Form DHA-1663 — Notification of Death
If the link above does not open: Visit dha.gov.za and search for DHA-1663. Also referred to as BI-1663 or DHA-1663A.
What Is Form DHA-1663?
Form DHA-1663 is the official Department of Home Affairs Notification of Death form. It is the primary document used to register a death in South Africa and enter the record into the National Population Register.
This form is not completed by the family of the deceased. It is completed by:
- The attending medical practitioner or professional nurse who certified the cause of death
- The funeral undertaker (certain sections)
- A Department of Home Affairs official (who stamps and approves the registration)
The family or an informant confirms the identity of the deceased and signs a section of the form, but the substantive medical and administrative sections are completed by professionals.
Who Completes Which Sections?
Section A — Particulars of the deceased Completed by the informant (usually a family member or the funeral undertaker). Records the deceased’s full name, ID number, date of birth, date of death, place of death, and marital status.
Section B — Certificate by the attending medical practitioner or professional nurse Completed and signed by the doctor or nurse who attended the deceased. Certifies the cause of death and whether it was natural or unnatural. This section requires the practitioner’s signature and official practice stamp.
Section C — Certificate by a forensic pathologist (if applicable) Completed when the cause of death is unnatural, suspicious, or under investigation. In these cases, the South African Police Service (SAPS) is notified and a medico-legal investigation may be required before the form can be submitted.
Section D — Particulars of the funeral undertaker The funeral undertaker records their details and confirms receipt of the death notification. A burial order (Form BI-14) is issued by DHA once this section is completed and the death registration is approved.
DHA official stamp A DHA official reviews and stamps the form to approve the registration. The death is then officially recorded in the NPR.
When Is Form DHA-1663 Used?
- Every death that occurs in South Africa must be reported using this form
- Deaths that occur at home, in hospital, at a hospice, or anywhere else in the republic
- South African citizens who die abroad (the form is completed at the South African embassy or consulate, or upon repatriation)
South African law requires deaths to be reported within three days of the death occurring.
The Death Registration Process
Understanding where DHA-1663 fits in the overall process:
- Death occurs — medical practitioner certifies cause of death
- DHA-1663 is completed — medical sections by the practitioner, identity sections by the family or funeral undertaker
- DHA-1663 submitted to DHA — at the local DHA office, a police station (in remote areas), or a South African mission abroad
- DHA approves the registration — the death is recorded in the NPR; the deceased’s ID number is flagged as deceased
- Death Report (DHA-1680) is issued — DHA issues this automatically as confirmation of registration
- Burial order (BI-14) is issued — burial cannot legally take place until this is issued
- Abridged death certificate issued — usually issued at the same time, free of charge
- Unabridged death certificate — applied for separately using Form DHA-132 if needed
Deaths That Are Not Natural
If the cause of death is unnatural (accident, suspected foul play, suicide, or cause unknown), SAPS must be notified. DHA will not approve the registration until:
- SAPS has investigated and released the body, or
- A forensic pathologist has certified the cause and completed the relevant section of DHA-1663
The funeral undertaker cannot proceed with burial until the DHA-1663 is approved and the burial order issued.
Deaths Outside South Africa
If a South African citizen dies outside the country:
- The foreign country’s death certificate is issued
- The certificate must be apostilled and translated into English (if not in English)
- A DHA-1663 is completed and submitted at the nearest South African embassy or consulate, or at a DHA branch on return to South Africa
- DHA then registers the death in the NPR
Common Questions About DHA-1663
Does the family complete DHA-1663? The family’s role is limited to confirming the deceased’s identity (Section A) and providing their own contact details as the informant. The medical sections require a registered practitioner.
What if the doctor isn’t available to complete the form? The body cannot legally be buried until DHA-1663 is completed and approved. In practice, hospitals and funeral undertakers manage this process. If there is a genuine delay in getting the medical section completed, contact the funeral undertaker — they manage this routinely.
Do I need DHA-1663 to claim life insurance? No. For insurance claims, you need the death certificate (Form DHA-132). DHA-1663 is the registration form. The death certificate is what you submit to insurers, the Master of the High Court, and pension funds.
Can we get a burial order before the death is registered? No. The burial order is issued as part of the death registration process and cannot be obtained in advance.
Related Forms
- Form DHA-1680 — Death Report — issued by DHA after the registration is approved
- Form DHA-132 — Application for Death Certificate Copy — for obtaining a copy of the certificate after registration
- Form DHA-196 — Surname Change — for surviving spouses reverting to their birth surname