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.
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)
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 UK 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 repatriation
What is repatriation?
Repatriation is the return of the deceased’s body to the country of origin for burial.
This may be performed for several reasons; the next of kin may feel that it was the deceased wishes, family members living abroad may want to participate in the funeral, there may be cultural beliefs or the deceased had expressed a wish to be buried abroad prior to their death.
Often on making this important decision family do not understand the process of repatriation and the consequences of the decisions made.
The process of repatriation
Repatriation requires a number of steps to be completed:
- Certification
- Many countries also require signed documents from an appropriate doctor that the deceased was not suffering from any condition that might pose a public health risk.
- For some countries, a post-mortem may be required and the coroner could decide to order an inquest to determine how the person died.
- Issues: This will lead to a delay in the funeral process as the coroner will have to make a ruling on the case after considering the details. Plans cannot be completed until all the necessary certificates are received. Delay in burial causes additional unnecessary anguish and strain as the family will not be at ease until the deceased is buried.
- Embalming
- There is a legal requirement for the deceased to be embalmed before they can be transported overseas. During this process, the natural fluids of the body, including the blood, are replaced with a chemical solution of preservatives to slow down the effects of natural deterioration and decomposition.
- Transport
- A dead body is transferred within the cargo hold of a plane with the rest of the luggage, within a specially sealed coffin.
- Issues: Booking the necessary travel tickets cannot be completed until certificates from the coroner is received and all necessary documents are in place, which will cause a delay in the burial process.
- Repatriation of a body from the UK to a foreign country can be costly, which may cause a financial burden on the family. Instead this money could be spent on things which will benefit the deceased and others eg sadaqah jariyah
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.
Death Certificates: Local and UK Versions
You’ll receive multiple death certificates.
Local death certificate
Issued by the local register office in the country where death occurred. This:
- Is in the local language
- Might need official translation for UK use
- Is the basis for UK registration
UK Certificate of Registration of Death Abroad
Issued by the General Register Office once you’ve registered the death in the UK. This:
- Is in English
- Is recognised in the UK for all purposes (probate, banks, benefits, etc.)
- Might need to be ordered in certified copies if the original is lost
Both are important. Keep multiple copies of both.
Things That Often Catch Families Out Abroad
Some countries don’t let you bury immediately. Local law might require a local funeral or waiting period.
Autopsies can add weeks. In some countries, autopsies are automatic for sudden deaths. Even if the death seems natural, local law might require investigation. This adds 1 to 4 weeks.
Language barriers are real. All local documents are in the local language. You need certified translation, budget for it in costs.
You might have to pay a lot upfront often payment in full before the body is released.
