How to Get a Death Certificate in Taiwan (English Translation Guide)

Getting a death certificate in Taiwan is straightforward if the death occurred in a hospital. Getting one that foreign governments, banks, and insurance companies will actually accept is where it gets complicated — most Taiwanese death certificates are issued exclusively in Mandarin, and foreign institutions require authenticated English translations.

Obtaining the Original Death Certificate

Hospital deaths: The attending physician issues the official death certificate (死亡證明書) in Mandarin. Request 10 to 15 original copies at the hospital administrative desk — the total fee is approximately NT$1,000. Multiple originals are essential because Taiwanese government agencies (HRO, tax bureau, land office, banks) each retain copies and will not accept photocopies.

Deaths outside a hospital: When someone dies at home, in an accident, or under unclear circumstances, the local police are notified first. A district prosecutor and forensic coroner conduct an examination — this takes up to 15 working days. The resulting forensic autopsy report serves as the official death certificate. The family has no choice in this process; if the prosecutor orders it, it happens.

Who can request copies: Only recognized next of kin — spouse, lineal descendants, parents, or the household head — can request death certificate copies. The hospital or prosecutor's office will verify identity and relationship.

Getting an English Translation

Most Taiwanese hospitals issue death certificates only in Traditional Chinese. Larger hospitals in Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Taichung may offer bilingual versions — ask specifically at the administrative desk.

If a bilingual certificate isn't available, you have two paths for translation:

Option 1 — Translation overseas with TECO verification: Have a certified translator prepare the English translation in your home country. The translator signs the document before a consular officer at the local Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), who authenticates it. Cost: US$30 per document for translation verification, plus the translator's own fee.

Option 2 — Translation in Taiwan with notarization: Bring the original Mandarin certificate to Taiwan, have it translated by a local translator, and notarize the translation through a Taiwanese District Court notary or certified civil notary.

Option 1 is faster for overseas heirs who need the English certificate for their home country's insurance companies or government agencies. Option 2 is more practical if you're physically in Taiwan and need the translation for local use.

Authentication for Foreign Use

A translated death certificate alone usually isn't sufficient for foreign governments. The authentication chain depends on the destination:

For US purposes: The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) uses the death certificate as supporting evidence when issuing the Consular Report of Death Abroad (eCRDA). AIT requires the original Chinese certificate, a certified English translation, and the deceased's passport — files must be scanned individually under 2MB and emailed with the exact subject line format.

For UK purposes: The British Office Taipei assists with documentation for UK registrations. The original Taiwanese certificate must be authenticated and translated.

For use in Taiwanese estate proceedings: The Mandarin original is what matters. Banks, the HRO, and the National Taxation Bureau require the Chinese-language death certificate. English translations are not accepted by Taiwanese domestic agencies.

The Household Deregistration Transcript

After registering the death at the Household Registration Office within 30 days, the HRO issues the Household Deregistration Transcript (除戶謄本). In practice, this document replaces the death certificate for most downstream estate settlement steps within Taiwan — banks, tax bureaus, and land offices all require it.

Request 15 personal copies and 5 full household copies. The full version contains the genealogical record of the household, which courts and tax authorities use to verify all legal heirs.

For the complete document workflow — from hospital certificate through TECO authentication to estate clearance — the Someone Died in Taiwan guide includes bilingual templates and an agency-by-agency checklist.

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