What to Do When Someone Dies Abroad

When someone dies overseas, the practical steps depend on where and how the death happened, but the single most important thing to know is that you do not have to work any of this out alone.

If your loved one died while on a package holiday, your first call should be to the tour operator or holiday representative. They are experienced in these situations and will help with local arrangements while liaising with the relevant authorities on your behalf.

If your loved one was travelling independently or living abroad, contact the British embassy, high commission, or consulate in that country. Consular staff can guide you through local procedures, help with language and translation, and provide a list of local funeral directors and approved translators.

Here in the United Kingdom, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is available around the clock to support bereaved families.

Wherever possible, check for travel insurance as early as possible. If your loved one held a valid policy, the insurer will usually appoint a specialist to manage and pay for repatriation. Please contact the insurance company before confirming any arrangements, and keep every receipt, however small.

During this time, you do not need to make every decision immediately. Take a breath, lean on the people around you. And call us on 01793 522797, we will help you understand what needs to happen and in what order.

A death abroad must be registered in the country where it occurred, under that country’s own laws. Local authorities will issue a death certificate, and you will usually need a certified English translation for use back in the United Kingdom.

For many countries, you can also register the death with the UK authorities through the FCDO - creating a consular record and allowing you to order UK-style certificates at a later date. This is optional, but many families find it useful. Our team can advise you on whether it applies to your situation.

A death abroad cannot be re-registered at a Register Office in England. However, before a burial can take place, the local registrar will issue a certificate confirming there is no liability to register. This is a straightforward formality, and we will guide you through every step of it.

Documents in a foreign language? Every country’s documents look a little different. Bring everything to us, in any language, and we will help you make sense of it all.

Repatriation is the process of bringing someone who has died back to the UK. It involves careful coordination between the authorities abroad, the airlines, and your funeral director at home. It is something our team arranges regularly, on behalf of families from across Swindon, Highworth, Royal Wootton Bassett, Marlborough, Devizes, and the wider North Wiltshire area.

Repatriation typically requires:

• A certified English translation of the death certificate
• Permission from the local authorities to remove your loved one from the country where they died
• Certification relating to the care and preparation of your loved one for international travel
• A zinc lined coffin approved for air transport

Timescales vary from country to country. Some repatriations are completed within days, while others take longer, particularly if the local authorities are carrying out their own investigations. Whatever the circumstances, we will liaise directly with the authorities, the insurers, and the international specialists involved, and we will keep you informed at every stage - never leaving you to wonder what is happening.

When your loved one arrives back in England, we will bring them into our dedicated care at one of our four local funeral homes, in Old Town Swindon, Rodbourne Cheney, Highworth, or Royal Wootton Bassett. You are welcome to visit them in our private Chapel of Rest whenever you feel ready.

When a person who died abroad is brought back to England, the coroner for the district where they now rest must be notified. If the cause of death was unknown, sudden, or unnatural, the coroner may open an investigation or hold an inquest, and in some cases a post mortem examination may be requested.

Please do not let this worry you. Coroner involvement is a standard legal process - does not mean that anything was done wrongly. The coroner’s role is simply to establish the official facts. If a cremation is planned, the coroner’s paperwork will usually be needed before it can go ahead. Our funeral directors work closely with coroners’ offices regularly and will manage this on your behalf, keeping you informed every step of the way.

Some families choose for the funeral to take place in the country where their loved one died, perhaps because they had made their home there, because it reflects their wishes, or because it is what their faith requires. Consular staff and local funeral directors can help you make these arrangements, and our team in Swindon is always happy to offer guidance and support from this end.

If a cremation takes place overseas, you are able to bring or send the ashes home to England. You will usually need the death certificate and the certificate of cremation, and different countries and airlines have their own rules about carrying ashes. We can advise you on the specific documents required and can help you arrange a memorial or celebration of life here at home in Swindon or the surrounding area - giving family and friends the chance to gather and say their goodbye is a setting that feels right.

