Get a death certificate
You might need a death certificate if you're administering someone's estate or applying for a funeral grant from Work and Income or ACC.
Recently, there have been media reports about changes to the information displayed on death certificates. From 5 November 2018 death certificates will include the age and sex of each of the deceased’s children, including children who died before their parent. The names of the deceased’s children will not be listed on death certificates.
You’ll need a death certificate when:
- you or a lawyer is winding up or administering the estate of someone who's died
- you’re applying for a funeral grant from Work and Income or ACC.
If you’ll use the death certificate overseas
You may need to get an apostille or authentication certificate for the death certificate, or have it translated into another language.
How to apply
It costs:
- $33 for a death certificate
- $25 for a printout of a death certificate. A printout is usually used when you're researching family history — it's a typed or handwritten copy of the information, so it's not a legal document but it’s cheaper to get.
Order online
If the person was born more than 80 years ago or died more than 50 years ago, you can order their death certificate online. You'll need their full name and the year they died to search for the death.
Births, Deaths and Marriages online
If they died in the last 50 years but were born less than 80 years ago, you can still order a death certificate online, but you'll need a RealMe verified identity.
Order by phone
Most people can order a death certificate by phone:
- 0800 22 52 52 within NZ
- +64 4 463 9362 from overseas.
You can pay over the phone by credit or debit card.
Order by post
Request for death certificate or printout BDM93D (PDF 227KB)
Request for death certificate or printout accessible alternative BDM93D (txt 5KB)
If the person was born less than 80 years ago and died within the last 50 years, you’ll need a referee to sign the form — they must be over 16, and have known you for at least 6 months or seen your official ID.
Post the form to:
Certificate Team
Births, Deaths, Marriages and Citizenship
PO Box 10526
Wellington 6143
New Zealand
You can also order certificates in person in Auckland, Manukau, Wellington or Christchurch. You'll need photo ID.
Births, Deaths and Marriages offices
When you find out
You’ll get your certificate in the post or your printout by email after about 8 working days.
Have your say about this page
Is there something wrong with this page?
Last Updated
Page last updated:
