Deaths from outside England and Wales

You must register a death with the local authorities in the country where the person died.

Bringing the body back

To bring the body home you must:

• get a certified English translation of the death certificate, or a death certificate issued in Scotland or Northern Ireland which must show the cause of death.
• get permission to remove the body, issued by a coroner (or equivalent) in the country where the person died

For further information about the country where the person has died visit What to do if someone dies abroad - GOV.UK.

Arranging the funeral in England or Wales

To arrange a funeral in England or Wales you will need:

• a certified English translation of the foreign death certificate, or a death certificate issued in Scotland or Northern Ireland which must show the cause of death.
• a Certificate of No Liability to Register from the registrar in England and Wales, in whose area it is intended to bury or cremate the body, or a certificate for burial or cremation issued by a Coroner for that area.

• The Coroner must be informed of all deaths outside of England and Wales where the cause of death is unnatural, violent or unknown. In addition, where a natural cause of death occurred outside the British Isles but a cremation is required, the Coroner must also be informed.

Bringing cremated remains (ashes) home

Each country has its own rules about travelling with human ashes. You should contact the British consulate, embassy or high commission in the country where the cremation took place for advice.