Important next steps
The funeral usually takes place after the death is certified. You’ll need to decide:
if you would like to engage a funeral director
which funeral director or service to engage
the duration and location of the funeral wake
whether to arrange for a burial or cremation
However, it’s up to the family if they want to hold a funeral or not. Some families:
prefer direct cremation or direct burial , where the body is sent for cremation or burial shortly after passing.
conduct simple prayer services at home, or at the crematorium service hall, before the cremation.
hold the memorial service after the cremation, where the ashes are present at the memorial instead of the body.
Find a funeral director
Most people engage a funeral director to help with funeral arrangements.
A funeral director can help:
collect the body from the home, hospital, or mortuary
send the body for embalming , if required
arrange the funeral wake
plan for the cremation, burial, or scattering of ashes
organise sea or inland scattering of ashes or arrange for storage of the cremated ashes
Making informed decisions to find a suitable funeral director
Refer to:
the A.S.K. checklist developed by the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore
- this list of questions for purchase decisions
Embalming
Embalming delays the body from decomposing. This works by removing bodily fluids, then replacing them with formaldehyde-based chemical solutions.
It’s usually needed if:
the funeral has an open casket
the body needs to be transported over long distances or across borders
If the body is not embalmed
Choose a funeral arrangement that does not require viewing.
A funeral wake can still be held as long as the body is placed in a hermetically sealed coffin, without a viewing window.
The funeral must not last 7 days after the death of the body.
If the deceased contracted a highly infectious disease
If the deceased had a highly infectious disease, only BICC-certified funeral service providers can handle the case. The Basic Infection Control Course (BICC) is run by the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) and covers infection control for these situations.
Logistics of the funeral wake
Duration
If the duration of the funeral wake is more than 7 days after death, you must get approval from the National Environment Agency (NEA) by submitting the Application to Retain Corpse for a Period Exceeding 7 Days .
For more assistance, call NEA at 6225 5632 .
Choose a funeral wake location
Booking online
You can search for and book a facility in your neighbourhood to hold a funeral or conduct post-funeral rites. Booking fees may apply.
To make a booking, you must be:
18 years old and above
an immediate family member of the deceased
a resident of the Town Council
If you did not live with the deceased, make a booking with the deceased’s Town Council instead.
Contacting your Town Council directly
You may also contact your Town Council to help you make the booking manually and secure booking dates for the funeral. They’ll advise you on the:
available slots for the facility
charges for utilities (such as water and electricity)
available HDB common spaces nearest to your block of residence
If you need to go to your Town Council's office to finalise the booking, bring along:
the digital death certificate
your NRIC
cash, NETS, or credit card to make payment (if applicable)
If you need to use HDB parking lots, you can apply for temporary parking .
To use HDB surface parking lots for a funeral wake, you can apply by:
calling the HDB Branch Service Line at 1800 225 5432
submitting your request via HDB e-feedback form (Select 'Car Park' as the subject, and 'Use of Car Parks for Non-Parking Purpose' as the category)
visiting the managing HDB branch
If you are holding the funeral wake in a URA car park, you will have to apply for the use of parking lots from Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) . Booking charges will apply.
If you need to use part of the road or walkway outside your landed property for the funeral wake, you’ll need to apply for a Temporary Occupational Licence (TOL) from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).
Booking charges will apply, depending on the amount of land space you need. You do not need to seek separate approval from the Land Transport Authority or the Traffic Police. However, you will need to follow their requirements, which will be provided during your TOL application.
To request road closures for the funeral wake, apply for a permit from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) .
If you need to use part of the road or walkway outside your landed property for the funeral wake, you’ll need to apply for a Temporary Occupational Licence (TOL) from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).
Booking charges will apply, depending on the amount of land space you need.
Ask your funeral director for available funeral parlours to book. There will be a venue rental fee.
Cost
Funeral costs will differ according to:
funeral director fees
venue and duration of the funeral
type of casket, and ceremony charges
music, floral or food catering charges
burial or cremation fees
Funeral directors may list all these costs in their quote.
The funeral can be paid:
from a pre-paid funeral plan or insurance policy
by you, or other family members or friends
with money from the person's estate or un-nominated CPF savings, if you are a beneficiary
If the person has not made a CPF nomination, you can make a claim from the person's un-nominated CPF savings at the Public Trustee Office (PTO). Generally, claims of up to $6,000 are allowable.
You’ll have to obtain the legal right to manage the person’s assets for funeral expenses.
Read more about claiming CPF monies for funeral expensesPrepare an obituary (optional)
You may want to tell close family and friends about the date, time, and location of the funeral.
Most people do so with a phone call or a message, though you can consider:
a newspaper obituary
an online memorial
social media
Decide on burial or cremation
There are different ways to handle a person's remains after a funeral wake. You can choose to: