What to Do When Someone Dies in Brunei: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Obtain Medical Certification of Death or Coroner Clearance

   • Hospital or clinical deaths: When a death occurs at Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital in Bandar Seri Begawan, the district hospitals in Kuala Belait, Tutong, or Temburong, or a specialist center overseen by the Ministry of Health, the attending medical officer examines the deceased, updates the national Bru-HIMS electronic record, and issues the official Medical Certificate of Cause of Death [1] [5]. Before leaving the hospital, verify that the deceased's full legal name, Smart Identity Card (IC) number or passport number, and time of death match official identity records [1] [2].
   • Deaths at home from natural causes: If your family member died at home, notify the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) and emergency medical services immediately. Police officers and medical personnel inspect the scene and transport the deceased to the nearest government hospital mortuary under the Ministry of Health so a government medical officer can confirm the cause of death [1] [2].
   • Sudden, accidental, or unexplained deaths: Under the Inquests Act (Chapter 6) and the Births and Deaths Registration Act (Chapter 79), any unnatural, sudden, or unattended death is referred by the Royal Brunei Police Force to the Coroner's Court (under the State Judiciary Department) and the Forensic Pathology Unit at RIPAS Hospital [1] [3]. The Coroner authorizes a medico-legal post-mortem examination if required and issues a Coroner's Order for Burial before civil registration and release of the body can proceed [1] [3].
2. 2

   Register the Death with the Civil Registry Within 24 Hours

   • Competent authority and 24-hour statutory deadline: Under the Births and Deaths Registration Act (Chapter 79), every death in Brunei Darussalam must be reported within 24 hours of the death (and before burial takes place) to a Deputy Registrar of Births and Deaths under the Department of Immigration and National Registration (Jabatan Imigresen dan Pendaftaran Kebangsaan - JIPK, Ministry of Home Affairs) [2]. Registration counters operate at the Department of Immigration and National Registration headquarters and district branches, at government hospital registration units (including RIPAS Hospital), and at designated police stations [1] [2].
   • Required documents for registration: A surviving family member or authorized informant must present: (a) the original Medical Certificate of Cause of Death issued under the Ministry of Health (or the Coroner's Order), (b) the deceased's original Smart Identity Card (yellow for citizens, purple for permanent residents, or green for foreign residents), birth certificate, passport, and marriage certificate (if applicable), and (c) the informant's original Smart Identity Card [1] [2].
   • Burial Permit and Death Certificate: Upon registration, the Deputy Registrar records cancellation of the deceased's Smart Identity Card and issues two official documents: the statutory Burial Permit (Sijil Kebenaran Mengebumikan Mayat) required to proceed with the funeral, and the official Death Certificate (Sijil Kematian) [2]. Request several certified copies of the Death Certificate for pension, banking, and probate filings [2].
3. 3

   Arrange Burial, Cremation, or International Repatriation

   • Local Muslim and non-Muslim funeral arrangements: Under the Births and Deaths Registration Act (Chapter 79), no body may be buried or disposed of without the official Burial Permit [2]. For Muslim decedents, families coordinate ritual washing, shrouding, jenazah prayers, and prompt burial at a gazetted Muslim cemetery through the hospital Pengurusan Jenazah unit and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. For non-Muslim decedents, families engage a licensed funeral director to coordinate mortuary preparation and burial or cremation with the relevant district municipal or community cemetery.
   • International repatriation of human remains: If the deceased was a foreign national or if the remains must be transported outside Brunei Darussalam via Brunei International Airport, the funeral director must obtain: (a) the official Death Certificate and passport cancellation from the Department of Immigration and National Registration [2], (b) an Export Permit for Human Remains, a Non-Infectious Disease Certificate, and an Embalming and Hermetic Coffin Sealing Certificate from the Port Health and Environmental Health divisions of the Ministry of Health [1] [5], (c) police clearance and Royal Brunei Customs export clearance, and (d) consular clearance from the destination country's embassy or high commission in Bandar Seri Begawan [6].
   • Apostille and consular legalization: Because Brunei Darussalam is a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, Bruneian Death Certificates and court probate grants intended for use in another Apostille convention country can be authenticated with an official Apostille issued through the Supreme Court Registry under the State Judiciary Department [3]. For countries outside the Apostille Convention, documents require consular legalization through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [6].
4. 4

