If a relative or friend dies while you are abroad with them
All deaths must be registered in the country where the death occurs. Your tour guide, the local police or the British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate can advise you on how to go about this. Make sure you have as much documentation as possible about the person who has died and yourself. This should include:
- full name
- date of birth
- passport number
- the name of the next of kin of the person who has died.
If the person suffered from an infectious condition, for example Hepatitis or HIV viruses, it is essential that the authorities are told so that they can take precautions against infection. You do not have to register a death at the British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate, but by doing so, you will obtain a death registration document and a permanent copy of it will always be available in English from the General Register Office in the UK.
In Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa and UK overseas territories British Embassies, High Commissions or Consulates cannot currently issue death certificates. Local ones are sufficient for British purposes.
If a relative or friend dies abroad while you are in the UK
If the death has been reported to a British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate overseas, the details will be passed to the UK police and they will tell the next of kin as soon as possible.
If you hear of the death from a third party you should contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on 020 7008 1500 and ask for the country desk in Consular Directorate.
Consular staff in London will keep in touch with the family until burial or cremation overseas (where local authorities allow these for foreigners) or until the person has been brought back to the UK.
Consular staff in London will pass overseas the wishes of the next of kin about funeral arrangements.