What To Do If Someone Dies Abroad?

When someone dies overseas, the stress of bereavement can be made worse by  having  to deal with an unfamiliar system far from home. However, you can get help from the British authorities.

Read this page to find out what to do and what help you can get  if someone dies abroad.

Top tips

If someone you are travelling with dies abroad you should contact the nearest British embassy, High Commission or Consulate. They will be able to give you advice on what you need to do and help you with arrangements that need to be made.

Who should you contact?

If someone dies abroad you should contact the British authorities.

A close relative or friend dies abroad while you’re in the UK

The British Consulate in the country where the person has died should ask the UK police to inform the next-of- kin. If you’re notified about the death by someone else, for example a tour operator, you should phone the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) who’ll be able to keep you informed and help with arrangements.

Someone you’re travelling with dies abroad

If you’re abroad when someone dies, you should contact the nearest British embassy, High Commission or Consulate. They will be able to give you advice on what you need to do. If you’re on a package holiday you should tell your package organiser’s representative in the resort as soon as you can. Some of the bigger tour operators have welfare teams who will be able to help you with arrangements.

Registering the death

All deaths must be registered in the country where the person died. The British Consul will be able to advise you on how to do this.  You can then also register the death at the British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate which means you will get a UK-style death registration document. When registering the death, you should take information about yourself and the person who has died including:

• full name
• date of birth
• passport number
• where and when the passport was issued
• details of the next-of- kin, if you’re not their closest relative.

Funeral arrangements

You can either arrange to have the funeral overseas or for the body to be returned to the UK. This is known as repatriation. If you want the funeral to be held in the UK you will need to use international undertakers who can advise you about the arrangements. Before you can bring the body home, you’ll need the following documents:

• a certified English translation of the foreign death certificate from the country in which the person died
• authorisation to remove the body from the country
• a certificate of embalming.

The British Consulate or an international undertaker will be able to tell you how to get these documents.

When a body is returned to the UK, the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the district where the funeral is to take place must be told and will need to issue a certificate before burial can take place. If a cremation is to take place the Home Office also needs to give permission. You can get an application for a Home Office cremation order from your local crematorium.

Funeral costs

Repatriation can be expensive so make sure you discuss the costs before confirming your arrangements. You’ll need to be sure you can meet the costs or that they’re covered by an insurance policy.  The FCO will not pay burial, cremation or repatriation expenses. If you are claiming certain benefits and the funeral is taking place in another European country or Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway you may be able to apply for a funeral payment from the Social Fund.

Making a claim on your travel insurance

If the person who died had travel insurance, you may be able to claim  the costs of the arrangements from this. You should contact the insurance company as soon as you can. If you are covered, the insurance company will usually employ a local assistance firm who will do things like arrange an international undertaker.

Suspicious circumstances

If there is evidence that the death happened in suspicious circumstances, the British embassy will be able to give you advice about how to raise your concerns with the local authorities. They will also be able to advise you on how to get legal advice.

*** The information in this advice article is current on 10/06/13 if reading after this date contact us at The Foreign Citizens Advice Centre for more up to date information ***

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