Bereavement in Indonesia: Basic Guide to Obtain Death Certificate for Foreigners

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - For families or relatives of foreigners staying in Indonesia, registering death without knowing what to do would be all the more difficult. Registering death and obtaining a death certificate is necessary as legal evidence of a person's passing and is used for various population-related procedures.

Foreign citizens who have a stay permit in Indonesia have the right to civil registration services, from birth to death. The following is the basic guide for administering the death of foreign citizens in Indonesia.

How to Register Death for Foreigners in Indonesia 

Article 32 of the Implementing Regulations of Presidential Regulation Number 96 of 2018 concerning Requirements and Procedures for Population Registration and Civil Registration explains that civil registration services are provided to both Indonesian citizens and foreign nationals. To enjoy civil registration services, foreigners must hold a visit permit, limited stay permit, or permanent stay permit, issued by the Immigration Office. 

For families of foreigners who wish to obtain the death certificate of their kin who died in Indonesia, here is the procedure:

1. Come to the Civil Registry Office in the provincial capital.
2. Fill out the death notification form and submit the necessary documents.
3. Wait for the verification and validation process by registry officers.
4. After the documents are declared complete, the reporter signs the death certificate.
5. Wait for the officer to record the data and the death certificate will be printed.

According to gov.uk, it may take up to a month to obtain the death certificate based on the region, paperwork completion, and residency status of the deceased. The death certificate usually does not contain any information about the cause of death unless there is an autopsy. If the process involves an autopsy, an attachment letter will be issued by the hospital where the autopsy is performed.

Required Documents for Death Certificate of Foreigners in Indonesia

To obtain a death certificate, there are several documents that the families of the deceased foreigners must prepare, including:

1. Death notification form signed by a reporter and 2 witnesses, approved by the head of the Civil Registry Office (Disdukcapil)
2. Death notification letter from the hospital, primary health care, or doctor;
3. Death notification letter from the local authorities (Desa/Kelurahan)
4. Original and copy of limited stay permit or permanent stay permit of the deceased. (KITAS/KITAP)
5. Original and copy of KK (Kartu Keluarga/Family Card) and KTP (ID card) for KITAP holder;
6. Original and copy of temporary residential registration or SKTT and SKSKPS for KITAS holder;
7. Original and copy of Passport and Visa (for Visitors)
8. Original and copy of Marriage Certificate, if the deceased was married; and
9. Original and copy of the Birth Certificate of the deceased
10. Copy of KTP from 2 witnesses

If the reporter of the foreigner’s death is next of kin, the reporter should attach a copy of their KTP to obtain the death certificate. Meanwhile, if the reporter is the head of the neighborhood association or RT, they must submit their appointment letter as evidence of being the head of RT.

ANGGITA VIANDHINI NUGROHO PUTRI

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