   Notify Pension (TAP / SPK), Social Welfare, and Banking Authorities

   • Employees Trust Fund (Tabung Amanah Pekerja) and SPK claims: If the deceased was a citizen or permanent resident employed in the public or private sector, surviving nominated beneficiaries or next-of-kin should notify the Employees Trust Fund (Tabung Amanah Pekerja) to claim accumulated balances and survivor/death benefits under the Employees Trust Fund (TAP), Supplemental Contributory Pensions (SCP), or the National Retirement Scheme (Skim Persaraan Kebangsaan - SPK) [4]. Submit the official Death Certificate, the deceased's and claimants' Smart Identity Cards, marriage or birth certificates proving relationship, and bank account documentation [4].
   • Old Age Pension and social welfare notifications: If the deceased received the universal Old Age Pension (Pencen Umur Tua) or Disability Allowance under the Old Age and Disability Pensions Act (Chapter 18), notify the Department of Community Development (Jabatan Pembangunan Masyarakat - JAPEM, under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports) immediately to stop monthly payments and inquire about statutory funeral assistance or widow and orphan welfare support [4]. For public servants, also notify the Public Service Department and Treasury Department regarding death-in-service gratuity or derivative pension entitlements [4].
   • Banks and financial institutions: Present the certified Death Certificate to all Bruneian banks (such as Baiduri Bank, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam - BIBD, or Standard Chartered Bank) and Takaful or insurance providers. Individual bank accounts are frozen upon notification of death and released only upon presentation of a formal court Grant of Probate, Letters of Administration, or small-estate order from the State Judiciary Department [3].
5. 5

   Administer the Estate, Probate, and Syariah (*Faraid*) Succession

   • Probate and Letters of Administration under Chapter 11: Estate administration in Brunei Darussalam is governed by the Probate and Administration Act (Chapter 11) and overseen by the Probate Registry of the Supreme Court under the State Judiciary Department [3]. The executor named in a Will petitions for a Grant of Probate, while the next-of-kin of an intestate deceased petitions for Letters of Administration (or summary administration through the Probate Officer for smaller estates), submitting the Death Certificate, a complete Schedule of Assets and Liabilities, and sureties where required [3].
   • Muslim estates (Faraid) vs. non-Muslim estates: For Muslim decedents, while the Civil Probate Registry under the State Judiciary Department issues the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration needed to collect bank balances and transfer property titles, the distribution shares among surviving legal heirs are governed by Islamic inheritance law (Faraid) [3]. The family or administrator must obtain an official Faraid Certificate (Sijil Faraid) from the Syariah Subordinate Court or Syariah High Court (within the State Judiciary Department) verifying each legal heir's statutory fraction, and any Islamic Will (Wasiat) is limited to one-third (1/3) of the net estate unless all Faraid heirs consent [3]. For non-Muslim decedents, testamentary and intestate succession are governed by the Wills Act (Chapter 193) and the Probate and Administration Act (Chapter 11) [3].
   • Estate duty abolition, land transfer, and foreign heirs: Brunei Darussalam abolished statutory estate duty for deaths occurring on or after 1 January 2014, so beneficiaries pay only court probate filing fees and Land Department registration fees when transferring land titles (EDR / Land Code filings) [3]. If an executor or heir resides abroad, a foreign Grant of Probate from a Commonwealth jurisdiction may be resealed by the High Court under the Probate and Administration Act (Chapter 11), or a foreign heir may execute a Power of Attorney (authenticated with an Apostille or through a Brunei diplomatic mission under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) authorizing a local representative in Brunei [3] [6].

   Step	Deadline	Authority
   1. Medical certification or Coroner clearance	Immediately upon death	Ministry of Health (RIPAS / District Hospital) or Coroner's Court [1] [3]
   2. Civil death registration & Burial Permit	Within 24 hours of death (before burial)	Department of Immigration and National Registration (JIPK) [2]
   3. Burial, cremation, or repatriation	After Burial Permit / Port Health clearance	Ministry of Health, JIPK & Ministry of Foreign Affairs [1] [2] [6]
   4. Pension (TAP/SPK), welfare, and banks	Promptly after obtaining Death Certificate	Employees Trust Fund (Tabung Amanah Pekerja), JAPEM & Banks [4]
   5. Estate probate and Faraid succession	Before distributing bank or land assets	State Judiciary Department (Probate Registry & Syariah Courts) [3]

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Public Hospital Network, Bru-HIMS, and Port Health Services — Ministry of Health, Brunei Darussalam
2. [2]
   Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Profile - Brunei Darussalam — UNICEF Data / Department of Immigration and National Registration (JIPK)
3. [3]
   Probate Registry, Coroner's Court, and Syariah Courts Administration — State Judiciary Department, Prime Minister's Office, Brunei Darussalam
4. [4]
   Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific - Brunei — U.S. Social Security Administration / International Social Security Association
5. [5]
   Country Health System and Clinical Services Profile - Brunei Darussalam — World Health Organization (WHO)
6. [6]
   Consular Services and Diplomatic Missions — Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brunei Darussalam