Death certificates
When a person dies in Queensland, their death is registered (normally by the funeral director) and the family or estate must apply for a death certificate. If the person died outside of Queensland, contact the registering authority interstate or overseas.
A Queensland death certificate is a recognised identity document and informs government agencies and financial institutions of a person’s death.
How to apply
To apply for a death certificate, you need to:
- Fill in all sections of the death certificate application form .
- Include proof of eligibility.
- Attach your identity documents.
- Pay the application fee.
- Pay the urgent fee (if required).
- Pay the return postage fee (if required).
Get it right
Your application will take longer if your documents and payments are not correct.
Remember to:
- calculate the return postage
- check credit card details and expiry date
- certify identity documents
- include eligibility documents
- allow extra time for Australia Post.
By post
Post your application to:
Births, Deaths and Marriages
PO Box 15188
CITY EAST QLD 4002
Certificates take 10 business days—or 2 business days for urgent applications (there is an additional cost for this).
Over the counter
Visit the Brisbane Registry at 110 George Street to make an application. Certificates will be ready after 2.30pm the next business day. Urgent certificates are ready in 3 hours (or the next business when you apply after 1.30pm).
If you do not live in Brisbane, you can apply for a birth certificate at your local Magistrates Court or Queensland Government Agent Program (QGAP) office. Certificates take:
- 2 business days for Magistrates Court (no urgent applications)
- 5 business days or 2 business days for urgent applications for QGAP office.
Fees
- Death certificate (standard postage included)—$39
- Urgent application—$24
Payment method
Pay by cash, cheque, credit card (Visa and MasterCard) or money order. Make cheques or money orders payable to the ‘Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages’.
Postage fee
Postage is included when you order a certificate to be sent by mail.
You can request to have your certificate posted by express or register post. The cost is:
- Express post—$5.25
- Registered mail—$3.90
- Air mail—$2.35
- International registered post—$13.20
- International express post—$14.05
- International Air Mail for commemorative certificates—$7.75
Proof of eligibility
Usually, funeral directors will apply for a death certificate. However, if you need to apply, find out what you need to be eligible to apply for another person’s death certificate .
If the death happened more than 30 years ago it is classed as a historical event and anyone can apply for the certificate without ID. Find out more about historical certificates.
Proof of ID (identification)
The ID you provide must be current and include a photo and signature. It must show your current address.You must provide at least 1 form of ID from each category below, or, provide 2 forms of ID from community and 1 from home address evidence category below which includes a signature.
Types of ID (categories)
Personal ID
- Driver licence
- Australian passport
- Overseas passport
- Firearms licence
- Defence force and police identification card
- Proof of Age card
Community ID
- Medicare card
- Debit or credit card
- Entitlement card from the federal or state government
- Student card or statement of enrolment
- School or other educational report from the last 12 months
- Identity document from passport office
- Naturalisation, citizenship or immigration papers
- Full birth certificate
- Security guard licence
Home address evidence
- Gas, electricity, home phone, car registration or rates account
- Bank statement
- Rent or lease agreement
- Driver licence renewal notice
- Official government letter not from this agency
Certified and translated identity documents
You should get your identity documents certified by a:
- justice of the peace
- commissioner for declarations
- barrister or solicitor
- notary public.
For documents not in English, you must provide a translation from a translator accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NATTI).
For more information
You can ask Births, Deaths and Marriages for help with your death certificate application.
Online
Email bdm-mail@justice.qld.gov.au. Online enquiries are replied to within 2 business days.
By phone
Call 1300 366 430 (Monday–Friday, 8.30am–4.30pm).
