When someone dies abroad: what families need to know about documents
Dealing with a death abroad can be extremely difficult. Alongside grief, families may have to manage official paperwork in another country, sometimes in another language and under unfamiliar rules.
The documents needed will depend on where the person died, whether the body will be buried or cremated abroad, whether it will be brought back to the UK, and whether there are insurance, estate or probate matters to handle.
First documents to collect
After a death abroad, families may need several official documents from local authorities.
These may include:
- local death certificate
- medical certificate of death
- hospital or police report, if applicable
- passport of the person who died
- identity documents
- funeral director documents
- repatriation documents, if needed
- insurance claim forms
Keep originals safe and request extra certified copies where possible.
Local death certificate
The local death certificate is usually one of the most important documents.
It may be needed for:
- funeral arrangements
- repatriation
- insurance claims
- banks
- pension providers
- probate
- estate administration
- UK record updates
If the certificate is not in English, a certified translation may be required.
Registering the death
The death will normally be registered in the country where it happened. Some families may also be able to register the death with UK authorities, depending on the circumstances and country.
Before starting, check:
- where the death must be registered
- how many copies can be ordered
- whether the certificate needs translation
- whether the certificate needs legalisation
- whether UK organisations will accept the local document
A local funeral director or the British consulate may be able to explain the process.
Passport and identity documents
The person’s passport and identity documents may be needed by local authorities, funeral directors, insurers or UK organisations.
Useful documents include:
- passport
- birth certificate
- marriage certificate
- driving licence
- residence permit, if applicable
- visa documents
- proof of address
Do not dispose of identity documents until all official matters are complete.
Repatriation paperwork
If the person’s body or ashes will be brought back to the UK, extra documents may be needed.
This may include:
- death certificate
- embalming certificate, if required
- certificate of no infectious disease, if required
- coffin or transport certificate
- cremation certificate, if ashes are transported
- airline or cargo documents
- funeral director paperwork
- consular documents, if required
Requirements vary by country and airline, so families should work with an experienced funeral director.
Funeral and cremation documents
If the funeral, burial or cremation takes place abroad, local paperwork will apply.
Documents may include:
- death certificate
- burial permit
- cremation permit
- cemetery documents
- funeral home contract
- payment receipts
- religious ceremony documents, if relevant
Keep copies, as they may be needed later for estate or insurance matters.
Travel insurance and life insurance claims
Insurance providers usually require official evidence before paying a claim.
Prepare:
- death certificate
- certified translation, if needed
- policy documents
- passport copy
- medical reports, if requested
- police report, if relevant
- travel booking documents
- receipts for expenses
- funeral invoices
- repatriation invoices
Contact insurers as soon as possible, as they may have their own claims process and approved providers.
Bank, pension and benefit documents
UK organisations may need to be informed after a death abroad.
This may include:
- banks
- pension providers
- HMRC
- DWP
- insurers
- mortgage providers
- landlords
- utility companies
- investment providers
Documents commonly requested include:
- death certificate
- certified translation
- proof of identity for the person handling matters
- will
- grant of probate or letters of administration, if required
Will and probate documents
If the person had assets in the UK or abroad, probate or estate administration may be needed.
Useful documents include:
- will
- death certificate
- marriage certificate
- birth certificates of beneficiaries, if needed
- property documents
- bank statements
- pension documents
- insurance policies
- tax records
- overseas asset documents
If assets are held in more than one country, legal advice may be needed in both the UK and the overseas country.
Do documents need an apostille?
Some documents connected to a death abroad may need an apostille or other legalisation before they are accepted.
This may apply to:
- death certificates
- birth certificates
- marriage certificates
- probate documents
- powers of attorney
- court documents
- solicitor-certified copies
- funeral or cremation documents
The correct legalisation process depends on the country that issued the document and where it will be used.
Do documents need translation?
Translation is often needed when a death certificate or supporting document is issued in another language.
Commonly translated documents include:
- death certificate
- medical certificate
- police report
- funeral documents
- cremation certificate
- court documents
- probate documents
Check whether the translation must be certified before submitting it to insurers, banks or government offices.
Common mistakes families make
Common problems include:
- ordering too few death certificate copies
- not arranging certified translation
- assuming UK organisations will accept foreign documents automatically
- losing receipts for repatriation or funeral costs
- not contacting insurers early
- forgetting pension providers
- not checking apostille requirements
- sending original documents without tracking
- not keeping digital copies
Final checklist
Families may need to organise:
- local death certificate
- medical certificate of death
- certified translations
- passport and identity documents
- funeral director documents
- burial or cremation documents
- repatriation paperwork, if needed
- insurance policy documents
- receipts and invoices
- will
- probate documents
- bank and pension records
- apostilles or legalisation, where required
- secure copies of all documents
Final thoughts
When someone dies abroad, paperwork can feel overwhelming. Families may need documents for local authorities, funeral arrangements, repatriation, insurance, banks, pensions and probate.
The most important steps are to collect official certificates, request extra copies, arrange certified translations where needed and check whether any documents require legalisation before they are used in another country.