Register a Death Abroad

The Office of Regulatory Services is responsible for the registration of Australian citizens who die overseas. Registrations may also be completed by an Australian Embassy or Consulate in the country where the death occurred.

An Australian citizen, resident or a person in receipt of an Australian pension, who dies overseas or on an aircraft or vessel that was going to or from Australia, may have their death registered in Australia. This registration is not compulsory, however it allows relatives to readily obtain certificates or searches of the death record.

To enable registration in the Register of Deaths Abroad an application form must be completed and returned with an original registered death certificate, an original Coroner's report or Medical practitioners certificate. Other supporting documents such as burial, cremation or transport of body certificates should also accompany the application if available. An official English translation is also required if the documents are in a foreign language.

These original documents will be returned to you and a certificate from the Register will be issued as confirmation of the registration.

For more information visit the Births Deaths and Marriages website.