ACT Death Certificate

Please note that 80% of certificates will be processed within 15 days of receiving all required documents (not including Australia Post delivery times).

Certificates are sent by registered person‐to‐person post and addressed to the applicant. As a result, the applicant will need to produce appropriate identification at the post office in order to collect the certificate. Without that identification, Australia Post will not allow you to collect the certificate.

Please be aware the issue of a death certificate is considered with regard to the Access Policy. Depending on your relationship to the deceased, you may need to obtain consent from a person who is authorised to apply for the certificate in accordance with the Access Policy. You will be required to attach the consent form on the Supporting documents page.

The Third Party Consent form can be completed online.

For further information about accessing birth death and marriage register, please refer to the Births, deaths and marriages certificate access policy (PDF 131KB).

Access Canberra is only able to produce a certificate if the death occurred in the ACT. If the death occurred in another State or Territory, you will need to apply to the relevant authority in that State or Territory.

A certificate can only be issued after the registration has been completed. Please contact the funeral director.

If you are applying for a certificate relating to an event that occurred recently, please be aware that there may be a delay in the issue of that certificate while the appropriate paperwork about that event is received, processed and the registration created. Access Canberra will complete your application and produce the certificate once the registration is finalised. We appreciate your patience.

Please be aware that in consideration of your application, Access Canberra may contact you for additional information.

You will be required to attach evidence of your family link to the deceased, such as a birth certificate etc.

Hint: You can take a photo of the document you wish to upload if you do not have a scanner. This document can then be emailed to a webmail account (e.g. Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo) to be attached to the form if using a different device.

You will be required to attach consent from a person named on the death certificate.

The Third Party Consent form can be completed online.

For further information about accessing birth death and marriage register, please refer to the Births, deaths and marriages certificate access policy (PDF 131KB).

Hint: You can take a photo of the document you wish to upload if you do not have a scanner. This document can then be emailed to a webmail account (e.g. Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo) to be attached to the form if using a different device.

You will be required to attach evidence of power of attorney or legal need.

Hint: You can take a photo of the document you wish to upload if you do not have a scanner. This document can then be emailed to a webmail account (e.g. Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo) to be attached to the form if using a different device.

You will be required to attach evidence supporting the change of name (e.g. A change of name certificate or marriage certificate).

Hint: You can take a photo of the document you wish to upload if you do not have a scanner. This document can then be emailed to a webmail account (e.g. Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo) to be attached to the form if using a different device.

Tips on how to attach documents by using a smartphone:

1. Take a photo of your document with your phone or tablet camera. Make sure the whole page is pictured and readable. Remember to take pictures of all pages including double sided documents. Note: If the text is unreadable in your photo, take another photo but before taking the photo, tap the screen where the text is and it should autofocus to make the text easier to read.
2. Share the photo/s of your document to your webmail app (e.g. Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc).
3. Open and sign in to your webmail app (e.g. Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.). Open the email that has the photos attached and download the attachment. Click ‘Save as’ to confirm where the attachment is saved (you can save it in Downloads if unsure).
4. Return to the SmartForm, to the page where you needed to attach the document and upload the saved attachment.
5. Click the Upload file button, browse to the location you saved your photo to and select the file.

Attach the Third Party Consent form completed by the bride, groom or partner.

The Third Party Consent form can be completed online.

For further information about accessing birth death and marriage register, please refer to the Births, deaths and marriages certificate access policy (PDF 131KB).