Last Update: 25/10/2022

What is the application procedure to be followed?

The notification of a death that occurred in Malta can be made by any person by visiting the Public Registry offices in Mater Dei Hospital, Msida or in Onda Building, Aldo Moro Road, Marsa in the case of a death in Malta and the Gozo Public Registry,  By the Bastion Road, Victoria, Gozo, if the death occurred in Gozo.  The notification can also be made either by post by sending an email on [email protected] or online by visiting the Identity Malta website https://identitymalta.com/.

The documentation required is the ‘Declaration for Notification of Death Form’. This form can also be obtained in hardcopy from the offices of the Malta Public Registry in Marsa, at Mater Dei Hospital, Msida and at the Gozo Public Registry, Victoria.   Further documentation required to complete a notification of death includes:

• DH35 Certificate of Death and Cause Thereof issued by the medical doctor certifying the death;
• The deceased persons’ Identity Card;
• The notifier’s Identity Card.

Other documentation, depending upon the civil status of the deceased may be required. No fee  is levied for a death notification.

In cases where the notifier/s decide to use the Public Registry offices in Marsa or Mater Dei Hospital, Msida or the Gozo Public Registry in Victoria, the death notification officers will guide the notifier through the process.

Those notifiers who decide to use the Public Registry Death Notification service online or the postal service need to submit the ‘Declaration for Notification of Death’ Form (filled in online in case of the former)  and the ‘DH35 Certificate of Death and Cause Thereof’ issued by the doctor certifying the death as well as their identification documents.

There are exceptional cases where the death notification process cannot be done online.  This requires the notifier to visit the Public Registry Offices in Marsa, or in Mater Dei Hospital, Msida or the Gozo Public Registry, Victoria if the death took place in Gozo to complete the Death Notification.

The notifier is informed by an SMS or email once the Act of Death is registered.

In cases of a death of a Maltese citizen overseas, a death registration can also be made through one of Malta’s Missions.  The applicant must submit to the Mission an original act of death of the Maltese citizen in question, issued by the competent foreign authority.

Furthermore, applicants can also visit the Public Registry offices in Marsa or the Gozo Public Registry in Victoria to personally submit a registration of the foreign act of death .The Certificate of Death can then be ordered from the Public Registry website www.certifikati.gov.mt

Contact Information

The competent Authority responsible for the procedure is the:

Malta Public Registry, Onda Building, Aldo Moro Road, Marsa MRS9065

email [email protected]  Tel: +356 2590 4200.

Gozo Public Registry, By the Bastion Road, Victoria, Gozo VCT1335

email [email protected] Tel: +356 2215 6388.

How do I Prove my Identity?

The accepted means of notification is the submission of appropriate identification documents and signature of the notifying person on the Death Notice.  This signature is collected electronically when the notifier notifies the death in person at the Malta Public Registry Offices in Onda Building, Aldo Moro Road, Marsa, at Mater Dei Hospital, Msida or the Gozo Public Registry, By the Bastion Road, Victoria, Gozo or by a wet signature when the notification is completed online or by post.  Depending upon the civil status of the deceased, other documents may be required to complete the Notification of Death.

In cases of a death of a Maltese citizen occurring overseas, a registration of death is submitted through one of Malta’s Missions, or directly to the Malta Public Registry Offices in Onda Building, Marsa or the Gozo Public Registry, By the Bastion Road, Victoria, Gozo.  In both cases a Letter confirming Maltese Citizenship issued by the Citizenship Unit, Komunità Malta Agency is required.

What do I need to provide?

The notifier submitting a notification of death must fill in and sign the ‘Declaration for Notification of Death’ Form, submit the ‘DH35 Certificate of Death and Cause Thereof’ issued by the doctor certifying the death, and the relevant identification documents of the deceased.  In cases where the death of a Maltese citizen takes place overseas, an original Act of Death issued by a competent authority is required.

What can I do in case of a dispute?

Where for some reason, the Director of the Public Registry refuses to register any Act, or where a person claims that there is an erroneous indication of any particular in the Act of Death following the registration thereof, an application may be filed before the competent court in terms of the provisions of the Civil Code (Chapter 16 of the Laws of Malta), requesting that court to either order the registration of the Act or to order the correction of the particular in question.

Are there any fees for this process?

No fee is charged for a death notification.

How long does the process take and what are the applicable deadlines?

According to Article 296 of the Civil Code (Chapter 16 of the Laws of Malta), the notice of death shall be given without delay by the physician or surgeon aware of the death of any person in Malta/Gozo.

Furthermore, Article 297 of the Civil Code (Chapter 16 of the Laws of Malta) stipulates that in the case of the death of any person who has not been attended by a physician or surgeon, it shall be the duty of the members of the family, domestic servants of the deceased or persons occupying or managing the house/place in which the death occurred, to give notice of such death.

In terms of Article 305 of the Civil Code (Chapter 16 of the Laws of Malta), the officer drawing up an act of death shall, within two days from the drawing up of the act, deliver the same to the Director of Public Registry for registration.

What can I do if the death remains unregistered?

In cases where for some reason, the Director refuses to register any Act, the user may file an application in terms of Article 253 of the Civil Code (Chapter 16 of the Laws of Malta), requesting the competent court to register the same.

The process can be performed in which languages?

The procedure can be carried out in Maltese and English.  All documentation fields, including the ‘Act of Death’ and ‘Death Certificate’ are printed in Maltese and English.

What should I do if I have not heard from the Public Registry?

The Public Registry supplies information regarding the progress of notification and registration of the Act and availability of the ‘Death Certificate’ of the deceased when this is requested by the notifier.

Furthermore, the https://certifikati.gov.mt/en/Home website where Death Certificates can be ordered online provides email feedback to the person/s ordering in case the Death Certificate is not yet available.

Relevant laws and regulations

Civil Code (Cap. 16 of the Laws of Malta)

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