Applying for a Search of Death Records and a Certified Copy of a Death Entry

In support of an application for a certified copy of a death entry, you are required to produce the original or photocopy of the certified copy of a death entry previously issued to you or the result of previous search of death records. If you cannot produce such kinds of documents or the death registration number on the documents cannot be read, you will be required to apply for a search of death records in the first instance. Here you can find details about how and where to apply for a search of death records and a certified copy of a death entry, the processing time and the fees.

How and Where to Apply

You can submit your application for a search of death records and a certified copy of a death entry in person, by post or online.

In Person

If you apply in person, you can go to one of the following registries:

• The Births and Deaths General Register Office
  
• Hong Kong Island Deaths Registry
  
• Kowloon Deaths Registry
• Sha Tin Births Registry
  
• Tuen Mun Births Registry

By Post

If you want to submit your application by post, you should send your application to:

The Births and Deaths General Register Office

3/F, Low Block
Queensway Government Offices
66 Queensway, Hong Kong

Online

You can choose to apply online at the following website:

Supporting Documents

For applications made in person, you need to produce your Hong Kong identity card or valid travel document. If you apply for a certified copy of a death entry, you will be required to produce the original or photocopy of the certified copy of the death entry or the result of a previous search of death records. Otherwise, you will need to apply for a search of death records in the first instance. For applications by post or online, you will need to produce the relevant documents at the time of collection.

Type of search

• Particular Search
  
  • A search for any given entry in relation to an identified person (i.e. the deceased’s exact name and date of birth [if available] can be provided for the search). The search conducted will not exceed a period of 5 years.
    
  • Unless otherwise specified by the applicant, the search will be conducted on the year of death as provided (e.g. 1990).  In case no matched record is found against the year of death provided, the search will be conducted with 2 years preceding and 2 years following the year of death provided, with a period of 5 years in total. (by the above example, i.e. 1988-1992)
    
• General Search
  
  • A search for any entry other than ‘particular search’, for example, in relation to a deceased whose personal information could not be specified (i.e. the deceased’s exact name and/or exact date of birth cannot be provided for the search).

How Long Will the Processing Take

Applying in Person

It takes about 10 minutes to process an in-person application at the counter. If the death record that you request has been converted into a computer record, you will be issued a search result and/or a certified copy of the death entry within 10 minutes. Otherwise, you will have to wait for the following durations (working days denote Monday to Friday excluding General Holidays):

• 9 working days for a search of death records
  
• 9 working days for issue of a certified copy of a death entry (if search of record is not involved)
  
• 14 working days for a search of death records and issue of a certified copy of a death entry
  

For a General Search of death record, there is no pledged processing time. You will be notified separately when the result is ready.

Online Applications

It takes 10 to 20 minutes to process an online application. You will be notified when to collect the search result and the certified copy of a death entry at your selected registry.

Fees

Search of Death Records

• HK$140 for Particular Search
  
• HK$680 for General Search

Certified Copy of a Death Entry

• Local Applications       : HK$140 per copy
  
• Overseas Applications: HK$275 per copy plus an additional amount equivalent to the airmail postage at the normal rate

Payment Methods

In person

By cash, crossed cheque or cashier's order in Hong Kong dollars payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region"

By post

By crossed cheque or cashier’s order (for local applications) or bank draft (for overseas applications) in Hong Kong dollars payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region". Please do not send in cash.

Online

For search of death records, the fee will be collected online; for a certified copy of a death entry, the application fee will be collected at the time of collection in your selected registry.