What to Do When a Citizen of Australia Dies in Philippines: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Medical Certification of Death and Emergency or Forensic Clearance in the Philippines

   Before a funeral establishment can prepare the deceased or apply for civil registration and transport permits, the cause of death must be certified on the official Philippine Certificate of Death (Municipal Form No. 103) [2][3]:

   • Death in a hospital or medical facility: The attending physician completes and signs the medical certification portion of Municipal Form No. 103, which is then reviewed by the local health officer before release to a licensed mortuary [2][3]. Provide the deceased's Australian passport (and any Philippine identification) so that all personal details match official travel records [1][6].
   • Death outside a hospital (residence, hotel, or public place): Report the death immediately to local Barangay officials and the Philippine National Police (PNP emergency hotline 911) [2][6]. If the death occurred without medical attendance, the Municipal Health Officer (MHO) or City Health Officer (CHO) of the local government unit (for example, in Manila, Quezon City, Makati City, or Cebu City) must examine the deceased and certify the cause of death on Municipal Form No. 103 [2][3]. If the death was sudden, accidental, or under unclear circumstances, the PNP or National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) conducts a medico-legal investigation before releasing the remains [1][2].
   • 48-hour sanitation rule under Presidential Decree No. 856: Under Chapter XXI of the Code on Sanitation of the Philippines (PD 856), unembalmed human remains must generally be buried or cremated within 48 hours of death (extendable to 72 hours during an active legal investigation) unless arterial embalming is performed by a licensed embalmer at an accredited mortuary [1][2].
2. 2

   Insurance Check, Funeral Directors in Both Countries, and Australian Consular Support

   Before entering into private funeral or air-cargo contracts, verify whether existing travel or repatriation coverage applies [6]:

   • Travel, medical-assistance, or employer insurance: If your family member held travel insurance, international health coverage, or employer-sponsored repatriation coverage, contact the insurer's 24-hour emergency assistance team immediately, as they normally appoint the coordinating funeral providers and approve repatriation expenses directly [6].
   • Appointing funeral directors in the Philippines and Australia: If no insurer is managing the transfer, appoint a Department of Health (DOH)-licensed funeral establishment and mortuary in the Philippines alongside a receiving funeral director in the destination Australian state or territory [1][4][6]. You can locate an accredited receiving funeral director across Australia through the Australian Funeral Directors Association (operating as Funerals Australia, phone +61 3 9859 9966, email [email protected]) [4]. The Australian Embassy in the Philippines can also provide a list of local funeral establishments in the Philippines [1]. These directories and lists are provided as public-source orientation examples; Clarvia does not endorse, recommend, or rank specific providers.
   • Notifying the Australian Embassy in Manila: Contact the Australian Embassy in the Philippines in Makati City, Metro Manila (phone +63 2 7757 8100, email [email protected], or the 24-hour Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Consular Emergency Centre at +61 2 6261 3305 / 1300 555 135 within Australia) [1][6]. As outlined on Smartraveller, consular officers can provide local funeral director lists, liaise with Philippine authorities, cancel the deceased's Australian passport, and offer procedural guidance, though the Australian Government cannot pay funeral, cremation, or repatriation costs [1][6].
3. 3

   Civil Death Registration in the Philippines and Document Legalization for Australia

   • Local Civil Registrar (LCRO) registration within 30 days: Under Philippine civil registration law, the signed Certificate of Death (Municipal Form No. 103) must be reviewed by the Municipal or City Health Officer and registered within 30 calendar days of death at the Local Civil Registrar's Office (LCRO) of the city or municipality where the death occurred [2][3]. Your appointed Philippine funeral director normally files Municipal Form No. 103 with the LCRO and obtains certified local copies along with the local burial, cremation, or transfer permit [1][2][3].
   • PSA Security Paper (SECPA) Death Certificate and Hague Apostille: Request expedited electronic transmittal from the LCRO to the Philippine Statistics Authority (phone +63 2 8461-0500) so you can obtain official Death Certificates printed on PSA Security Paper (SECPA) [3]. Because both the Philippines and Australia are parties to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention (and neither country uses the European CIEC Form C convention), have the PSA SECPA Death Certificate authenticated with an Apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs in the Philippines [5].
   • Recognition in Australia: State and Territory Registries of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Australia (BDM in NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, and NT) only register deaths that occur within their own state or territory (unless the death occurred on an aircraft or vessel en route to Australia) [6][10]. Therefore, the apostilled Philippine PSA Death Certificate (which is issued in English) serves as the official evidence of death for Australian banks, superannuation funds, government agencies, and Supreme Court probate registries [5][6].
4. 4

   International Repatriation to Australia vs. Local Burial or Cremation in the Philippines

