What is a PSA death certificate?
It's the copy of a person's death record printed by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on its security paper. It shows the person's name and the date, place and cause of death, as certified by a licensed physician. The death is registered at the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) of the city or town where it happened, and the LCRO sends the record to the PSA.
LCR copy vs PSA copy: the LCR copy is the first record filed locally. Most government agencies, insurers and banks want the PSA copy.
The family usually needs it for:
- insurance and pension claims with SSS, GSIS, Pag-IBIG or private insurers
- survivor benefits for the spouse and children
- bank accounts and investments in the name of the deceased
- estate tax and property transfer
How much is it?
Show as a table
| Item | Breakdown | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-in at a PSA CRS outlet | PSA document fee ₱155 | ₱155 |
| Online, delivered (PSAHelpline.ph) | PSA document fee ₱155 + Service fee ₱160 + Courier ₱50 | ₱365 |
Per copy. Source: PSAHelpline.ph fee schedule (the PSA's authorized partner); PSA CRS reminders.
The PSA's own fee is ₱155 per copy. Online, PSAHelpline adds a ₱160 service fee and ₱50 courier fee. You can also choose store pickup online at selected National Book Store and Robinsons Department Store branches, within 30 days of the "ready" notice.
Who can request it?
| Who | Online (PSAHelpline.ph) | At a PSA outlet |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse of the deceased | Yes | Yes |
| Parents of the deceased | Yes | Yes |
| Children of the deceased, 18+ | Yes | Yes |
| Other relatives or representatives | No | Yes, with an authorization letter or SPA from a qualified relative, plus IDs |
What you need
- Your valid ID, matching the name on the request. It's shown to the PSA outlet or the courier.
- The deceased's details: complete name, date and place of death, parents' names and civil status. The PSA search is exact, so copy these from the LCR copy or the funeral papers if you can.
- The purpose, such as an insurance, SSS or estate claim.
How to get it at a PSA outlet
Book a free appointment
on the PSA CRS Appointment System: choose the purpose and outlet, enter your name, email and mobile number, verify the one-time PIN, then choose the death certificate, date and time.
Arrive at least 30 minutes early
with the appointment slip and your valid ID (plus the authorization letter or SPA if you're not the spouse, parent or child).
Fill in the application form,
get a queue ticket, and pay ₱155 per copy.
Claim it
at the releasing area. PSAHelpline says walk-in death certificates are usually released the same day.
Booking is free. Don't pay anyone for an appointment slot.
How to order it online
Go to psahelpline.ph, click Order Now and choose Death
Enter the deceased's details
exactly as registered.
Enter your own details
as the requester and the ID you'll show the courier.
Choose delivery or store pickup,
then pay. Keep the 10-digit reference number.
Track it
at orders.psahelpline.ph/check-status.
Delivery: Metro Manila the next working day after the PSA releases it; provinces 3–8 working days.
Family abroad? You can order online from anywhere and have it delivered to a trusted person in the Philippines through the online Letter of Authorization (you'll verify your ID and take a live selfie first).
Recent death: when will it be at the PSA?
PSAHelpline recommends waiting for the PSA's posting period:
- 2–4 months for deaths in Metro Manila
- at least 6 months for deaths in the provinces
counted from when the LCRO sent the record. For urgent claims in the meantime, ask the LCRO where the death was registered for a certified copy, and check if the agency accepts it.
Problems and fixes
- Negative certification: the death record isn't in the PSA archives yet. Take the negative certification to the LCRO where the death was registered and ask them to endorse a copy to the PSA.
- Wrong name or entry: file a petition for correction of entry under RA 9048. The spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, guardians or other authorized people can file at the LCRO where the death was registered, or at any LCRO as a migrant petition.
- Does it expire? No. PSAHelpline says a PSA death certificate has permanent validity and should be accepted whatever its issue date.
Related claims
A PSA death certificate is usually the first document for survivor claims. Ask the agency or insurer for its full checklist, and gather the deceased's PSA marriage certificate (for the spouse) and the children's PSA birth certificates, which claims often ask for too.
Paano kumuha ng PSA death certificate: Mag-book ng libreng appointment sa PSA CRS Appointment System at magdala ng valid ID: ₱155 bawat kopya, kadalasang nakukuha sa parehong araw. O mag-order online sa PSAHelpline.ph: ₱365 kasama ang delivery. Online, ang asawa, magulang o anak na 18 pataas lamang ang puwedeng mag-order.
Official contacts
- PSA CRS Appointment System: crs-appointment.psahelpline.ph
- Online orders: psahelpline.ph · (02) 8737-1111 (Monday to Saturday, 8 AM–5 PM, except holidays) · help@psahelpline.ph
Frequently asked questions
How much is a PSA death certificate?
₱155 per copy at a PSA outlet with an appointment, or ₱365 online through PSAHelpline.ph including delivery.
Who can get a PSA death certificate?
Online, only the spouse, parents or children aged 18 and over of the deceased. Other relatives can request it at a PSA outlet with an authorization letter or SPA from a qualified relative.
How long after death can I get a PSA death certificate?
About 2 to 4 months for deaths in Metro Manila and at least 6 months in the provinces, counted from when the local civil registrar sent the record to the PSA.
I got a negative certification instead of the death certificate. What now?
The record hasn't reached the PSA yet. Bring the negative certification to the local civil registry office where the death was registered and ask them to endorse it to the PSA.
Does a PSA death certificate expire?
No. It has permanent validity, so a copy issued years ago is still the same document.
Can I order a PSA death certificate from abroad?
Yes. Order through PSAHelpline.ph and have it delivered to someone in the Philippines that you assign through the online Letter of Authorization.
How do I correct a name on a death certificate?
File a petition for correction of entry under RA 9048 at the local civil registry office where the death was registered, or at any LCRO as a migrant petition.
Keep reading
PSA birth certificate
Online, walk-in or e-Certificate: prices, IDs, delivery times and fixes.
Read guide DocumentPSA marriage certificate
Price, who can order, when new marriages reach the PSA, and corrections.
Read guide DocumentValid IDs in the Philippines
The IDs most offices accept, and which to bring for your clearance.
Read guideSources
- PSAHelpline.ph: PSA death certificate guide (PSA's authorized online partner)
- PSAHelpline.ph: FAQ (ordering, payment, delivery)
- PSA Civil Registration Service Appointment System
Last checked 4 October 2026. See how we research and the updates log.