What to Do When Someone Dies Abroad

When an American citizen dies in another country, the process involves navigating two legal systems simultaneously — the country where the death occurred and the United States. The US Embassy or Consulate in that country is your most important resource and should be your first call. From the US, you can reach the State Department's Office of Overseas Citizens Services 24 hours a day at 1-888-407-4747 (from the US) or +1-202-501-4444 (from overseas).

The embassy's consular officer will help with several critical tasks: reporting the death to local authorities, obtaining the local death certificate, preparing a Consular Report of Death Abroad (which serves as the official US death certificate), and coordinating the return of personal effects. The Consular Report of Death Abroad is a legal document issued by the State Department and is accepted by all US institutions in place of a domestic death certificate. Request multiple copies — you will need them for insurance claims, probate, and government notifications back home.

Repatriation of remains — transporting the body back to the United States — is the most expensive and logistically complex part of this process. Costs typically range from $5,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on the country, the distance, and local requirements. The process involves embalming (required for international transport in most cases), a sealed zinc or lead-lined casket approved for air transport, export permits from the foreign country, import permits for the US, and coordination with an international mortuary shipping company. The embassy can provide a list of local funeral homes experienced with international repatriation. Alternatively, the deceased can be cremated locally, and the cremated remains shipped or carried home at a fraction of the cost — typically $1,000 to $3,000.

Check all insurance policies for travel death benefits. Many travel insurance policies include repatriation coverage. Some credit cards provide travel death benefits if the trip was purchased with the card. Employer-sponsored group travel insurance may also apply if the person was traveling for work. If the deceased had travel insurance through a company like Allianz, World Nomads, or IMG, file the claim immediately as they may coordinate and pay for repatriation directly.

The estate will need to go through probate in the US, not in the foreign country. However, any assets the deceased owned in the foreign country may be subject to that country's inheritance laws as well. This dual-jurisdiction situation can be legally complex, and consulting an attorney experienced in international estate law is advisable. The foreign death certificate will need to be authenticated — either through an apostille (for countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention) or through consular authentication — before it is accepted by US courts and institutions.

Contact the nearest US Embassy or Consulate immediately. They can help with: local death registration, obtaining a foreign death certificate, repatriation of remains, and notarizing documents. Foreign death certificates may need apostille or consular authentication.

Repatriation of remains typically costs $5,000–$20,000 depending on the country. Travel insurance may cover repatriation. Some credit cards include travel death benefits. The embassy cannot pay for these costs.