There is a common misconception that submitting an application for interment in the National Military Cemetery is an act of resignation — something done only when death is imminent. In reality, the opposite is true. Applying early is one of the most practical and considerate things a veteran or serving member can do for themselves and their family.
The application is not an arrangement
Submitting Form DND 2277-E does not initiate any funeral or burial arrangements. It simply registers the applicant with the Department of National Defence for eligibility review. Once approved, the applicant is notified and the file is held on record. Nothing further happens until the time of need, at which point the family contacts Beechwood Cemetery to make arrangements. Many veterans apply years — even decades — in advance. Some apply while still serving. The application sits quietly on file, costing nothing and obligating no one, until it is needed.
What it means for families
When a death occurs, families face an enormous number of decisions in a very short time, often while managing grief. Knowing that eligibility has already been confirmed and that a place at the National Military Cemetery is secured removes one significant burden from that process. Families can focus on the ceremony and on each other, rather than on paperwork and approval timelines.
For veterans who have strong feelings about where they wish to be interred, applying in advance is the surest way to ensure those wishes are known and honoured. Verbal instructions to family members are easily forgotten or overlooked in the chaos that follows a death. A formal application on record with DND is not.
The process is straightforward
The application requires basic military service information — service number, rank, enrolment and release dates — along with a signature authorizing DND to access military service records for verification. Most applicants are able to complete the form in under thirty minutes. DND processes applications within ten working days.
There is no wrong time to apply
Whether someone is currently serving, recently released, or a veteran of many decades, the application process is the same. The National Military Cemetery is open to all who served honourably, and the decision to secure that place is one that can be made at any point in life. The only requirement is that the application be submitted before it is urgently needed.
Questions about your own situation?
No two service records are identical, and the edge cases are the ones worth asking about rather than guessing at. There is no cost to ask and no obligation.