If someone you care about has died abroad, you’re dealing with shock, grief, and suddenly complex practical problems. Bringing them home or burial overseas involves multiple countries’ laws, paperwork, consulates, funeral directors, and expense. This guide explains what to do immediately, and step by step through the repatriation process.
Immediate Steps: First 24 to 48 Hours
When someone dies abroad, quick action can prevent complications and reduce costs.
Contact the local authorities immediately
If the person dies in a hospital, the hospital will inform the local police and health authorities. The hospital will keep the body and won’t release it to the family or funeral home immediately.
If the death is outside hospital (at home, on the street, etc.), contact the local police. You’ll need to report the death and cooperate with local investigation. In some countries, autopsies are mandatory.
Do not try to move the body or make other arrangements without local permission.
Contact the British consulate or embassy
This is the most important step. The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) maintains consulates and embassies in most countries. They have staff trained in helping bereaved British people.
Find the consulate:
- Go to www.gov.uk/world/organisations
- Search for the country where the death occurred
- Find contact details for the British consulate or embassy
- Call them immediately, even if it’s outside office hours; there’s usually an emergency number
What the consulate can do:
- Advise on local procedures and regulations
- Help with contacting local authorities
- Guide you on registering the death
- Provide a list of funeral directors and repatriation companies
- Explain costs and options
- Help with consular documents
The consulate cannot pay for repatriation or funeral costs, but they can advise on grants if there’s genuine hardship.
Notify the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
If you haven’t already, call the FCDO emergency number: +44 20 7008 0000 (available 24 hours). This is separate from the consulate and helps with crises abroad.
Also visit www.fcdo.gov.uk for information specific to the country where the death occurred.
Contact your travel insurer
If the person was abroad on holiday, check whether travel insurance was taken out. Look for:
- Holiday or travel insurance documentation
- Holiday booking paperwork (often includes travel insurance)
- Credit card statements (some cards include travel insurance)
- Bank statements (some accounts include travel insurance)
Travel insurance often covers repatriation costs. Call the insurer immediately. They might:
- Arrange repatriation directly
- Pay for the cost
- Recommend funeral directors and repatriation companies
- Provide grants towards other costs
Local death registration takes days to weeks, depending on the country. Some countries require autopsy if the death is sudden, which adds time.
Registering in the UK
Once you have the local death certificate, you need to register the death in the UK.
The registration process:
- Contact the General Register Office (GRO) at www.gro.gov.uk or telephone 0300 123 1837
- Request a “Certificate of Registration of Death Abroad”
- Provide the local death certificate (and a certified translation if it’s not in English)
- Provide information about the deceased (full name, date of birth, address in the UK, etc.)
- Provide your identification and proof of relationship
- Pay a fee (currently around £20 to £30, depending on the urgency)
The GRO will register the death and issue UKÂ death certificates. These are the documents you need to:
- Apply for probate
- Notify banks
- Update wills
UK death registration takes about 3 to 4 weeks for standard applications, or same-day for urgent requests (at higher cost).
Islamic perspective on location and repatraition
Scholars agree burial where you die is permissible, even preferable due to swift burial priority.
Prophet (PBUH) buried martyrs where they fell. Repatriation permitted if good reasons and doesn’t cause excessive delay
Timing
You need the local death certificate before you can register in the UK. However, you can begin repatriation while waiting for local registration. The funeral director will advise on what documents are needed at each stage.