What to Do When Someone Dies Abroad: Bringing Them Home to the UK

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 (see below).

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

If the death was on holiday, travel insurance can save thousands of pounds.

Contact a UK funeral director with international experience

Not all funeral directors handle repatriation. You need one that does. Ask the consulate for a list, or search online for "funeral director repatriation UK" or "[your area] funeral director repatriation".

A repatriation-experienced funeral director will:

• Liaise with local authorities
• Arrange for the body to be prepared for transport
• Arrange transport (usually by air)
• Handle UK documentation and registration
• Guide you through the full process
• Give you a cost estimate upfront

Get several quotes. Costs vary significantly.

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.

The consulate's role is important but limited.

What the consulate does

• Provides lists of local funeral directors and hospitals
• Advises on local legal requirements
• Explains how to register the death locally
• Helps with any consular documents you need
• Provides guidance on UK registration
• Advises on financial assistance if needed
• Mediates with local authorities if there are problems

What the consulate does not do

• Pay for repatriation (unless there's genuine hardship)
• Arrange repatriation directly (you hire a funeral director)
• Arrange flights for family members
• Pay funeral costs
• Provide interpreter services (though they might recommend one)

The consulate is a guide and advisor, not a service provider.

You need to register the death in two places: where it occurred and in the UK.

Registering locally

The local process depends entirely on which country it is. The consulate will explain the local procedure.

General process:

• The hospital or police obtains a medical certificate of cause of death
• You (or the consulate) register the death with the local register office
• You receive a local death certificate (in the local language)
• You might need to obtain an official translation

The local register might also require:

• Identification documents (passport)
• Proof of residence (unusual, but some countries require it)
• Medical information
• Details of family members

The consulate will explain what's needed for your specific country.

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
• Claim life insurance
• Claim benefits
• 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).

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.

Repatriation is bringing the body from the country where death occurred to the UK.

The repatriation process

1. Local preparation: The body is embalmed and placed in a zinc-lined coffin (required for air transport)
2. Documentation: The funeral director obtains necessary permits and clearances from local authorities
3. Export permits: Documents confirming the body can be exported
4. Air freight: The body is transported to the UK (usually by air, sometimes by road if adjacent country)
5. UK clearance: On arrival, the body clears UK customs and immigration procedures
6. UK funeral director: Takes receipt of the body and arranges storage or funeral
7. UK registration: Once registered, funeral arrangements can proceed

The timeline is typically 2 to 6 weeks from death to the body arriving in the UK, depending on:

• How quickly local registration is completed
• The country (some countries are slower)
• Whether there's an inquest or investigation
• Whether an autopsy is required
• How quickly you arrange and pay for repatriation

Repatriation costs

This is the big financial concern for many families.

Typical costs:

The exact cost depends on:

• Distance from the UK
• The country and how bureaucratic the process is
• Whether autopsy is required
• Type of funeral director and service level you choose
• Whether you use a repatriation company (more expensive but handles everything)

Cost reduction strategies

• Travel insurance: If they had it, claim immediately. This often covers most or all costs
• Repatriation companies: Sometimes cheaper than using a local funeral director and UK funeral director separately, because they handle both
• DIY coordination: Less common, but if you have connections in the country, you might arrange local steps yourself. Risky, but can save money
• FCDO hardship grants: If you're in genuine financial hardship, the FCDO might provide a grant (see below)
• Life insurance: If the deceased had life insurance with a repatriation rider, claim it

Compare quotes from at least three funeral directors or repatriation companies before deciding.

If the body is being transported by air, UK and international regulations require:

• Embalming: The body must be embalmed (preserved with chemicals). This prevents decomposition during transport.
• Zinc-lined coffin: The coffin must be sealed with a zinc liner to prevent leakage. Standard wooden coffins are not sufficient.

These are not optional if flying the body. They're required by law.

Cost is typically included in repatriation fees, but confirm this with the funeral director.

You have choices about what to do with the body.

Burial abroad

Burying the person where they died:

• Significantly cheaper (no repatriation)
• Requires finding a burial plot and arranging local funeral
• The grave is in another country (visiting is difficult)
• Some religions or family preferences might rule this out

Cost: typically £1,000 to £5,000.

Cremation abroad

Cremating the person where they died:

• Cheaper than repatriation
• You receive the ashes, which you can bring home or scatter
• The crematorium might require local documentation

Cost: typically £1,000 to £3,000. Ashes are usually included.

Bringing them home for UK funeral

Repatriating and then burying or cremating in the UK:

• Most expensive option
• The funeral happens in the UK where family can attend
• Allows a proper farewell in the community
• Creates a grave or memorial in the UK

Most families choose this, despite the cost. See our funeral costs guide for a detailed breakdown of UK funeral expenses.

If the person was abroad on holiday, check every form of insurance.

