Death Registration

Maldives

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Maldives Death Registration Burial, ID and Related Services

Burial, ID and Related Services

Burial Permits and Disposal of Bodies

Does the law require that a burial permit be obtained to dispose of a body? If so, does the law require that death is reported to the civil registrar before a burial permit can be obtained?

Unclear

Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines

A permit should be required to bury or cremate, or otherwise dispose of, a body. The law should require the reporting of death to the civil registrar before a permit to dispose of the body is issued, to incentivize death registrations. To enforce the requirement of death registration, funeral, burial and cremation services should be required to request proof of reporting of death or death certificate before proceeding with services.
Law Source
UNGOLF para 357

Maldives Legal Analysis

The law on birth and death registration requires the health facility to issue a "document certifying death" before a burial may take place. This document is used for death registration. In practice, burial permits are linked to death registration. However, the process of linking the two is not clearly set out in law.
Law Source
Act on Birth and Death Record and Creating Birth Certificates and National Identity Cards of 2022 Articles 29, 30, 31

Registration Linked to Access to Key Services and Other Incentives

Is proof of death registration required in order to access any public services or benefits?

Unclear

Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines

Some countries incentivize higher death registration rates by tying them to key benefits like accessing pension of deceased spouse or permitting remarriage. Some countries offer cash incentives to register deaths.
Law Source
UNGOLF para 559, 560

Maldives Legal Analysis

Analysis of the legal instruments available to the reviewer did not identify any provisions relevant to this question.
Law Source

Retirement of Legal Identity

Does the law link retirment of a UPI and/or identity credential to death registration?

Yes

Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines

When a death is registered, the civil registration authority must transmit this information to the identity management authority so that the identity management authority may retire or deactivate the unique personal identifier and the identity credential of the deceased individual. This information should also be shared with the population register (if a population register is maintained).
Law Source
UNGOLF para 85, 458

Maldives Legal Analysis

The Department of National Registration (DNR) cancels the national identity card (and associated national identity number) upon the death of a person. The DNR is responsible for both civil registration and national identity, therefore the two systems are connected.
Law Source
Act on Birth and Death Record and Creating Birth Certificates and National Identity Cards of 2022 Article 27