Embassy Assistance When Someone Dies Abroad

When a citizen dies abroad, their embassy or consulate helps with notifying family, contacting local authorities, finding local funeral providers, explaining how to send money and completing paperwork. It does not pay for the funeral or for bringing the body home, and it does not investigate the death or give legal advice. The family or estate pays.

The details differ by country. This guide covers the US, UK and Canada, using each government's own published guidance.

What will an embassy do when a citizen dies abroad?

United States. USAGov says embassies and consulates can help you communicate with local authorities, explain how to send funds to cover necessary costs, assist with the return of remains to the US or local burial, and help complete documents required by US and foreign law, including the Consular Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad (CRODA). Under 22 CFR 72.2 and 72.4, the consular officer must report the death to the State Department and try to notify the next of kin and the legal representative as soon as possible, by phone first and then in writing.

United Kingdom. The FCDO says it can advise on finding local funeral directors, lawyers, translators and charities, share local rules through country-specific bereavement guides, help you contact local authorities, help request updates on local investigations, advise on transferring money from friends and family, help manage media interest and register a consular death in the UK.

Canada. The Government of Canada says it will help notify next of kin, help contact police, hospitals, morgues and coroners, help obtain death certificates, provide lists of forensic labs and local funeral providers, help authenticate death certificates for insurance purposes and help with urgent financial transfers.

What will an embassy not do?

• Pay. The UK FCDO cannot pay burial, cremation, repatriation, legal costs or any other debts. Canada says its offices will not pay for burial, cremation or repatriation. The US regulation says consular officers cannot create financial obligations for the disposition of remains.
• Investigate. The FCDO cannot investigate a death abroad, and Canada's offices will not investigate local cases.
• Give legal or medical advice. The FCDO says it cannot offer either. Canada's offices will not intervene in legal matters, translate documents or provide legal advice.
• Recommend one provider. The FCDO cannot recommend specific service providers, and its list of international funeral directors states that none are endorsed by the FCDO.

Who do you call first?

Contact the embassy or consulate in the country where the death happened. For US families, USAGov directs you to the embassy listing at usembassy.gov. UK nationals can call the FCDO 24 hours a day on +44 (0)20 7008 5000. In Canada, the 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa takes reports of deaths abroad.

At the same time, call the insurer if the person had travel, health or expat insurance. The FCDO's first step is to contact travel insurance immediately, and Canada's government advises following the insurer's instructions to avoid unnecessary delays. Some policies pay providers directly and others reimburse you later. See our guide to travel insurance and death coverage.

What is the Consular Report of Death Abroad?

For US citizens, the Consular Report of Death Abroad is an official US government record of the death. Under 22 CFR 72.5, the consular officer prepares it when a local death certificate exists. It shows the cause of death given on the local certificate, and it is filed with Vital Records at the State Department, with certified copies going to next of kin and other agencies. USAGov says it satisfies both US and foreign legal requirements.

The State Department's fee schedule (22 CFR 22.1) lists no fee for assisting next of kin after the death of a US citizen abroad, and lists $50 for certified copies of documents about the deaths of US citizens abroad issued by an embassy or consulate. The same schedule says up to 20 original Consular Reports of Death are provided at no charge to next of kin. Check the State Department's site for the current fee before you order copies.

You will still need the local death certificate. Banks, insurers and courts may want both, so ask for extra certified copies.

Do you need an apostille or translation?

Often. A certificate issued in another country may need to be translated, and "legalized" or apostilled, before it is accepted at home. The Hague Conference explains that an apostille is a single certificate that authenticates a public document and replaces the traditional legalization process among the 130 Contracting Parties to the Apostille Convention. The US and UK are both parties. Requirements differ by country, so ask the embassy, the insurer or your funeral director what each office at home needs.

Who controls what happens to the body?

Under US rules, consular officers facilitate arrangements but get funds and instructions for disposition of the remains from the legal representative or next of kin. If neither can be found, they may ask friends or other interested parties. Arrangements have to follow local law and US regulations. If funds are not available within the time local law allows for burial or preservation, local authorities will dispose of the remains under local law. This is why you should tell the embassy early if you cannot pay.

Bringing remains to the US has its own rules. The CDC says remains that are not cremated or embalmed need a death certificate stating the cause of death (with an English translation attested by a notary if needed), and all non-cremated remains must be in a leak-proof container. Cremated or embalmed remains have no CDC permit requirement. The funeral director works with consular officials to get the paperwork right. For costs, see our guide to repatriation costs, and for the wider picture, our overseas death guide.

What about the person's belongings?

US consular officers can inventory and release personal property to the legal representative or next of kin, but they do not ordinarily act as administrator of the estate and cannot take on financial responsibility for it (22 CFR Part 72). Canada's offices will not assist with the deceased's personal effects. If you need to recover belongings, ask the embassy, the police and your funeral director what applies in that country.

What to do next

1. Call the embassy or consulate, then the insurer, and write down names, times and reference numbers.
2. Ask the embassy for its list of local funeral directors and get itemized written quotes before you agree to anything.
3. Request the local death certificate, and for US citizens ask about the Consular Report of Death Abroad.
4. Start the practical admin at home with our guide to notifying government agencies after a death. UK families can use the Tell Us Once service mentioned in the FCDO guidance.