Travel insurance

Holiday travel insurance specifically covers repatriation. It typically covers:

• Repatriation of the body
• Funeral costs (sometimes, with limits)
• Travel home for family members

Check the policy document or call the insurer to understand exactly what's covered. Some policies only cover repatriation if death was accidental; others cover all causes.

Credit card travel insurance

Many premium credit cards include travel insurance for cardholders and family members. Check your cards and the deceased's cards.

Bank account travel insurance

Some current accounts and savings accounts include travel insurance. Check with the bank.

Other insurance

Some employers offer travel insurance for employees. Check the deceased's employment documents.

Claim as soon as possible. The insurer will direct you to a funeral director or handle repatriation directly.

If there was no travel insurance (or it doesn't cover the death), you bear the cost.

Options:

• FCDO hardship grant: If you're in genuine hardship, apply to the FCDO. Grants are small (usually £1,000 to £3,000) but can help. Contact the consulate to apply. There's a means test.
• Charity support: Some charities help with funeral costs for people in hardship. StepChange can advise.
• Crowdfunding: Some families use platforms like GoFundMe to raise funds
• Burial or cremation abroad: The cheaper option if cost is prohibitive
• Loan or credit: Funeral directors sometimes offer payment plans

This is a difficult situation, and there's no perfect solution. Seek advice from the consulate and citizens advice organisations.

When a body is repatriated, the UK Coroner might become involved.

A coroner becomes involved if:

• The death was sudden or the cause isn't clear
• The death occurred abroad in circumstances that would trigger inquest in the UK
• There's any suspicion of foul play (though unlikely in standard circumstances)
• The death was due to accident, violence, or unknown cause

The coroner's role:

• Decides whether an inquest is needed
• Might require a post-mortem examination (autopsy)
• Issues a coroner's report
• Releases the body for burial or cremation once investigation is complete

If a coroner's Inquest is required, it delays the funeral by weeks or months. Most straightforward deaths (illness, old age) don't require inquests.

Check with the funeral director whether a coroner is likely to be involved.

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. You'll need them for:

• Probate applications
• Life insurance claims
• Notifying banks
• Claiming benefits
• Other administrative purposes

A typical repatriation timeline:

This is a typical timeline. Some countries are faster, some slower. Complications (autopsy, investigation) can add weeks.

Plan for at least 4 to 6 weeks from death to funeral, though it can be quicker.

Some countries don't let you take the body home immediately. Local law might require a local funeral or waiting period. The consulate can explain the specific requirements.

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. The funeral director usually arranges this, but budget for it in costs.

Flight back might not be straightforward. If you were with the person who died, or if you're going to arrange repatriation in person, booking a flight home is complicated. You might have questions from immigration or airlines. The consulate can help with documentation.

The UK coroner sometimes delays funerals. If a coroner decides to hold an inquest, the funeral is delayed until after the inquest is completed. This can add 2 to 6 months.

You might have to pay a lot upfront. Repatriation companies often require payment in full before the body is released. Travel insurance helps, but if there's no insurance, you need to find the money quickly. Some funeral directors offer payment plans, but not all.

You can repatriate in two ways:

Using a repatriation company

Companies specialise in repatriating bodies from abroad. They:

• Handle everything (local procedures, transport, UK reception)
• Deal with one company, not multiple
• Often have fixed prices
• Usually charge £5,000 to £15,000 depending on distance

Using a local funeral director and a UK funeral director separately

You appoint:

• A local funeral director in the country where death occurred (to handle local procedures and transport)
• A UK funeral director (to receive the body and handle UK funeral)

Most people use a repatriation company because it's simpler, even if slightly more expensive.

The process is the same in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but there are a few practical differences:

• Funeral customs: Different traditions in Scotland and Northern Ireland might affect funeral arrangements
• Registration: Register with the local register office in Scotland or Northern Ireland, not always in England and Wales
• Coroner: Scotland and Northern Ireland don't have coroners; they have different systems (Lord Advocate in Scotland, Coroner's Court equivalent in Northern Ireland)
• Legal requirements: Slightly different, but funeral directors will know these

Find a funeral director in your area of the UK (Scotland or Northern Ireland) with repatriation experience.

• FCDO Emergency: +44 20 7008 0000 (24 hours)
• FCDO General Enquiries: www.fcdo.gov.uk
• General Register Office (UK death registration): 0300 123 1837 or www.gro.gov.uk
• Samaritans (bereavement support): 116 123
• Cruse Bereavement Care: 0808 808 1677

Once the body is home and registered:

1. Register the death with the General Register Office
2. Arrange the funeral
3. Understand what to do immediately after death
4. Apply for probate

This is an enormously difficult situation. Please reach out for support:

• Samaritans: 116 123 (24 hours, free)
• Cruse Bereavement Care: 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday 09:30-17:00)
• Mind: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday 09:00-18:00)