If You’re Abroad Together
If your loved one passes away while you’re travelling together, here’s what to do:
- Contact the nearest British embassy, High Commission, or Consulate – They will guide you through local procedures and liaise with UK authorities.
- Notify the local authorities – The death must be registered in the country where it occurred.
- Reach out for support – If you’re on a tour or at a resort, speak to a representative who can assist you. If you’re travelling independently, family members or friends can help you through this process.
Most travel companies and local authorities have experience handling such situations and will offer guidance.
If You’re at Home and They’re Abroad
Receiving news of a loved one’s passing overseas can be distressing. In most cases, the British consulate or local police will notify the next of kin. If a tour operator or airline contacts you first, you should reach out to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) for guidance on what to do next.
This is a difficult time, and it’s okay to ask close friends or family to support you as you begin making arrangements.
Repatriation: Bringing a Loved One Home
If your loved one passes away abroad, you may wish to bring them home for a funeral. This process is known as repatriation. The process differs depending on whether your loved one had travel insurance:
If Travel Insurance Covers Repatriation
If your loved one had valid travel insurance, their insurance provider will arrange and cover the cost of repatriation. They will work with a specialist company to manage all the necessary arrangements, including:
- Transporting the deceased back to the UK
- Handling the required documentation
- Transferring them into our care at our premises
Having travel insurance in place can ease the financial and logistical burden on families at an already difficult time.
If There Is No Travel Insurance
If there is no valid insurance policy, the cost of repatriation falls to the deceased’s family or estate. In this case, we can:
- Put you in touch with a specialist company in the country where your loved one passed away
- Assist with engaging a local funeral director abroad if you prefer
- Collect your loved one from the airport and provide an estimated cost as part of the funeral arrangements
Once your loved one is in our care, we will liaise with the local Coroner and other necessary authorities to obtain the permissions required for the funeral to proceed.
Registering the Death
The death must be registered in the country where it occurred. If the Death Certificate is issued in another language, we can arrange for it to be translated into English. In some cases, additional documents may also need to be translated before the UK authorities can finalise arrangements.
If your loved one passed away on a ship or plane, the death must be registered in the country where the vessel is registered, rather than where the incident occurred. The British embassy can provide assistance with this process.
Once the deceased in our care at Gillotts
Once the deceased is in our care, we would then liaise with the necessary authorities, including the local Coroner, to obtain permission to proceed with the funeral.
The funeral arrangements can then be finalised in the normal way.
Repatriation to Another Country or Another Part of the UK
We can also help repatriate someone who has passed away in our area to another country or another part of the UK. If this is something you require, please contact us, and we will work with you to determine the most suitable arrangements and provide an estimated cost.
Need Support? We’re Here for You
Losing someone abroad is an incredibly difficult experience, our team of experienced and professional funeral director are here to provide guidance and support every step of the way.