South African Death Certificates

When a death is registered in South Africa, the Department of Home Affairs can issue different types of death certificates depending on the level of detail required. Many people are unaware that there are multiple versions of death certificates available, each containing different information.

The three main types of death documents are:

• Abridged Death Certificate
• Unabridged Death Certificate
• Vault Copy

Each serves a different purpose, ranging from basic administrative use to detailed legal and genealogy research.

Abridged Death Certificate

The abridged death certificate is the most basic death document issued by Home Affairs. It is a computer-generated certificate that confirms the death of an individual and contains limited information.

The abridged death certificate usually includes:

• Identity Number
• Surname
• Names
• Date of Birth
• Gender
• Marital Status
• Date of Death
• Place of Death
• Cause of Death
• Date Issued

Unabridged Death Certificate

The unabridged death certificate, which is also a printed certificate, is a far more comprehensive document and contains substantially more information regarding the deceased and the death registration itself.

Information commonly found on the unabridged death certificate includes: (figure 2: apostil.co.za)

• Identity Number
• Surname
• Maiden Name
• Forenames
• Gender
• Date of Birth
• Place of Birth
• Country of Birth
• Marital Status
• Marriage Type
• Last Residential Address
• Date of Death
• Place of Death
• Cause of Death
• Duration of Last Illness
• Medical Practitioner
• Place of Burial
• Informant Name
• Informant Capacity 
• Endorsements
• Date Printed

Vault Copy

The vault copy is the most detailed death-related record available from Home Affairs. Unlike the abridged and unabridged certificates, the vault copy is a certified copy of the original death registration document submitted at the time the death was reported.

The format of the vault copy changed over the years.

Older records were commonly completed on handwritten Civil Registration Forms, while more
modern records are generally available as scanned PDF copies of the official death registration documentation.

These records often contain significantly more detail than the standard certificates and may include:

• Full details of the deceased
• Informant information
• Residential details
• Medical information
• Burial details
• Signatures of officials and informants
• Administrative notes and amendments

For genealogy researchers, the vault copy is often the most valuable death document because it reflects the original information supplied at the time of death registration.


Below is the modern vault copy:

Important Note: Death Notices and Estates

It is important to note that a death notice is not issued by the Department of Home Affairs. Death notices form part of a deceased estate file and are normally only found within estate records held by the Master’s Office.

Researchers looking for death notices will therefore need to obtain the relevant estate file from the appropriate Master of the High Court office. 

Applying for a Death Certificate

Outside South Africa

If you are outside South Africa, applications can be made through your nearest South African embassy or consulate. Some people also make use of document retrieval services, although these services can often be expensive.

Inside South Africa

Within South Africa, death certificates can be applied for at any branch of the Department of Home Affairs.