   Your family can choose between international repatriation of the body or cremated ashes to Australia and local burial or cremation in the Philippines [1][6]:

   • Repatriating human remains (casket) from the Philippines to Australia: Your Philippine funeral director completes full arterial embalming, places the deceased in a hermetically sealed zinc-lined transport coffin, and obtains the local Health Officer's Transfer Permit and Non-Contagious Disease Certificate as well as an international Quarantine Permit from the Department of Health Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) [2]. Upon arrival in Australia, the receiving funeral director clears the shipment through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Australian Border Force [7][8]. Under Australian biosecurity rules, human remains entering Australia must be accompanied by an official Death Certificate (or coroner/medical certificate) stating the cause of death, or an official certificate confirming the body has been hermetically sealed in accordance with public health standards [7][8].
   • Repatriating cremated ashes to Australia: If cremation takes place at a licensed crematorium in the Philippines, obtain the official Cremation Certificate, certified Death Certificate, and BOQ clearance [2]. The Australian Border Force and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry permit cremated human ashes to be brought into Australia (including in passenger hand luggage) without a biosecurity import permit, provided they are carried in a sealed urn free of soil or plant material, declared on arrival, and accompanied by copies of the Death Certificate and Cremation Certificate [7][8].
   • Dual nationals or Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs): If your family member also held Philippine citizenship or OFW membership, check eligibility for repatriation and bereavement support through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), or Philippine consular Report of Death procedures where applicable.
5. 5

   Post-Death Notifications, Survivor Benefits, Taxes, and Probate in Australia and the Philippines

   Once you hold the official Philippine Death Certificate, you can complete benefit claims, tax filings, and estate administration in both countries:

   • Australian government notifications and bereavement payments: Notify Services Australia (phone 132 300 for Centrelink bereavement within 28 days, or 132 011 for Medicare) to stop ongoing pension or allowance payments, update Medicare records, and check eligibility for a partner lump-sum bereavement payment or continuation period [9]. Note that the Australian Death Notification Service (ADNS) requires an Australian state or territory BDM death certificate to verify identity online, so for a death registered in the Philippines you will generally notify Australian banks, insurers, and utility providers directly using the apostilled Philippine Death Certificate [6][10].
   • Superannuation, ATO final tax returns, and State Supreme Court Probate in Australia: Contact the deceased's Australian superannuation fund trustee to claim superannuation death benefits (and any life insurance held inside super), which are governed by binding death benefit nominations and trust rules rather than automatically by the will [11]. The executor or Legal Personal Representative must also notify the Australian Taxation Office (phone 13 28 61), lodge a final individual Date of Death tax return (and any Deceased Estate Trust return) [11], and apply to the Probate Office of the relevant State or Territory Supreme Court (such as in NSW, Victoria, or Queensland) for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration if required to release Australian real estate or financial accounts [6][10].
   • Philippine benefits, Estate Tax (BIR), and estate settlement: If the deceased contributed to Philippine social insurance or held assets in the Philippines, eligible survivors can claim Funeral and Death Benefits from the Social Security System [12] (or GSIS for government employees, alongside PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG Fund, and OWWA benefits where applicable). If the deceased left property or bank accounts in the Philippines, the heirs or executor must file an Estate Tax Return (BIR Form 1801) with the Bureau of Internal Revenue within one year from the date of death (and complete an Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate before a Philippine notary if there is no will and no contested debts, or judicial probate if there is a will) to obtain the Electronic Certificate Authorizing Registration (eCAR) [13].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Consular Services and Assistance - Death of an Australian in the Philippines — Australian Embassy in the Philippines (DFAT)
2. [2]
   Code on Sanitation of the Philippines (PD 856) - Chapter XXI: Disposal of Dead Persons — Department of Health / Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines
3. [3]
   Civil Registration Services - Death Certificate (Municipal Form No. 103) — Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
4. [4]
   Find a Member - Accredited Funeral Directors — Funerals Australia (Australian Funeral Directors Association)
5. [5]
   Philippine Apostille Services - Documentary Requirements — Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Republic of the Philippines
6. [6]
   What happens if someone dies overseas — Smartraveller (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
7. [7]
   Importing human remains or ashes into Australia — Australian Border Force
8. [8]
   Travelling to Australia: Human health and biosecurity requirements for human remains — Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
9. [9]
   What to do when someone dies — Services Australia
10. [10]
    Australian Death Notification Service (ADNS) — Service NSW / Australian Registries of Births, Deaths and Marriages
11. [11]
    Doing a final tax return for the deceased person — Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
12. [12]
    SSS Funeral Benefit and Death Benefit Guidelines — Social Security System (SSS), Republic of the Philippines
13. [13]
    Estate Tax Return (BIR Form 1801) Requirements — Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Republic of the Philippines