Cremation or burial in Singapore: how families decide

One of the first decisions a family faces after a death is whether the funeral will end in cremation or burial. Sometimes the answer is already clear, because of faith or the wishes of the person who died. Sometimes it is not, and the family has to talk it through quickly, often while also planning a wake.

This guide explains how the two options work in Singapore today, so that the conversation is a little easier.

Why most families in Singapore choose cremation

Singapore is small, and land is needed for homes, schools, parks and everything else. Over the years the government has made choices that keep cemetery land to a minimum. Two facts from the National Environment Agency (NEA) show how this works in practice:

• Choa Chu Kang Cemetery is the only cemetery in Singapore still open for burials.
• Since 1 November 1998, the burial period for all graves has been limited to 15 years.

Because a grave is not permanent, cremation has become the usual choice for most families whose faith allows it. Some faiths require burial, as the sections below explain. It is also simpler to arrange and leaves more options for how the family remembers the person afterwards.

How cremation works

NEA lists four crematoria in Singapore: two managed by the government and two private. Your funeral director will normally book the cremation slot for you, although NEA also accepts bookings through its ePortal, by phone or at its booking office.

After cremation, the family collects the ashes and decides what to do with them. The main choices are:

• A niche in a columbarium. NEA manages columbaria at Choa Chu Kang, Mandai and Yishun, and says niches at Choa Chu Kang and Mandai are currently available for booking. There are also private columbaria, often attached to temples, churches or other religious organisations.
• Inland ash scattering. NEA runs two gardens where fine ashes can be scattered in designated lanes: the Garden of Peace and the Garden of Serenity.
• Scattering at sea. This is done in an area set aside for the purpose. Your funeral director can explain the current arrangements.

How burial works

Burial takes place at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery, which has sections for different religions. Many newer plots use the Crypt Burial System, introduced by NEA in 2007. Each plot is a concrete crypt without a base, laid out in a grid so that land is used efficiently. NEA notes that this system is endorsed by a wide group of religious organisations, including the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), the Singapore Buddhist Federation and the Catholic Archdiocese.

The 15-year burial period

This is the part of burial that families most often do not know about. A burial plot is leased for 15 years from the date of burial. After that, the grave may be exhumed so the land can be reused.

NEA explains what happens next:

• Where the religion permits cremation, the exhumed remains are cremated and the ashes stored in a columbarium niche.
• Where burial is required by religion, the remains are re-buried in a smaller individual plot.

Exhumation happens in phases, and NEA publishes a notice for each phase inviting next-of-kin to register a claim. In its most recent notice, NEA said it would bear the cost of exhumation, cremation, a standard niche, urn and plaque, or scattering of the ashes inland or at sea. Families can also make private arrangements at their own cost. The same notice says unclaimed ashes are kept for three years before being scattered at sea.

For this reason, it helps to keep your contact details up to date with the cemetery office, and to tell younger relatives where a grave is and when it was dug.

Faith and family considerations

Religion is often the deciding factor, but it is worth checking the details rather than assuming.

• Muslim families bury rather than cremate, as Islam requires burial. Under NEA’s policy, remains in graves where burial is required by religion are re-buried after exhumation rather than cremated.
• Catholic families may choose either. The Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore explains that the Church has a preference for burial, but cremation is allowed. Its guidance says ashes should be treated with the same respect as the body: they should not be kept at home or divided among relatives, and burial at sea should be in an urn rather than by scattering. A parish priest can advise.
• Other Christian families vary. Some prefer burial, many choose cremation. Your church can tell you whether it has a view or its own columbarium.
• Buddhist, Taoist and Hindu traditions permit cremation, and it is the usual choice for many of these families, though practices differ between temples and families.

Beyond faith, families often weigh up practical questions. Will someone visit a grave regularly? Would the person have wanted to rest near a spouse whose ashes are already in a columbarium?

Questions to ask your funeral director

A good funeral director will explain the options without pressure. Useful questions include:

1. Which crematorium or cemetery slot is available, and on what date?
2. What documents do you need from us, and will you apply for the permit to cremate or bury?
3. For cremation: how and when do we collect the ashes, and can you help book a columbarium niche?
4. For burial: what should we know about the 15-year burial period and exhumation later?
5. Can you arrange the religious rites we need at the crematorium or graveside?
6. What is included in the package, and what would cost extra?

NEA also suggests a simple checklist for families: find out the wishes of the person who died, ask clear questions about costs and services, and know where to get reliable information.

If you are looking for help, you can browse funeral directors in our directory and compare the services they offer.