What to Do When Your Loved One Dies Abroad
When a loved one passes away in another country, the shock of grief comes with uncertainty. It’s natural to feel unsure of what steps to take during such a sensitive time. You’re facing decisions you’ve never encountered before, and the complexity of international death procedures can feel overwhelming.
Fortunately, there’s a clear process to follow when your loved one dies abroad. While the steps must happen in a specific order, you don’t have to navigate them alone. This guide provides a straightforward path, helping you understand what to do so you can bring your loved one home with the dignity they deserve.
1. Notify the U.S. Embassy or Consulate
Notifying the U.S. embassy when an American dies abroad is the most time-sensitive step in international death procedures. The embassy is your official point of contact, and its support is essential. Understanding what U.S. embassies can do when an American dies overseas helps you know what to expect.
They can provide critical assistance with:
- Communication with local authorities: Embassy staff can bridge language barriers and navigate local regulations on your behalf.
- Financial guidance: They explain how to send funds to cover necessary costs in the foreign country.
- Disposition support: The embassy can assist with the return of remains to the U.S. or local burial arrangements.
- Documentation completion: They help you complete required documents, including the Consular Report of Death Abroad (CRODA).
Make this call within hours of learning of your loved one’s death. While it can be difficult to focus on next steps during grief, quickly notifying the embassy can help prevent missed local disposition deadlines. Reach the State Department emergency line at +1-888-407-4747 (U.S. and Canada) or +1-202-501-4444 (for outside the U.S. or Canada).
Use the State Department’s directory to find the nearest U.S. embassy where your loved one passed away.
2. Secure the Local Death Certificate
Many families assume the foreign death certificate is sufficient for use in the United States. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. The local death certificate must be issued by the foreign country’s civil registry in the local language. The U.S. embassy uses that document to issue the CRODA, which families can use in the United States for insurance claims, estate settlements and legal purposes.
The embassy can issue the CRODA using the local death certificate, and families should request it as early as possible to avoid delays with U.S. insurance claims, estate settlements and legal tasks. Sometimes, an e-CRODA can be emailed, speeding up the process.
Understanding how the CRODA is issued helps you know what to expect during this stage. Families can request up to 20 free certified copies of the Consular Report of Death Abroad at the time of death.
3. Choose Between Repatriation and Local Burial
The State Department cannot pay for the return of remains, so any costs are the family’s responsibility. There are typically three disposition options when a loved one or family member dies in another country. Key factors affecting this decision include local laws, religious and cultural customs, available facilities, family wishes, and cost.
Your three options include:
- Repatriation of embalmed remains to the U.S.: Remains are prepared abroad and transported home via air cargo. This can be done by a certified coordinator following the repatriation process.
- Cremation abroad and return of remains: This is a faster and often more affordable option where local law and religious custom permit. Learn about shipping cremated remains home for more information.
- Burial in the country where death occurred: This is typically the least expensive option. A consular officer can assist with arrangements for this option if requested.
Generally, countries require a decision within 24 hours to five days, depending on location and local customs. Cremation may not be available in all countries, so families should check with the embassy about local restrictions before assuming it is an option.
4. Get a Known Shipper for the Transportation of Human Remains
Once the disposition decision is made, the next step is working with a qualified repatriation provider. A repatriation provider with Known Shipper status can act as the family’s single point of contact, helping you navigate what to do when a family member dies in another country with expertise and care.
Many passenger airlines require funeral homes, repatriation providers or qualified shippers to meet cargo account and security verification requirements before booking human remains for air transportation. Without the right shipper status, families may face fewer routing options, longer timelines or additional coordination steps.
A certified Known Shipper has established relationships with airlines and can book the most direct, secure routes available. When an American dies overseas, working with a Known Shipper helps the journey home happen as smoothly as possible. Explore our range of coordination services to see how this support works.
5. Gather Your Required Documents
A repatriation coordinator handles document preparation on your behalf, but understanding what’s being gathered and why it matters is important. Knowing the step-by-step process for when someone dies abroad helps prevent issues later, so you can mourn your loved one. Required documents include:
- Local (foreign) death certificate: Issued by the foreign country’s civil registry in the local language and is required before the CRODA can be issued
- Consular Mortuary Certificate: Prepared by the U.S. consular officer and confirms the cause of death and authorizes orderly transport and customs clearance
- Consular Report of Death Abroad: Issued by the U.S. embassy, and is a U.S.-recognized proof of death for insurance, estate, and legal purposes
- Transit/burial permit: Required for the cross-border movement of remains
- Embalmer’s affidavit/letter of non-contagious disease: Confirms remains were prepared per international health regulations
- Deceased’s passport: Confirms your loved one’s identity and must match every other document
- CDC permit (if applicable): May be required depending on the condition of the remains, the cause of death and the purpose of import
Gathering, translating and authenticating these documents can often take one week or more, particularly when multiple government offices are involved. Review the documents required by U.S. and foreign law and international documentation requirements for the full scope.
International Remains Shipping handles documentation on your behalf, verifying all paperwork for consistency before submission.
6. Coordinate Air Transportation
Choosing a reputable shipper means you won’t coordinate with airlines directly. The repatriation provider handles airline booking, selecting the most direct, secure route available when possible. Families receive an air waybill number to track their loved one’s journey on the airline’s website, which then confirms arrival at the destination.
After funds and documentation are secured, the typical shipping interval is 3-10 additional days before remains are shipped. The overall repatriation process steps, from death to delivery, typically take one to three weeks when documentation is in order.
Connecting through a third country can trigger that country’s own transit regulations, potentially requiring additional inspections or documentation. Review transit route complications and timeline expectations to understand potential variables.
International Remains Shipping coordinates secure air transportation, monitoring each transport.
7. Arrange the Domestic Funeral
When remains arrive home, families need a receiving funeral home identified and ready before arrival, not after. The repatriation coordinator confirms arrival with the receiving funeral home, completing the handover and ensuring a dignified delivery.
International Remains Shipping maintains an extensive funeral home database and can provide referrals if the family has not yet selected a funeral home. This final step marks the end of the process and the beginning of honoring your loved one’s memory.
Learn how we coordinate with receiving funeral homes to complete the journey home.
International Remains Shipping Guides You Through Every Step
When your loved one dies abroad, you shouldn’t face a bureaucratic maze. International Remains Shipping serves as your compassionate single point of contact, managing every step from first call to final delivery. We handle all coordination, including documentation, consular paperwork, airline arrangements and funeral home communication.
As a certified Known Shipper, we book the best available routes and keep you informed throughout the process. If you’re navigating what to do when your loved one dies abroad, we’re here to help. Contact International Remains Shipping or call 855-450-5510 (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) to learn how we assist families with dignity and care.
