What Happens If a U.S. Citizen Dies Abroad?

If a death may have occurred, or someone is injured, the first contact is local emergency services and local authorities, who control the scene and the initial legal steps. Next, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, or the State Department's Office of Overseas Citizens Services, so consular officers can assist. If the person had travel insurance or a repatriation membership, call its 24-hour assistance provider before committing to a funeral home or transport, since many providers must approve or arrange services.

According to the State Department, consular officers can help notify the next of kin, explain the options available under local law, coordinate with local authorities, and share lists of local funeral homes. They can also help prepare documents the family will need, including the Consular Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad, which is often used for legal matters back home.

What the embassy does not do is equally important: the State Department states that it cannot pay to return remains or ashes to the United States. It is also not a funeral director. Responsibility for arranging and paying for a return home rests with the family, the estate, or any private coverage the person held.

The family typically chooses among repatriating the body, cremating locally and returning the ashes, or burial in the country where the death occurred. The NFDA outlines all three, noting that options and timing depend on local law and practice. Some countries have limited cremation facilities, short timelines for burial, or religious and legal customs that shape what is possible.

An autopsy may be required by local law, particularly after an accident or sudden death, and the CDC notes that identification and consular paperwork can add time. Families should expect that repatriation will usually take longer than a domestic transfer.

A Consular Report of Death Abroad (CRDA) records the death of a U.S. citizen overseas and can help the family handle insurance, estate and other legal matters. It is not the same as a consular mortuary certificate and does not replace the documents needed to ship remains. The funeral providers and consulate should confirm the requirements for the particular country and carrier. The State Department lists documents commonly needed for repatriation:

• A consular mortuary certificate
• A local death certificate, often with a translation
• An affidavit from the local funeral director describing the preparation and contents of the container
• A transit permit

The CDC regulates the importation of human remains. For remains that are not cremated, the CDC requires leak-proof containment that meets its standards. Remains that are neither embalmed nor cremated generally need a death certificate stating the cause of death for final disposition, and the CDC describes alternatives when one is not available. If an infectious disease is suspected, a CDC import permit may be required.

Cremated remains are treated differently and do not follow identical container and documentation rules, but airline and destination requirements still apply. The NFDA notes that airline cargo requirements vary by carrier, that international documentation depends on the country, and that funeral homes shipping by air cargo must be registered known shippers. The CDC advises contacting U.S. consular officials for guidance on a specific case.

The family pays unless a policy or plan covers it. The State Department recommends travel health insurance for Americans going abroad and strongly recommends medical evacuation coverage for destinations with higher risk or limited care. That coverage helps a living traveler reach appropriate treatment; it is not the same as repatriation of remains. The CDC notes that a travel insurer can be a helpful resource after a death, particularly if its coverage includes repatriation of remains, which not every policy does.

Costs vary with the country, the airline, the preparation required and the funeral homes involved on both ends. Asking for itemized prices, as the FTC Funeral Rule allows for U.S. funeral homes, helps families understand what they are paying for.

• What to check in a policy: Does Travel Insurance Cover Repatriation of Remains?
• For deaths within the U.S.: What Happens If Someone Dies While Traveling Away From Home?