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

1. 1

   Obtain Medical Certification of Death

   • Hospital deaths: When a death occurs in a government hospital operated by the Ministry of Health (such as the Royal Hospital or Sultan Qaboos University Hospital) or in a licensed private hospital in Oman, the attending physician confirms the cause of death and issues the official Medical Notification of Death (Ikhbar Wafat) along with a burial permit [1][3]. You must present the deceased's original Omani Civil ID (Bitaqa Shakhsiya) or Resident Card (Bitaqat Muqim) and passport [1].
   • Deaths at home or outside a medical facility: If your family member died at home or outside a medical facility, contact the Royal Oman Police emergency line (9999) or transport the deceased to the nearest Ministry of Health hospital emergency department [1][3]. An authorized physician will examine the body to determine whether the death resulted from natural causes and issue the Medical Notification of Death [1][3].
   • Unexpected, accidental, or unexplained deaths: If the death was sudden, unattended, or involved suspected trauma or road traffic injury, the Royal Oman Police and the Public Prosecution (al-Iddi'a al-Amm) must investigate. The body is referred to the forensic medicine unit, and the final Medical Notification of Death and burial or repatriation clearance are issued only after the Public Prosecution grants formal release [1].
2. 2

   Register the Death with the Royal Oman Police (Civil Status)

   • Directorate General of Civil Status: Civil registration of deaths in the Sultanate of Oman is administered by the Directorate General of Civil Status (al-Idara al-Amma lil-Ahwal al-Madaniya) of the Royal Oman Police under the Civil Status Law (Royal Decree No. 66/99) [1].
   • Statutory deadline and eligible informants: Deaths occurring inside Oman must be registered within 14 days (two weeks) of the date of death [1]. An eligible informant - such as an adult ascendant, descendant, spouse, sibling, or an authorized representative holding a notarized Power of Attorney (or the deceased's embassy/sponsor for expatriates) - must appear at a Civil Status office [1].
   • Required documents and Civil ID cancellation: Present the original Medical Notification of Death signed by the hospital, the deceased's original Civil ID or Resident Card and passport, and the informant's original Civil ID [1]. The Directorate General of Civil Status cancels the deceased's Civil ID / Resident Card, updates the national civil registry, and issues official Death Certificates (Shahadat Wafat) in Arabic and English [1].
3. 3

   Arrange Burial, Cremation, or International Repatriation

   • Local burial in Oman: Using the hospital burial permit and police clearance (where applicable), coordinate interment with the local municipality (such as Muscat Municipality or the relevant regional municipality) and local mosque/cemetery supervisors. Non-Muslim burials in Muscat take place at the designated public non-Muslim cemetery in coordination with the municipality and religious community representatives [1][3].
   • Cremation for eligible non-Muslim foreign nationals: Cremation is permitted for non-Muslim expatriate residents whose religious traditions practice cremation, at the designated municipal crematorium facility, subject to presenting the official Death Certificate, a No Objection Certificate from the deceased's embassy, and clearance from the Royal Oman Police [1].
   • International repatriation of remains: When remains of a foreign resident or citizen are to be repatriated abroad, the sponsor or family must obtain an embalming and mortuary sealing certificate from the Ministry of Health, a No Objection to Export Remains permit and visa cancellation from the Royal Oman Police, and a consular laissez-passer from the deceased's embassy, as well as attestation from the Foreign Ministry of Oman [1][3][5].
   • Apostille and consular legalization: The Sultanate of Oman is a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. If an Omani Death Certificate or court succession deed must be used in another Apostille convention state, obtain an official Apostille stamp from the Consular Department of the Foreign Ministry of Oman (or its regional offices and authorized post offices) [5]. For countries outside the Apostille convention, full consular legalization is required [5].
4. 4

   Notify the Social Protection Fund, Banks, and Public Authorities

   • Social Protection Fund (SPF): Following the unification of Oman's pension and social insurance funds under the Social Protection Law (Royal Decree No. 52/2023), all survivor benefits and death grants are administered by the Social Protection Fund [2]. Notify the Social Protection Fund promptly to claim the statutory lump-sum Death Grant (paid to assist with immediate bereavement expenses) and monthly Survivor Pensions or Orphans and Widows Benefits for eligible widows, orphans, parents, or dependent siblings [2].
   • Banking notifications and Central Bank procedures: Commercial banks in Oman freeze individual bank accounts and safe-deposit boxes as soon as they are notified of the account holder's death. Frozen balances, end-of-service gratuity (Mukafa'at Nihayat al-Khidma), and insurance proceeds are held until the heirs present the Official Death Certificate and the judicial Determination of Heirs (Sakk Hasr al-Waratha) [4].
   • Social welfare and utility accounts: If the deceased was registered with the Ministry of Social Development or held municipal leases and utility accounts (electricity, water, and telecommunications), notify those providers to transfer or close the accounts [6].
5. 5

   Administer the Estate, Succession, and Probate (Sakk Hasr al-Waratha)

   • Deed of Determination of Heirs (Sakk Hasr al-Waratha): In Oman, estate administration requires obtaining an official Legal Notice of Heirs (Sakk Hasr al-Waratha / I'lam Waratha) issued by the Sharia / Primary Court or the Notary Public Department (Katib al-Adl) under the Supreme Judicial Council [4]. An heir or appointed agent submits the Official Death Certificate, the civil IDs of the deceased and surviving heirs, and brings two adult male witnesses to attest to the family tree and statutory heirs [4].
   • Orphans' and Minors' Estate Department: If any surviving heir is a minor or lacks legal capacity, the Estate Inventory and Minors' Funds division of the Primary Court under the Supreme Judicial Council conducts a formal inventory of the deceased's assets (Hasr al-Tarika) and supervises the minor's share [4].
   • Taxation and property transfers: Oman levies no inheritance tax or estate duty. Once the Sakk Hasr al-Waratha is issued and any estate debts are discharged, heirs may distribute bank funds and register real estate transfers with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (either jointly or via a notarized consensual division deed, Qisma Radhiya, executed before the Notary Public) [4].
   • Non-Muslim and cross-border estates: Under the Omani Personal Status Law (Royal Decree No. 32/97) and Civil Transactions Law, non-Muslim foreign nationals may have their estates governed by a registered will or the inheritance law of their nationality, provided foreign documents carry an Apostille or consular attestation via the Foreign Ministry of Oman and an official Arabic translation [4][5].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Death Registration Procedures - Directorate General of Civil Status — Royal Oman Police (ROP)
2. [2]
   Orphans and Widows Benefits & Survivor Social Protection Programs — Social Protection Fund (SPF) - Sultanate of Oman
3. [3]
   Ministry of Health - Healthcare Services and Governance — Ministry of Health - Sultanate of Oman
4. [4]
   Guide to Notary Public Services (Katib al-Adl) - Powers of Attorney and Succession Deeds — Supreme Judicial Council - Sultanate of Oman
5. [5]
   Foreign Ministry of Oman - Consular Attestation and Citizen Services — Foreign Ministry of the Sultanate of Oman
6. [6]
   Ministry of Social Development - Electronic Services Portal — Ministry of Social Development - Sultanate of Oman