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.

Order online

If you’re researching family history

You might not need an official death certificate.

Instead, you can order a printout. A printout is a copy of the information on the death record. It is not an official document.

Printouts cost $25.

You can order death printouts from Birth, Deaths and Marriages online.

Births, Deaths and Marriages online

You get your printout by email after about 8 working days.

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.

Use your NZ documents overseas

Translating official documents

Cost

$33 for an official death certificate.

Deliver to an NZ address

  • Standard post is free.
  • Courier $5.

Deliver to an overseas address

Standard post is free.

Overseas courier costs:

  • Australia, Asia, Pacific $15
  • USA $20
  • Europe, UK $25
  • rest of the world $30.

When you’ll get it

Most people get their certificates in 1-2 weeks.

Other ways to order

Order by post using the paper form

Request for death certificate or printout BDM93D (PDF 112KB)

Request for death certificate or printout accessible alternative BDM93D (txt 5.4KB)

Post the completed form to:

Certificate Team
Births, Deaths, Marriages and Citizenship
PO Box 10526
Wellington 6143
New Zealand

Order in person

You can order certificates in person in Auckland, Manukau, Wellington or Christchurch. You'll need photo ID.

Births, Deaths and Marriages offices

To save time you can book an appointment online before you visit a BDM office.

Book an appointment at a BDM office

Order by phone

Most people can order a death certificate by phone.

Freephone: 0800 225 252 (NZ only)

Phone: +64 9 339 0852 (outside NZ)

You can pay over the phone by credit or debit card.

Call Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm, or Saturday 9am to 2pm.

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