If a death occurs abroad, you can arrange a local burial or cremation in the country where the death occurred. You may wish to repatriate the body back to the UK for cremation or burial. If someone dies here while away from home you may wish to move the body abroad to be buried or cremated.
You can arrange a local burial or cremation in the country where the death occurred should you wish. The British Consul there can register the death and record it at the Register Office. In the case of a cremation, the cremated remains can be repatriated to the UK following the cremation service.
If a death occurs abroad you may wish to repatriate the body back to the UK for cremation or burial. Most Funeral Directors should be able to give advice on how to do this. Where the deceased had a valid travel insurance policy, repatriation and its costs may be arranged and met by the Insurers if specified in the cover document.
The death should be registered according to the local regulations of that country and a Death Certificate should be obtained.
To bring a body back to England or Wales you will need the death certificate from the place where the person died, and an authorisation for the removal of the body from the country of death from the Coroner or relevant authority.
To arrange a funeral in England or Wales you will need:
an authenticated translation of a Death Certificate, or a Death Certificate issued in Scotland or Northern Ireland, showing the cause of death
a Certificate of No Liability to Register from the registrar in England and Wales. This certificate must be obtained from the registrar in whose area it is intended to bury or cremate the deceased
To arrange a cremation, a cremation order from the Home Office or a form E from the Coroner will be required. If the death was from natural causes, the Home Office will require the following documentation:
Application for cremation (Form A).
All original documentation from the country where death occurred.
Translation of documents if necessary.
If the death was not natural it will be referred to the Coroner who will open an inquest to investigate the cause and circumstances of death in this case the Coroner will issue form E for cremations.
If someone dies away from home, or away from the place in which they wish to be buried or cremated, or where the funeral will be held, the body will have to be moved.
There are special regulations concerning moving a body over the borders between England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands or abroad.
Only a Coroner is authorised to permit the body to be moved out of England or Wales. Notice to the Coroner should be given at least four working days before the body is to be moved so that any necessary enquiries can be made.
Afterwards you will be given a removal notice (form 104), part of which is sent to the Registrar of Births Deaths and Marriages.
This procedure applies to all cases where the body is to be moved out of England and Wales, not just when the death was reported to the Coroner.
Some countries require a Cadaver Certificate before they will allow a body into the country for burial. The certificate, if issued, confirms that no epidemic of infectious disease occurred in the borough for some three months preceding the death.
This formality of obtaining the Cadaver Certificate is usually handled by the undertaker, making the arrangements on behalf of the relatives. However, anyone can apply. The funeral directors will also help with anything requested by the Coroner and with requirements of the authorities in the overseas country to which the deceased is going. Some of these requirements may apply for burial in another part of the United Kingdom.
The certificate is issued by the Environmental Health Officer for the council in whose area the person died, or is to be exhumed from before reburial elsewhere.
Page Last Updated: 31 October 2008