registered users) though availability of this online service varies. It is strongly recommended to request multiple copies at the time of initial registration to avoid return visits.
Do I need a lawyer to register a death?
No. Death registration at JPN is a straightforward administrative process that any family member can handle without legal representation. A lawyer is only needed for the downstream estate administration process — applying for grant of probate or letters of administration, distributing assets, and dealing with property transfers. The death registration itself requires no legal help.
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⚠ Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. Procedures, fees, and requirements can change. Always verify with JPN, the relevant hospital, and legal counsel for your specific situation. Nothing in this guide constitutes legal or professional advice. Last reviewed: March 2026.