Death Abroad: Repatriation, Foreign Death Certificate, and UK Probate

Immediate Steps: The First 24–48 Hours

When a death occurs abroad, these are the priority actions:

1. Contact the British Embassy or Consulate: The FCDO operates a 24-hour consular emergency line (+44 20 7008 5000). The Embassy or Consulate in the country of death is your first point of contact. They can advise on local legal requirements, provide lists of English-speaking local lawyers and funeral directors, and help with communication with local authorities
2. Contact the travel insurer: Most comprehensive travel insurance policies include repatriation cover, which pays for returning the body to the UK. Contact the insurer as soon as possible — many have 24-hour emergency lines and will arrange repatriation directly
3. Notify the local authorities: The death must be reported to the local police (if sudden, unexpected, or accidental) and to the local civil registration authority. The Embassy or Consulate can advise on the local requirements
4. Secure the deceased's belongings:Ensure the deceased's passport, valuables, and documents are secured. The Embassy can issue a temporary travel document for the passport

Repatriation: Returning the Body to the UK

Repatriation is the process of returning the deceased's body to the UK for funeral and burial or cremation. It is a logistically complex process governed by the laws of both the country of death and the UK.

The key steps:

1. Local authority documentation:A Certificate of Freedom from Infection (or equivalent — sometimes called an “exit permit”) is required from the local health authority before the body can be transported internationally. This confirms there is no risk of infectious disease
2. Embalming: Most countries require the body to be professionally embalmed before international transport. The local funeral director handles this; the travel insurer may specify an approved provider
3. Zinc-lined coffin: International air transport regulations typically require the body to be transported in a zinc-lined coffin sealed by the local funeral director
4. Local funeral director: A local funeral director in the country of death arranges the preparation, documentation, and airport transfer
5. UK funeral director: A UK funeral director must be arranged to collect the body on arrival in the UK. They handle UK customs clearance and transport to the funeral home
6. Coroner notification: In England and Wales, the local coroner must be notified of any death occurring abroad that is brought back to the UK. The coroner decides whether to hold an inquest

Repatriation costs typically range from £2,000 to £8,000+ depending on the destination and services required. Travel insurance covers most or all of this cost if the policy includes repatriation cover.

The Foreign Death Certificate

The country of death will issue a local death certificate (certificat de décès, certificado de defunción, Sterbeurkunde, etc.). You will need:

• Multiple certified copies of the foreign death certificate — typically 3–5 copies; they will be needed for UK probate, UK banks, pension providers, life insurers, and other institutions
• A certified English translation of the foreign death certificate for UK use
• An apostille from the country of death to authenticate the certificate for UK use — see our guide on apostille for foreign death certificates

The UK Probate Registry will accept a foreign death certificate as evidence of death for probate purposes. The Embassy or Consulate may be able to assist with obtaining certified copies.

Registering the Death in the UK

Deaths abroad can also be registered in the UK through the General Register Office (GRO). This creates a UK death registration record and allows the issue of a UK death certificate — which UK institutions will recognise without translation.

Registration with the GRO is voluntary but is advisable as it creates a permanent UK record. The process involves:

• Completing the GRO online registration of death abroad form
• Providing certified copies of the foreign death certificate with translation
• Paying the GRO fee
• Receiving UK death certificates issued by the GRO

Starting UK Probate After a Death Abroad

If the deceased held UK assets, UK probate will be needed. The process is the same as for UK-based deaths, using the foreign death certificate (with apostille and translation) in place of a UK death certificate.

Key considerations:

• The deceased's domicile at death affects the UK IHT liability — see our guide on UK expats who die abroad
• Foreign assets may need separate administration in the country where they are held
• The will (if any) should be located — it may be held with a UK solicitor or registered in a foreign country

For the UK probate process, see our guide to applying for probate and our complete UK probate guide. For documents needed, see what documents you need for probate.

For the broader estate administration, see our estate administration checklist. For apostilling foreign documents, see our guide on apostilling a foreign death certificate. For cross-border estate issues, see our guide on multiple wills in different jurisdictions. For the inheritance tax position, see our UK inheritance tax guide.

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