We know that concerns about money can add a real layer of anxiety to an already devastating situation. As an independent, family-run funeral director, we believe in complete transparency - so we will always explain every cost clearly and honestly, with no surprises.

If your loved one held travel insurance, repatriation costs are often covered in full, and the insurer will typically manage the process through their own appointed specialists. If there was no insurance, the family is usually responsible for the costs, which vary depending on the country and the specific arrangements. The FCDO cannot pay for repatriation, but consular staff can help you identify who may be able to assist.

When you speak with us, we will walk through all of your options honestly, including the choice between repatriation and a funeral abroad, so that you can make the decision that feels right for your family, without any pressure.

When your loved one is safely home and the time feels right, one of the Hillier team will sit down, or in your own home if you prefer, to plan a farewell that reflects their life, their personality, and their wishes.

We offer a complete range of traditional and modern funeral options, and we are here to guide you through every choice without hurry:

• Cremation, burial or an unattended direct cremation
• A service at our private venue, Kingshill House, or at the crematorium or a local church
• Music, readings, and personal tributes - perhaps reflecting places they loved or journeys they made
• Flowers, charitable donations, and special keepsakes
• Funeral stationery and order of service
• A religious service, a celebrant-led service, or something entirely personal

There is no single right way to say goodbye. What matters most is that the farewell you create reflects the person your loved one truly was.

Grief after a death abroad carries its own particular weight. The waiting, the distance, and the uncertainty can delay the moment when the loss truly begins to sink in. Many families tell us that they feel suspended, unable to fully grieve, until their loved one is finally home. This is entirely natural, and there is no right or wrong way to feel.

Be gentle with yourself and with each other. Take whatever time you need.

At Hillier’s, our care for your family does not end at the funeral. Our free Bereavement Care Service is available to every family we support, offering a warm, listening ear, access to support groups across Swindon, Highworth, and Royal Wootton Bassett, and confidential one-to-one counselling, whenever you feel ready to reach out.

We also work closely with Laurelo, who can provide practical, compassionate help with the administrative tasks that follow a bereavement - the letters, the accounts, the endless forms - so you do not have to face them alone.

Who should I contact first when someone dies abroad?

If the death happened on a package holiday, contact the tour operator or holiday representative. If your loved one was travelling independently or living abroad, contact the British embassy or consulate in that country, or the FCDO here in the UK. You are also very welcome to call us at any point - day or night - on 01793 522797, and we will help you understand what to do next.

How long does repatriation take?

Every country is different. Some repatriations are completed within a few days, others take several weeks, particularly if local authorities are investigating the circumstances of the death. We will stay in regular contact with all parties involved and keep you updated throughout, you will never be left wondering where things stand.

Do I need to travel to the country myself?

Not usually. The great majority of arrangements can be managed remotely, through the consulate, the insurers, and funeral directors at both ends. If you do wish to travel, consular staff can prepare you for what to expect, and we will continue to support you from here.

Can we hold the funeral abroad instead of bringing our loved one home?

Yes. A local cremation or burial in the country where your loved one died is always a valid option, and ashes can be brought home afterwards if you wish. We can help you weigh up both paths and, if it would bring comfort to local family and friends, arrange a memorial service here in Swindon or the surrounding area.

What if I cannot afford repatriation?

We understand that cost is a genuine concern, and we will always talk you through your options honestly and without pressure. The FCDO cannot fund repatriation, but there are sometimes other sources of assistance available. We will help you explore these, and we will never leave you without guidance.

A death abroad can feel bewildering, with unfamiliar systems standing between you and the person you love. You do not have to navigate any of it alone. For four generations, the Hillier family has been trusted by families across Swindon, Highworth, and Royal Wootton Bassett, Cricklade, Marlborough, and throughout North Wiltshire and we will manage every step of your loved one’s journey home with dignity, kindness, and the respect they deserve.

If you need advice, have questions, or require urgent assistance, please call us anytime, day or night, on 01793 522797. Our family is here to help yours.