What to do when someone dies abroad
If a death takes place abroad, registration must take place in accordance to the laws in the country where the death has occurred. As Funeral Directors we can assist you with the registration procedure and if necessary provide you with contact to the British Consul for further advice if required.
Returning a loved one to the UK following their death can be expensive, however, the cost may be covered by their travel insurance if this was taken out prior to them travelling. If this was the case, you need to contact their insurance company to confirm with them that they will cover the cost of your loved ones repatriation.
What is repatriation?
In this instance, repatriation refers to the return of a person who has died back to their home country. Repatriation usually takes between 5-7 days, depending on the circumstances of their death, if the Coroner becomes involved, repatriation may take longer.
If your loved one is going to be repatriated by plane then they will need to be embalmed and a certificate of embalming will need to be provided alongside the following documents:
- Their passport
- The local death certificate along with an English translation
- Permission to take them out of the country
- A ‘Freedom from infection’ certificate
- A permit for the country they will be returning to (if required)
All the appropriate certification and documentation will be repatriated with your loved one and collected by your funeral director. This documentation will then be handed to the coroner who will decide if any further action is to be taken.
The Coroner will liaise with you and your funeral director throughout the process. You can also contact us for help and advice if you need to repatriate your loved one. We will be able to offer caring support & advice on the necessary steps that need to be taken throughout.