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

1. 1

   Obtain Medical or Judicial Certification of Death

   • Hospital deaths: When a family member dies in a public or private hospital in Taiwan, the attending physician verifies the cause of death and issues the official Death Certificate (Siwang Zhengmingshu) [1] [2]. We suggest requesting at least 10 to 15 original signed and stamped copies from the hospital records counter, as multiple agencies, banks, and registries require original certificates [1].
   • Deaths at home from natural causes: If your family member died at home from a known natural illness, do not move the body before medical verification. Notify the local district Public Health Center (Weishengsuo) or a licensed physician who treated the deceased so a doctor can inspect the remains at home and issue the medical Death Certificate [1] [2].
   • Unexpected, accidental, or unexplained deaths: If the death occurred unexpectedly, by accident, or without a clear clinical cause, report it immediately to the local police station (by dialing 110) [2]. The police refer the case to the District Prosecutors Office (Difang Jianchashu), where a prosecutor and forensic coroner conduct a judicial inquest (Xiangyan) and issue an Autopsy or Judicial Death Certificate before the remains may be released [2].
2. 2

   Register the Death with the Household Registration Office

   • Statutory 30-day deadline and competent authority: Under the Household Registration Act overseen by the Department of Household Registration (Ministry of the Interior), a death occurring in Taiwan must be registered within 30 days of the date of death [1] [2]. Registration can be completed at any local Household Registration Office (Huzheng Shiwusuo) nationwide [1] [2].
   • Required documents and informant eligibility: A spouse, relative, household head, or legally authorized representative submits the original Medical or Judicial Death Certificate, the deceased's National ID Card (Shenfenzheng, which is surrendered and canceled), the household's Household Certificate Booklet (Hukou Mingbu), and the informant's ID and personal chop (seal) or signature [1] [2].
   • Death registration transcripts and one-stop notifications: Once the death is recorded, obtain multiple certified copies of the Household Registration Transcript showing the death annotation (Chuhu Tengben) [1]. Local Household Registration Offices also offer a one-stop government notification service that forwards the death record to the National Health Insurance system, the Bureau of Labor Insurance, and tax authorities [1] [3].
3. 3

   Arrange Burial, Cremation, or International Repatriation

   • Domestic funeral, cremation, and burial permits: Funeral arrangements in Taiwan are coordinated through a municipal Mortuary Services Office (Binyiguan) and a licensed funeral service provider [1] [2]. Present the official Death Certificate to obtain the municipal cremation permit (Huohua Xukezheng) or burial permit (Maizang Xukezheng) and book public mortuary refrigeration, farewell hall services, and columbarium placement [1].
   • International repatriation of remains or ashes: If your family member was a foreign national or if their body or cremated ashes will be transported abroad, the licensed funeral director coordinates an English Death Certificate from the hospital, an embalming certificate (Fangfu Zhengming) and non-contagious disease clearance for uncremated remains, a hermetically sealed casket certificate, and customs clearance at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport [1] [2].
   • Notarization and consular authentication: Taiwan is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Consequently, Taiwanese death certificates and household transcripts intended for official use abroad must first be notarized by a Taiwanese District Court notary public (or licensed private notary) supervised by the Ministry of Justice, authenticated by the Bureau of Consular Affairs (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and then legalized by the relevant foreign representative office in Taipei [1] [5].
4. 4

   Notify Social Insurance, Pension, Tax, and Financial Institutions

   • Labor Insurance funeral grant and survivor benefits: If the deceased was covered by Labor Insurance, Occupational Accident Insurance, or the National Pension Program, eligible survivors may claim funeral grants (Sangzang Jintie) and survivor allowances or pensions (Yishu Nianjin) through the Bureau of Labor Insurance [3]. Claims under the Labor Insurance Act may be filed within 5 years from the date of death using the official application form, the Death Certificate, Household Registration Transcripts showing family relationships, and a copy of the claimant's bank passbook [3].
   • Consolidated financial asset and debt inquiry: While completing death registration at the Household Registration Office (or afterward at any national tax office), legal heirs can submit a one-stop inquiry request to check the deceased's bank deposits, securities, real estate, and outstanding loans across Taiwanese financial institutions through the clearinghouse network coordinated with the National Taxation Bureau of Taipei and regional tax bureaus [1] [4].
   • National Health Insurance and bank account administration: Confirm that National Health Insurance coverage has been terminated effective from the date of death, and notify commercial banks and life insurers directly once you have gathered the estate tax clearance certificate required to transfer balances [1] [4].
5. 5

   Administer the Estate, Succession, and Estate Tax Filing

   • Statutory limited succession and 3-month court deadlines: Under Part V (Succession) of the Civil Code administered under the legal framework of the Ministry of Justice, Taiwan applies statutory limited succession (Fading Xianding Jicheng) by default: heirs are liable for the deceased's debts only up to the value of the inherited estate assets [5]. However, if an heir wishes to renounce the inheritance entirely (Paoqi Jicheng), they must file a written petition with the District Court of the deceased's domicile within 3 months of learning of their right to inherit [5]. To preserve full protection against unknown creditors, heirs should also file an estate inventory (Yichan Qingce) with the District Court within 3 months [5].
   • Mandatory Estate Tax return within 6 months: Under the Estate and Gift Tax Act, even if no tax is ultimately payable due to statutory exemptions and deductions, the executor or legal heirs must file an Estate Tax Return within 6 months of the date of death (a 3-month extension may be requested in writing before the deadline expires) [4]. For residents of Taipei or foreign nationals leaving property in Taiwan, filings are handled by the National Taxation Bureau of Taipei (or the relevant regional National Taxation Bureau where the deceased was domiciled) [4].
   • Transferring assets and cross-border heir coordination: Banks, securities brokers, and Land Registration Offices (Dizheng Shiwusuo) cannot transfer the deceased's accounts or real property until the tax authority issues either an Estate Tax Payment Certificate or an Estate Tax Exemption Certificate (Wanshui or Mianshui Zhengmingshu) [4] [5]. If an heir resides outside Taiwan, any power of attorney or succession agreement signed abroad must be authenticated by the local Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) before submission in Taiwan [4] [5].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Household Registration Services - Death Registration and Civil Records — Department of Household Registration, Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan
2. [2]
   Household Registration Act - Death Registration Procedures and Statutory 30-Day Deadline — Ministry of Justice Laws & Regulations Database, Taiwan
3. [3]
   Labor Insurance Death Benefits - Funeral Grant and Survivor Pension Allowances — Bureau of Labor Insurance, Ministry of Labor, Taiwan
4. [4]
   National Taxation Services - Estate Tax Filing Deadlines, Deductions, and Clearance Certificates — National Taxation Bureau of Taipei, Ministry of Finance, Taiwan
5. [5]
   Civil Code Part V: Succession - Statutory Heirs, Limited Succession, and 3-Month Waiver Rules — Ministry of Justice Laws & Regulations Database, Taiwan