BI-1663 Death Certificate — Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about registering a death in South Africa using the BI-1663 form. Find answers about required documents, timelines, submission, and common mistakes to avoid.
What is the BI-1663 form and when do I need it?
The BI-1663, officially titled "Notice of Death / Stillbirth", is the prescribed form used to register a death with the South African Department of Home Affairs. You need it whenever a death occurs in South Africa — it is a legal requirement under the Births and Deaths Registration Act (Act 51 of 1992) that every death must be registered. Without this form being processed, no death certificate can be issued.
How long do I have to register a death in South Africa?
You must report a death to the Department of Home Affairs within 72 hours of the death occurring. This applies whether the death happens at a hospital, at home, or anywhere else. If you miss this deadline, a late registration is possible but requires additional documentation including a sworn affidavit explaining the reason for the delay, and the process becomes more complicated the longer you wait.
What documents do I need to register a death?
You need the deceased's original South African ID document (book or Smart ID card), the informant's ID document, the medical certificate of cause of death (DHA-1663A) completed by the attending medical practitioner, and a burial order if already issued. If the deceased was married, bring the marriage certificate. For unnatural deaths, a South African Police Service case number and police report are also required.
Who can be the informant on the BI-1663 form?
The informant is the person who reports the death to Home Affairs. By law, this should be a family member of the deceased (spouse, parent, child, or sibling), the head of the institution where the death occurred (such as a hospital administrator), any person who was present at the time of death, or the person who found the body. In practice, it is usually the surviving spouse or an adult child of the deceased.
What is the medical certificate of cause of death (DHA-1663A)?
The DHA-1663A is a separate form that must be completed by a registered medical practitioner — the doctor who attended the deceased or examined the body. It records the medical cause of death and is a prerequisite for death registration on the BI-1663. If the death occurred at a hospital, the hospital provides this. For deaths at home, you need to arrange for a doctor to examine the body and complete the certificate before you can register the death.
Where do I submit the completed BI-1663 form?
You submit the BI-1663 at the nearest Department of Home Affairs office. Many large public hospitals have a Home Affairs desk on-site where deaths can be registered immediately. If the hospital does not have a Home Affairs presence, visit your nearest Home Affairs office during working hours (typically Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 15:30). Some offices also operate on Saturdays.
How long does it take to get a death certificate?
An abridged death certificate is usually issued on the same day or within a few working days of registration. If you need an unabridged death certificate (which contains more detailed information and is required by some institutions), you must apply for it separately — this takes approximately 8 to 12 weeks to process. Request multiple certified copies at the time of registration to avoid returning to Home Affairs.
What is the difference between an abridged and unabridged death certificate?
An abridged death certificate is a shorter version issued at the time of death registration — it contains the basic information about the deceased and the death. An unabridged death certificate is a detailed version that includes all information from the death register. Some institutions, particularly banks, insurers, and the Master of the High Court, may specifically require the unabridged version for their processes.
What are the most common mistakes when registering a death?
The most common mistakes include: not having the medical certificate of cause of death (DHA-1663A) ready before visiting Home Affairs, incorrect or transposed digits in the deceased's 13-digit ID number, names on the BI-1663 not matching the deceased's ID document exactly, attempting to register the death after the 72-hour deadline without an affidavit, not bringing the deceased's original ID document (Home Affairs retains it), and forgetting to sign the declaration. Our FillMeIn tool validates ID numbers and required fields automatically to help prevent these errors.
What happens if I miss the 72-hour deadline for death registration?
Late registration is possible but involves additional requirements. Within 30 days, you can register at any Home Affairs office with a sworn affidavit explaining the delay. After 30 days but within one year, you need approval from the provincial manager of Home Affairs. After one year, approval from the Director-General of Home Affairs is required, which may involve a court order. The longer the delay, the more difficult and time-consuming the process becomes.
Do I need a police report to register a death?
A police report is only required if the death was due to unnatural causes — such as an accident, violence, suicide, or unknown causes. In such cases, you must have a South African Police Service (SAPS) case number and a certified copy of the police report. The body will also need to go through a post-mortem examination at a state mortuary before the death can be registered. For natural deaths, no police report is required.
Is my personal information safe when using FillMeIn to fill the BI-1663?
Yes. FillMeIn processes all your data entirely on your device. Your personal information, the deceased's details, ID numbers, and all form data never leave your phone or computer — nothing is sent to our servers or stored in the cloud. This privacy-first approach means sensitive information about the deceased and the informant stays under your control at all times.
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