Decide the scope
Choose between specified organs or tissues, any needed parts, or whole-body donation. Consider whether your gift is for transplantation or therapy, education or research, or both.
Planning organ and whole-body donation.
A practical guide to recording your wishes under Singapore law, speaking with your family and using the official services that will act on your decision.
Clarifies the two legal routes
HOTA and MTERA are different. This guide explains who each law covers, what may be donated and how a voluntary MTERA pledge is made.
Official information checked 18 September 2026A pledge is not a guarantee
Medical teams or the receiving programme assess suitability after death. A donation may be unable to proceed because of medical, legal, timing or programme considerations.
This is general information, not legal or medical advice.The legal framework
HOTA and MTERA are not interchangeable.
Knowing which route applies prevents an organ-donation decision from being confused with a whole-body pledge.
| Question | HOTA | MTERA |
|---|---|---|
| How it applies | Automatic coverage unless an eligible person opts out. | A voluntary pledge: you must opt in. |
| Who may be covered | Singapore citizens and permanent residents aged 21 or above who meet the statutory criteria. | Anyone aged 18 or above, regardless of nationality, may pledge. |
| What it covers | Kidneys, liver, heart and corneas. | Selected organs or tissues, any needed parts, or the whole body. |
| Permitted purposes | Transplantation. | Transplantation or therapy, and/or medical or dental education and research. |
| Next of kin | Next-of-kin consent is not required. | Live On states that next-of-kin consent is required. Next of kin may also consent after death where no prior pledge was made. |
| Death overseas | Does not apply. | Does not apply. |
What MTERA lets you decide
You may indicate whether you wish to donate particular organs or tissues, any needed parts, or your whole body. You may also identify the permitted purpose. A whole-body pledge for education is different from donating transplantable organs under HOTA.
Practical steps
Record the decision carefully.
Use official channels, keep a record and make sure the people likely to act after your death know what you want.
Use the official registry
Log in to the Organ Donor Registry with Singpass to review your HOTA status or make an MTERA pledge. An online MTERA submission requires a witness.
Tell your next of kin
Explain what you pledged and why. Give them the official programme details and tell them where you keep your confirmation and death-planning documents.
Keep the plan current
Review your decision after major life changes. If you change your mind, update or revoke the pledge through the official service rather than relying on a private note alone.
Whole-body donation
The NUS “Silent Mentor” pathway.
Whole-body donation supports the education and training of medical and healthcare professionals.
Pledge under MTERA
NUS directs prospective whole-body donors to the MTERA Organ Donation Pledge form administered through the National Organ Transplant Unit. Select the whole-body and education or research choices that reflect your wishes.
The programme must be contacted
Your family or the person handling your affairs should contact the National Organ Transplant Unit promptly. A written pledge alone does not arrange transport or guarantee acceptance.
Acceptance is assessed after death
NUS may decline a body because of communicable disease, an autopsy or another suitability consideration. Families should retain an alternative funeral or cremation plan.
Discuss the return of remains
NUS says a donated body is typically used for 18 to 36 months. If no return is requested, the School arranges and pays for cremation and burial at sea of the ashes.
Make your wishes usable
- Review your HOTA status and decide whether an additional MTERA pledge is appropriate.
- Choose the organs, tissues or whole-body option and the purposes you authorise.
- Complete the official submission and witness requirements.
- Discuss the decision with your next of kin and the person likely to handle your affairs.
- Keep your confirmation with your Advance Care Plan, will or other death-planning records.
- For whole-body donation, save the NUS and National Organ Transplant Unit instructions and maintain an alternative funeral plan.
Official sources
Verify before you pledge.
Requirements and programme details may change. Follow the current instructions on the linked official pages.
- Live On: eligibility and the differences between HOTA and MTERA ↗ — Singapore Government guidance on coverage, age, purposes and consent.
- Live On: how to record your decision ↗ — official online and hardcopy submission instructions.
- Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act 1972 ↗ — the current legislation on Singapore Statutes Online.
- NUS Medicine: making a whole-body donation ↗ — programme procedure, possible reasons for refusal and arrangements after use.
- Live On resources ↗ — additional official organ-donation information and contacts.