Death Registration Online in India: CRS Process, Documents and Delayed Registration
Death registration in India is governed by the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, as amended. Registration is made with the Registrar having jurisdiction over the place where the death occurred. Online services are available through the Government of India's Civil Registration System (CRS) for participating States and Union Territories, while some jurisdictions use their own State or local portals.
Who must report a death?
The person responsible for reporting depends on where the death occurs. For a death in a house, the duty generally falls on the head of the household or the person specified by law. For a death in a hospital, health centre, nursing home or similar institution, the person in charge of the institution or an authorised person is responsible for reporting the event to the concerned Registrar. Family members should therefore confirm whether the hospital has already reported the death before making a separate application.
How to register a death online
- Identify the correct registration unit. Registration must ordinarily be made in the area where the death occurred, not merely where the deceased permanently lived.
- Check the official online facility. Open the Government CRS portal and select the available service for the relevant State/UT. If the jurisdiction is not served through the central CRS portal, use the official State, municipal or local authority facility.
- Enter event details. Provide the date and place of death, name and particulars of the deceased, address details, particulars of parents/spouse where required, and details of the informant.
- Provide medical and place-of-death information. Enter the hospital/institution details, or domiciliary/place-of-death particulars, and medical certification information where applicable.
- Upload or submit supporting records. The exact documents depend on whether the death was institutional, domiciliary, timely or delayed. Follow the requirements shown by the concerned Registrar or official portal.
- Review before final submission. Check the spelling of names, date and place of death, relationship details and addresses carefully before submitting.
- Keep the acknowledgement or reference number. It may be required to track the registration or obtain the death certificate.
Information commonly required for death registration
| Category | Typical information |
|---|---|
| Death event | Date of death, place of death, registration unit and reporting date. |
| Deceased | Name, sex/gender as required by the form, age/date of birth where available, address at the time of death and permanent address. |
| Family particulars | Spouse, father and mother details where required by the applicable form. |
| Informant | Name, address, relationship/contact particulars and identity information required by the registering authority. |
| Medical/institutional details | Hospital or institution details and medical certification/cause-of-death information where applicable. |
Documents generally required
Document requirements differ across States/UTs and according to the circumstances of death. The concerned Registrar may ask for documents such as:
- Death report in the prescribed form (commonly the death reporting form used under the applicable rules).
- Medical Certificate of Cause of Death or hospital/institutional record, where applicable.
- Identity and address proof of the deceased, where required.
- Identity/address proof of the informant or applicant.
- Declaration by a close relative or family member for a domiciliary death, where prescribed.
- Additional permission, self-attested documents, non-availability record or magistrate/authority order in delayed cases, as applicable under law and local rules.
Download Declaration by Close Relative / Family Member (PDF)
Death occurring in a hospital or institution
Where a death occurs in a hospital or other institution covered by the Act, the institution is responsible for reporting the event to the Registrar. A relative should ordinarily obtain the necessary hospital records and then follow the certificate procedure prescribed by the local registration authority. Avoid filing duplicate reports where the institution has already completed the statutory reporting.
Death occurring at home or another non-institutional place
For a domiciliary or other non-institutional death, the responsible informant should report the event to the Registrar for the area where the death occurred and submit the prescribed death report and supporting documents. Local requirements can include a family declaration, identity/address proof and medical or other supporting evidence depending on the facts.
Time limit and delayed death registration
Births and deaths are ordinarily required to be reported within 21 days. If a death is not reported within that period, delayed-registration provisions apply. Fees and documentary requirements are prescribed through the applicable State/UT rules.
| Delay | General legal position presently applicable |
|---|---|
| After the prescribed reporting period but within 30 days | Registration may be made on payment of the prescribed late fee. |
| After 30 days but within 1 year | Written permission of the District Registrar or other prescribed authority is required, along with the prescribed fee and self-attested document(s) in the prescribed form and manner. |
| After 1 year | Under the operative post-2023 framework, registration requires an order of the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or an Executive Magistrate authorised by the District Magistrate having jurisdiction over the place of occurrence, after verification and payment of the prescribed fee. |
2026 amendment: Act No. 12 of 2026 proposes, upon commencement, to distinguish between delay of more than one year but within two years (executive authorities) and delay beyond two years (Judicial Magistrate of the First Class). Check the latest commencement notification before relying on that revised split.
Death certificate after registration
Section 12, as substituted by the 2023 amendment, requires the Registrar, after registration is completed, to provide the certificate extract free of charge to the person who supplied the information, electronically or otherwise, within the period prescribed by the amended provision. Additional certified extracts may be obtained under the applicable law and rules on payment of the prescribed fee where applicable.
Important points before submitting an application
- Use only the official CRS, State, municipal or local government service for online filing.
- Register the death with the authority having jurisdiction over the place of occurrence.
- For hospital deaths, first confirm that the institution has reported the event.
- Do not rely on old screenshots or legacy CRS login URLs; the portal interface and participating jurisdictions can change.
- For delayed registration, verify the current State/UT rules, prescribed forms, fees and competent authority before filing.
Official legal and CRS resources
Civil Registration System 2023 Amendment Act Model Amendment Rules 2024
Disclaimer: This page is for general information and guidance. Registration procedure, fees, forms and supporting documents may differ by State/UT and local registration unit. Verify the current requirements from the concerned Registrar and official government portal before filing. This website does not collect death-registration information or submit applications on behalf of users.