Reporting a Death

You may not bury or cremate the deceased earlier than 36 hours or later than 6 business days after death. If you wish to bury or cremate the deceased earlier, you will need permission from the public prosecutor and the Lieutenant Governor. If you wish to bury or cremate the deceased later, you will only need permission from the Lieutenant Governor.

Recommendation: The funeral director handles the arrangements on behalf of the next of kin. If the next of kin wish to handle this themselves, the following steps must be taken.

How to report a death:

• You will need the following information:
  • your valid ID;
  • an A certificate and a B certificate for Statistics Netherlands (CBS);
  • in the case of a natural cause of death: a death certificate issued by a doctor or the medical examiner;
  • in the case of an unnatural cause of death: a certificate of no objection to cremation/burial issued by the public prosecutor;
  • if a cremation or burial must be postponed: a certificate of no objection issued by a doctor;
  • if an autopsy is required: authorization for an autopsy, issued by the local magistrate;
  • if applicable, the marriage certificate to record the death.

File the death report before the burial or cremation takes place.

Registering a death is free. A burial permit issued more than 36 hours after death costs $9,78.

A copy of the death certificate costs $11,17.
This can be requested through the website of the Public Entity of Bonaire.

Transporting a body abroad costs $47,49.